NYU or UMCP?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I'm trying to make a decision about where I'll end up next year, and I'm having quite a time of it. I was accepted to William and Mary, UPitt, Vassar, Wesleyan, NYU, and Maryland (I'm in-state at Maryland). Now, for one reason or another, I've essentially ruled out all but NYU and Maryland. In fact, until a few hours ago, I was set on going to NYU. But now, I'm really up in the air about it, and I'd like some input about how others might choose in my position.</p>

<p>NYU - I really, really liked the school when I visited. They don't offer overnights, so I didn't feel like I got the best feel for the school possible, but I really like the idea of being in NYC for the next four years. The overall open feel of the school, a little artsy and open-minded, although I'm not really saying that right, was a big plus as well. Also, I was awarded a $10,000 per year scholarship, which offsets the cost a wee bit. However, the downsides would be that I really initially wasn't so hot about the idea of a huge student body (although I know Maryland isn't any better), and I do think that the city might be a bit overwhelming, as while I'm not a mouse, I am a little on the soft-spoken side before I get to know people. Also, while my parents have agreed to pay the cost of tuition and room and board and all that, other living expenses are on me, and New York isn't exactly a cheap place to live. Another con, catty as it is, is that I was not invited to be part of the Presidential Scholars program, which I wasn't EXPECTING, per se, but did think I stood a good chance.</p>

<p>Maryland - The school itself is not a huge draw, it's the frosting. As my state school, I've honestly tried to avoid Maryland at all costs, so to speak, throughout my college search, but the stigma is really the main downer. The campus itself is mediocre, it never made a great impression on me, but I didn't hate it. The student body is huge, which is a little intimidating, but again, that's not much different from NYU. Academically, I feel like I can get just as good an education at Maryland as I can at NYU. I've been invited to the Honors program, which is actually fairly substantial at Maryland, as well as the Honors Humanities living and learning program, which caters to my interests academically, and most importantly, I've been given the institution's highest scholarship, the Banneker/Key scholarship, which covers full tuition, room and board, and book allowances for all four years and gives me the opportunity to participate in some sort of forum or something like that. Not sure about the last part, but the point is FREE COLLEGE. My parents have said that if I choose Maryland, I can use the money they would have had to spend on NYU to pay for grad school, which I'm almost definitely planning on going to, as well as for living expenses for undergrad.</p>

<p>So what do I do? I'm still undecided about what major to pursue, so that's not going to help me narrow things down. Do I go to a college that I really, really like in the city that I've loved forever and spend almost $40k a year, risking being overwhelmed by the big city, or do I settle for the state school, participating in their fairly selective honors program and getting the opportunity to get a full undergraduate and graduate education and graduate debt-free?</p>

<p>Any advice would be greatly appreciated!</p>

2

<p>Why don't you want to go to Vassar. </p>

<p>Vassar and NYU would be my top two choices, with NYU first. :) Go there.</p>

3

<p>I'd go to Vassar over NYU. I know probably 20 NYU alums and 20 Vassar alums and if I polled the group of 40, I would say 38 would choose Vassar if they could go back in time. NYU is socially one of the most difficult schools on the planet, it can be lonely and the city is fun for a little while but is much more fun after you graduate. Vassar offers a similar student body as NYU, but is "warm and fuzzy", comfortable, friendly, and in my opinion one of the best college experiences anywhere. I know many Vassar alums in the city (I live in NYC), and they are all in touch and get together to this day. Its a network for life, whereas at NYU its so easy to be lost. I think if you are slighly soft-spoken, I really see Vassar bringing the best out of you. </p>

<p>Maryland is HUGE, impersonal, and you'll have to really search for your "type." I would say a few of my friends at big schools sometimes loved them, but many didn't.</p>

<p>Go to Vassar. It will be the best decision you have ever made in my opinion.</p>

4

<p>I would go to Maryland. You can go to NY City for grad school, or to work, and on vacations. Saving all that money will keep your options open for the future. And if you don't like Maryland, you can always transfer. NYU takes plenty of transfers, or you may select a different place at that point.</p>

