NYU or Lehigh?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hi.</p>

<p>I'm looking for some advice about transferring. I am transferring from Oberlin because I didn't like the little bubble of a college atmosphere. I felt that there was very little diversity in personality types... people were either socially awkward or hipsters (doing lots of drugs, very nonchalant about everything). I also didn't like being in the middle of nowhere. The academics, however, were very good when I could get into the classes that I wanted (which was often very difficult). I am planning on majoring in International Relations or English (maybe creative writing or cinema studies). I will probably want to go on to law school.</p>

<p>I have the option of transferring to Lehigh or NYU. They definitely weren't my favorites but they are the ones I got into (I was hoping for Cornell or JHU). I don't really like the whole 'college' thing but I feel that I have to go back to and finish my education for the obvious reasons. I'm worried about a few things about each...</p>

<p>Lehigh: I'm worried about the 'party' atmosphere. Last year I used partying and alcohol as a way to escape the reality of not liking Oberlin. I'm worried that frats/sororities are the only option at Lehigh. If I do decide to go to Lehigh I guess I would join a sorority even though it seems somewhat contrary to my personality. I'm worried that Lehigh kids might be too superficial. Obviously, having chosen Oberlin the first time, I am pretty liberal and care deeply about diversity of race, socioeconomics, and personality types. I also can't see myself being too excited about the school spirit vibe. My dad is a Lehigh alum and tries to convince me that I would be happy at Lehigh (of course he went there 40 years ago when the school was men-only)... I play ice hockey and want to do the equestrian club. I am a bit of a girly-girl but I also like jazz, metal, alternative rock, and play the guitar and love art and cinema... I'm not sure if there are too many kids at Lehigh that like those kinds of things. </p>

<p>NYU: I'm worried about the class sizes. Lehigh obviously would have smaller class sizes and it would be easier to talk to professors. At Oberlin, I tended to do better in the smaller sized classes than the classes with 100+ people. I'm also worried that I won't be able to make friends since people have told me that you must be very self-motivated and independent to make friends at this school. I'm also worried about the housing. I'm not sure if transfers are even offered on-campus housing or if I would need to find my own housing. It might be nice to live in an apartment with people since I was not happy in the dorm at Oberlin (shoe-box sized room shared with someone who was incredibly nice but did not have the same sleeping cycle or organization as me). I'm scared that I might be overwhelmed and incredibly lonely at NYU.</p>

<p>Obviously both are very good schools and many people would be happy to go to either of them. I just don't want to choose the wrong school a second time. If anyone has any comments I would love to hear them. If you know anything about the transfer programs/introductions at these schools that would be great. Thanks!</p>

2

<p>Lehigh! Don’t worry about the huge party scene, you’ll find that at almost every college (except BYU haha)</p>

3

<p>Dude, wanna buy a shamwow?</p>

4

<p>BTW, go to Lehigh.</p>

5

<p>you said that you don’t like that oberlin lacks diversity. Lehigh is nooo different. Take it from someone who lives in PA and has visited and the campus and heck even considered applying if you don’t want a homogenous student body then you should not go to Lehigh. </p>

<p>BTW, NYU guarantees housing for transfers.</p>

6

<p>I just don’t want you to be one of those ‘smart women, foolish choices’ kind of gals. The kind that go from one guy that wasn’t good for them to another guy just like the first who also isn’t good for them. </p>

<p>I know that’s a bit much, but my point is that you’ve already done the small LAC scene, why chance doing it again and being disappointed yet again? Sure, you’ll get some big classes but with your transfer credits you will avoid MANY that dominate the freshman year experience at a large school.</p>

7

<p>Go to Lehigh! It is not the party school it used to be…it was only #14 on Playboy’s Best Party School list this year, down from #3 some years ago.</p>

8

<p>^ my friend got into lehigh but chose not to go because of the lack of diversity, so if thats your main thing, definitely do not go to lehigh. However, nyu might be more ethnically different, but if you cannot stand “hipsters”, then don’t go there either. basically you have to weigh out which feel you would be able to tolerate more and which has less downsides. Personally i feel like i would stay at Oberlin haha.</p>

9

<p>I would choose NYU because it is more diverse, whether it is economically or culturally. There is no certain “mold” of a student that goes to NYU. My friend goes to Lehigh, and many students are rather cliquey he says.</p>

10

<p>however NYU is a place to be if you’re independent because it’s in a city and I agree, Lehigh would be a more personal place to be</p>