<p>Okay, Okay. I know that sounds like a stupid question. Let me be clear. First of all, there's the whole getting into Harvard thing. I understand that. I'm applying there Early Action, and of course, being anything but pessimistic when it comes to Harvard is foolish. But, even if i did get in, I'm not sure it's where I want to be. </p>
<p>My passion is jazz music, and NYU is off the charts for jazz. I probably wouldn't be a music major, because I'm so invested in learning about everything else I'm interested in, but even so, just being in the Village is pretty perfect. I just feel happy walking around New York, and I don't get the same feeling in Cambridge. (or Princeton, New Haven, whatever.)</p>
<p>I'm also not really a do-er. That is to say I made it through high school with a 3.9 and a 2300 SAT without really lifting a finger. I put a lot of effort into what I'm passionate about, and I'm very motivated in certain areas of my life, but I was never excited by school work. (It seems paradoxical that I love learning, but not school.)</p>
<p>Anyway, I'm just wondering, how important are the benefits. Should I suck it up and go to the best school I can get into, because it'll pay out in the future? Or should I just go where I'd be happy, and worry about getting down to business in grad school?</p>
<p>In my opinion, for a college student who does not have a limitless budget, Harvard Square is a more attractive “college town” than Greenwich Village. You ought to be able to find good music from either location.</p>
<p>But if you love NY, yet have reservations about NYU, why not Columbia?</p>
<p>Where else are you applying? How about UPenn? Philly seems to have a pretty good music scene.</p>
<p>Don’t even consider NYU unless the merit aid NYU2013 mentions actually materializes. If you get your FA offers and they’re similar in price, fine, go where your heart is, but do NOT go into large amounts of debt to pay for NYU.</p>
<p>The more fundamental question, setting Jazz aside, is what college or University would provide the best environment for a bright student who “loves learning, but not school”.</p>
<p>^I think that applies to quite a lot of people. Though I would say a large, impersonal university would probably be more book learning rather than discussion-based learning. Depends what aspects of the school are turning him off and what ways of learning he does learn well with.</p>
<p>either NYU or Harvard will get you into good grad schools, if you do well . And if money is not an issue, then pick one that suite your lifestyle the most, afterall, you have to live there for four years.</p>