<p>I know it seems silly, but I'm really conflicted right now.
I'll be paying around the same for both schools (NYU will be pricer.)</p>
<p>Both schools are really good in my eyes. I got into NYU Steinhardt for applied psychology and I would love to go but I'm still a bit concerned about it all.</p>
<p>Since I will be a commuter student at NYU, I'm afraid that I won't be able to make friends. I will have to travel 1+ hour on the subway every day so it'll be a lot of commuting. But I love NYC and I will be able to get a part-time job or something to help pay the tuition. Plus, I will be able to save on personal expenses and room/ board since I will be living at home.</p>
<p>As for Binghamton, the location isn't the best thing since I grew up in NYC and I'm used to buildings and cars. I know if I work hard, I will get a good education but I don't want to miss out on all the connections and opportunities that NYU can offer since it is more prestigious. But Bing has it's own campus and I'll be able to dorm and get that "real college experience". Plus, I've talked to a few of the students and they seem pretty nice.</p>
<p>Does anyone have any input? I would appreciate anything. :) Personal opinions, etc.</p>
<p>I’ll do the opposite of what I normally do and be very short and predictable.
NYU > SUNY Binghamton.</p>
<p>speaknow,</p>
<p>I will take the opposite side just so you can consider what it is that you really want.</p>
<p>SUNY Binghampton is probably ranked at the top of the SUNY system overall (not looking at specific depts.). There you will have a very good education in a field (applied psychology) where you are not likely to make much money with a bachelors only (and even a masters or doctorate in psychology will not afford you a very “rich” lifestyle). Why not do well there and look towards work or grad school in a more “happening”/ urban setting?</p>
<p>At SUNY B., you will not be spending precious time commuting (when you say 1+ hour, with the waiting and walking time, you are probably talking about 2 hours at least per day and only if you mean round trip and not just one way). You can use that time to study comfortably in a room or library, chill out, or socialize. In addition you are looking to work as a NYU student. Still more hours away from the general college experience of academics and non-academic pursuits (social, extracurricular, etc.).</p>
<p>You have visited and like the people you met in SUNY B. I also heard and experienced upstate New Yorkers as more mellow and “nice.” There is something to be said, for reduced financial pressure, a more “easy-going” student community and the opportunity to live on campus to devote time to the OVERALL college experience. Instead of being part of the rat race (commuting, working while juggling a full academic schedule).</p>
<p>Hmmm, SUNY B. in your case does not sound bad at all.</p>
<p>Thanks for the input. :)</p>
<p>I am leaning towards Bing. I will get that “college experience”. If I do end up going there, I’ll try to earn my bachelor’s in 3-3 1/2 years (I have a few college and transferable AP credits already) and then move on to more prestigious schools for my masters and Ph D.</p>
<p>I know psychology is not an extremely profitable major but I love it. I don’t care if I make 300k a year or 30k. As long as I get to connect with people, I’m pretty sure I will be happy.</p>
<p>I love and adore NYU but the commute worries me. I don’t want to ride the subway at 1 in the morning (No thank you) because I had to stay late. I guess I’m clinging onto NYU because it’s in NYC and I can’t imagine leaving home for extended periods of time. Especially for 3+ years with occasional visits.</p>
<p>I’m going to visit NYU this Monday so I’ll see about it. 
Any other opinions?</p>
<p>speaknow,</p>
<p>I just want to say your reasoning is sound. Especially since you do not care about the income of your area of specialization, then do yourself a favor and allow yourself to be taken care of and have a good overall college experience before you start working and taking care of others’ needs. </p>
<p>Graduating early and aiming for more prestigious graduate programs (which really counts more in the end) also are good objectives. So you will possibly be saving a little more towards future expenses. GL! It is nice to see someone who cares from the heart about doing good and helping others (while making enough to live on).</p>
<p>save the commuting for when you are an adult, and HAVE to do so.</p>
<p>Go to Bing for college</p>
<p>Thanks for all the replies! They are very helpful. I think I am ready to make my decision but a visit to NYU shouldn’t hurt. :)</p>
<p>And I’ve been commuting for the past four years for high school so a break from that will be nice. :)</p>
<p>Nothing wrong with visiting. Sometimes the emotional feel is important. Hope it works out for you and you will be at peace with your decision.</p>
<p>That’s a deadly commute to do everyday. I would have said choose NYU, but imagine going 1 hour every day back and forth. Bing is definitely not in the same league as NYU, but if I were in your shoes I’d think long and hard about whether you can handle an hour long commute.</p>
<p>I agree with evolving. It would be a very good opportunity to stretch, change your comfort zone and perhaps really enjoy your college experience. SUNY Binghampton is the flagship of NY and you would be getting a fine education. If you are pursuing advanced degrees, perhaps NYU can be a part of that later. But there is plenty of time for that.
You can always take summer classes there while home on break if you want. But I think Bing is a good option. Good luck. Let us know what you decide.</p>
<p>sorry but this is a no brainer question, i am just laughing…</p>
<p>@fireman144: I agree. I visited it today and the subway platform where I transfer to get home was nearly empty and it was during rush hour. Think about how it would be like at night. I adore NYU, but I really don’t want to tire myself out running back and forth everywhere instead of being on campus most of the time.</p>
<p>@milkandsugar: Thanks for your input. I would love to leave the city for a while and learn how to live on my own. It’s just that NYU and Bing are basically the same price right now. It’s down to whether or not I want to live at Bing, be an actual part of the community instead of traveling back and forth all the time, and miss out on a world-caliber education until later OR live at home, get an amazing education, and commute 2 hours everyday.</p>
<p>I’ll think about it some more and tell you guys what I decide later. :)</p>
<p>@pacific85: If you have nothing of importance to offer, don’t say anything.</p>
<p>speaknow, I wish you the best. It is a hard decision because these two are so close together cost wise once you factor in living on campus at SUNY B.</p>
<p>My, NYU must have given you a nice scholarship, which means you are capable. Just do well at SUNY B if that is your final decision and in 3- 3 1/2 years, you may end up in NYC (I mean professionally or in grad school since your home is in NYC)!</p>
<p>Thank you so so so much for your input and suggestions evolving! This decision is going to be hard, but with everyone’s advice and input, I think I can make a choice soon.</p>
<p>speaknow, how can u say that the decision would be hard, dont think and go to nyu, it is like comparing harvard and northeastern.I live in ny and currently a student at nyu poly, nyu has world recognition, i heard a lot about nyu even when i was in my home country.Go to bobst library and talk with students there, nyu is just an amazing university in a great city, i dont know why are u in dilemma, i read your messages and didnt even find a logical reason to choose bing over nyu.</p>
<p>@pacific85,
The OP presented some very good arguments for and against and there are some valid concerns. I’m sure you are not doing 2 hour commutes daily.
Unless you can offer some commuter insights for the OP to help her/him make a decision based on your experiences.</p>
<p>Thank you milkandsugar. </p>
<p>To everyone else, I never said that NYU was a bad school. I also never said that Bing was a bad school. I adore and love both schools and I would be more than honored to attend either one. It’s just that both of them have strong pros and cons which make it hard for me to decide. NYU will be more expensive, no doubt about that, and I will have to commute from the city back to Queens every day. Bing will hold me back a bit because it’s not ranked as high and doesn’t have as many connections as NYU.</p>
<p>It’s very easy for people who are dorming and can afford the education to choose NYU automatically and chide me for not choosing it too. But that’s not my case so take that into consideration before you start ranting about how foolish I am for not choosing NYU right away.</p>