NYU vs Brandeis vs American

Hello!
Any help with this decision would be much appreciated. I was planning on visiting schools over break, but unfortunately that’s not an option now because of COVID-19 so I’m making this decision pretty much blind.

I got into honors at American (SIS department) and Global Liberal Studies at NYU. Brandeis I’m interested in the International and Global Studies program. I’m also interested in areas like history, journalism, etc and may change my mind as time goes on, but I know I would love to work in government, diplomacy, or something related some day. I got into Lehigh as well but have decided to eliminate that. I have some aid for Brandeis and American and none for NYU. I really don’t know a ton about what I want other than I want somewhere with many opportunities and that’s academically rigorous. On the more shallow side, I’ll admit I think not having to share bathrooms and better dorms matters a little too.

I’m also weighing this against the Arizona Flinn scholarship which is a full-ride prestigious program but for in-state schools – if I take this option I will go to the University of Arizona. They also offer many opportunities. I want to decide on one out of state school I can weigh against Flinn, so I’m trying to winnow the field down. Any thoughts or opinions? Thank you!!!

Take the scholarship because you do not appear to have a driving desire to attend any of your other very expensive options.

@Publisher I’ve always wanted to go out of state and being in DC was a dream of mine for a long time. I’m trying to weigh this as unemotionally as possible because all the options seem amazing, but I’ve always wanted to go to school in a great location (DC being #1 for me for a while, but without visiting schools I don’t know a ton so). I have visited the cities and love them but they were on shorter trips for tournaments so I never had time to visit the schools. I’m very passionate about international studies right now, but I’ve been told by many teachers, counselors, etc that students change majors all the time so I’m trying not to just focus on the specific major-based programs that seem really cool to me in the present, even though that is a major factor.

We visited all 3 with my daughter. They all have very different feels. NYU is big, urban, right in the middle of the city, and they make a big deal about no walls between the college and the city. AU is a mid-size, pretty, traditional quad campus a little way out of central DC - a lovely suburban area at the end of embassy row. Brandeis is not that far out of Boston but it “feels” rural, if you know what I mean. The tour guide that took us round said a lot of people don’t go into Boston as much as you’d think and hang out on campus or in Waltham. It’s also much smaller than the others, and my daughter felt it didn’t feel much different to high school because of that (she went to a large public high school). So part of your decision might depend on whether you prefer an urban, suburban or semi-rural feel, and whether you have any preference on the size of the college.

For IR, AU < NYU < Brandeis. If you do decide to change majors, I think NYU is probably better at all round options, but the schools will generally all be fine for that. Caveat on NYU is if you decide you want to change to business - Stern is hard to transfer into. For the possible options you describe, such as journalism and history, I think NYU and AU are both good. You don’t say what the aid differential is so hard to weigh up for you.

BUT.

You have an instate full ride scholarship. That can save you nearly $300k vs NYU. There is a lot you can do with $300k, especially if you might want to go to grad school. If your parents are flush enough that it’s not a problem (some families are, most aren’t) then this isn’t a consideration, but for most it will be.

This is helpful. Thank you!

Agree with all points in this post. I would just add that a Liberal Arts major can minor in Business at NYU, which is actually a great combination for a business career.

American sounds like the best fit for you if cost is not a factor . . . But what do I know?