5

<p>Between NYU and Maryland I'd go to Maryland, but Vassar over both! You only get to go to college once...</p>

6

<p>I think Maryland wins this by a complete landslide. Not only are you in the HONORS program, but it's completel free? Please, there's no way NYU is worth 120K PLUS living expenses more than Maryland. UMD is a great public school, so take advantage of it.</p>

7

<p>whats your major?? My cousin got into UMD scholars with no money and NYU last year with like 5,000 and decided on UMD. I have two friends this year who have decided on UMD over NYU and others who have gotten into both and are thinking about it. Both of my friends are pre-med just like my cousin, they both were offered scholars and the life sciences scholars which is perfect for them with only 65 students per year. One, however, was offered like 13,000 from NYU and nothing from UMD in scholarships. He hasn't even thought about NYU, he seriously just ruled it out. The other got into Uchicago but will be going to Maryland because he says he likes it more. </p>

<p>You said that you wanted to stay away from maryland because it was your state's school. Just wondering what you don't like about going to your own state's school because the other thread was talking about ths.</p>

<p>But what will your major be because that could play a big role.</p>

<p>edit: woops i just saw you said you were undecided. Hmm, what do you think is a possibility. I mean transferring into stern is said to be hard for business and is said to be a joke at UMD- smith. If you are thinking science based I would say UMD just becaues there isn't a huge difference. so what do you think??... Also if you are undecided you would be in NYU's CAS school which, from my understanding, is considered far easier to get into than other schools at NYU. It seems like the students in CAS almost are looked down upon from what I have read here but that might not be true. Look at the UMD and NYU parts of the site and ask questions there too.</p>

8

<p>That might be that GSP thing at NYU that is much easier to get into actually, but like they say here, go with what you feel is better. It seems you like NYU. Really I wouldn't choose NYU over UMD as a full ride, like I said i have friends that don't have full rides to UMD and have 13,000 scholarships to NYU and still are choosing UMD. UMD isn't all that bad in comparison. 3.8 NYU peer assessment rating vs 3.7 for UMD.</p>

9

<p>Gaah!</p>

<p>You got the Banneker/Key scholarship?!</p>

<p>I was invited into UMD's Gemstones program, but I only got some small scholarship that gave me 9000 dollars total.</p>

<p>I'd take UMCP over NYU anyday.</p>

<p>For you, it's cheaper (almost free!), the Honors program has around 700 students in it each year and so by taking honors courses, you kind of put yourself in that group of 700 rather than the 7000 freshman.</p>

<p>UMCP is a great school. UMCP + Honors is definitely something to consider over NYU.</p>

<p>Just my 2 cents</p>

10

<p>meh, looking thorugh your posts to see what your stats were I noticed you go to wootton just like I do. There seems to be a good number of people from wootton here on this site. Wootton = dominance. There actually is A LOT of students from wootton that go to UMD so I guess for those who don't like going ot school with a ton of their high school classmates wouldn't like that. Being in the top 20 of US high schools we almost get into some schools easier than others. </p>

<p>You said the stigma is a reason why you wouldn't go to UMD. YOu have to understand though that while many kids from our school get in, few students get into honors and very few get full rides. I don't really see how getting a full ride to UMD could be seen by others as underachieving. I don't know who you are (but I could probably guess from the musical involvement) but really as a classmate I(personally) am truly telling you I don't think NYU is worth 120,000 more than UMD honors, that is my opinion but it is skewed due to the fact that my EFC is under 1400 and even with the 7000 i got from UMD in grants and scholarships along with the aid it is still a little expensive. Some would even say that UMD honors is better than NYU. I don't know who the stigma is from, maybe just inside yourself or if your friends are going to better places but that shouldn't stop you from making the best decision for yourself. This should be about your future and whats best for it. I think that money could be used for grad school but keep on weighing the +s and the -s. </p>

<p>Good luck, you seem smart enough to make the best decision.</p>