<p>Hey. I've seen you around on the CC forums and I understand that you chose CP over NYU at one point in your life. I'm in the same situation right now as a resident of Maryland. It'll cost me 20k to attend CP (4.5k for 2 yrs scholarship not included) and 50k to attend NYU per year. I put down mathematics as my major because I haven't decided what type of career I want to pursue, and I'm good at math (a.k.a 800 sat math, taking differential equations as senior). I don't quite know what I want to do at this point, but I'm thinking either medicine or busienss. I am hoping that I will realize what I want to do by the end of the 1st year, but I have no clue at this point. I want to sit on a load of cash, but that's not my main reason for choosing a career. So anyways, my family household income is 150k+ per year (with a lot of that disappearing with our house and car payments). My parents will be able to afford the first year of NYU cleanly, but may have to borrow a little after that. However, I don't want my parents to have to worry about money. Academically, I am aware than college park honors (i got into gemstone too) and NYU are similar. I'm not too sure which atmosphere would fit me better. While I like the whole campus feel, I also like the feel of the city (haven't been in the city much; lived in suburbs all my life). NYU has better mathematics + economics majors than Maryland. I don't really know what to do at this point. It's a tough decision because I don't really know what I want at this point in terms of college atmosphere and career prospects. If you could help spell out the pros and cons of each school and give me your opinion about which school I should attend this fall, that would be great. Thanks in advance and sorry this is so long.</p>
<p>Hi xplizitdan--
I assume your post is directed at me :)</p>
<p>The campus was what really attracted me to UMD. I did want a city, but Washington DC is so close to UMD, and so easy to get to. I think that living in a city would get really tiring after a year or two-- at least for me, since I'm used to being in small towns.</p>
<p>I think that as far as career prospects go, when you're majoring in something like medicine, having a good undergraduate GPA and course background is really what matters, since your med school record is what will eventually follow you around in your job.
For that, I'd think UMD would be a much better choice....no point in paying more when you aren't getting much more.</p>
<p>As far as business...well, if you've declared a math major you'll have to transfer into a business school. NYU's business school is very selective and I'd assume it's difficult to transfer into. UMD's business school, while also selective, has pretty lax transfer requirements as long as you get an advisor to put you on the right track and maintain a good GPA. I've heard from friends that NYU's Stern school is also VERY competitive and cutthroat. UMD is not at all, and I enjoy that. Classmates learn from each other and help each other, not try to outscore each other (I think Stern classes grade on a curve, that might be why that atmosphere came to be).</p>
<p>Sorry I didn't make a straight list of pros and cons, but a lot of that depends on your viewpoint. For example, campus environment at Maryland was a BIG pro for me, but it might not matter as much for you.</p>
<p>Hope I helped, at least somewhat! It was hard for me to turn down a top-ranked school like NYU, but thinking about what I really, really wanted (more prestige vs. a better fit for me and my college experience) helped.</p>
<p>NYU
pros:
1. NYC, nuff said
2. Stern has amazing recruiting
3. More prestigious
4. Private (which means better professors and smarter peers)
5. Classy NY women ;)</p>
<p>cons:
1. Stern is cutthroat like lindz said (but if u want IB you better get used to it)
2. Some may not like the lack of sports or school pride (I dun care though)
3. Expensive as hell
4. From what I hear, Stern is full of backstabbing sharks that would trade their parents souls for a Goldman Sachs internship</p>
<p>Maryland
pros
1) the women are gorgeous
2) I like the big school feeling
3) Great if your really into sports
4) biz school is ridiculously grade inflated so if you want to go to grad school, it may help</p>
<p>cons
1) the large majority of women are stuck up JAPs
2) recruiting at the business school is terrible, I rlly dont know what the hype is all about with Maryland having such a great business school
3) In the ghetto
4) weather is terrible throughout late fall and winter (although the same could probably be said about NYU)
5) People think just cuz they wear abercrombie they're the s**t
6) The incompetency of some students is depressing (some r rlly smart though)</p>
<p>what are JAPS?</p>
<p>Jewish American Princess</p>
<p>UMD math is amazing! Lots of good professors, though the building is kinda old and crappy. I don't really know anything about math at NYU.</p>
<p>i'm going to have to say leo's analysis is a little unfair.... you really can't base a school on what one person think about other people's clothing choices.</p>
<p>i agree there are too many girls here with a jappy attitude, but do you really think that's better in new york??</p>
<p>
[quote]
i'm going to have to say leo's analysis is a little unfair.... you really can't base a school on what one person think about other people's clothing choices.
[/quote]
Why not? The OP asked for people's opinions of the pros and cons of both schools and I gave mine. Nothing more, nothing less. College is a place where he will spend the next 4 years and knowing some negatives (in my opinion at least) is crucial in his decision-making. </p>
<p>Also, lets be honest, clothing (to an extent) does give one a basic idea of what the person is like and his personality. For example, if you were really into rock music and you dressed like a punk, you probably would not fit in in a place that is full of people wearing Doo rags and Fubu. Similarly, if the OP was turned off by "prep-wannabe" culture (in my high school all the ppl wearing Abercrombie were wannbes, might be different at other places), he would probably not want to be in a place full of people wearing Abercrombie and fitch. Obviously, if the OP does like preppy culture, then my con of people wearing Abercrombie would be a pro for him/her.</p>
<p>
[quote]
i agree there are too many girls here with a jappy attitude, but do you really think that's better in new york??
[/quote]
Ha, NY is probably full of JAPs as well, Il give you that, but at least they're not uber-preppy like the ones in Maryland. </p>
<p>Btw, on a side note, lindz, do you do research at the Smith school?</p>
<p>haha i see your point, i guess in college the "wannabe" thing isn't as much of an issue. or at least i'd hope it's not. although it probably still is more than i know, what with not living on campus and having a pretty set group of friends already.</p>
<p>and yes i do, i have a research fellowship</p>
<p>Are you serious? The women at UMD are atrocious on the whole. The only time I have ever seen more than 3 girls that are even semi-attractive is over on colly ave. outside of a sorority house. 'Nuff said.</p>
<p>^^hey, u better be kidding!! :(</p>
<p>they are hot, i give them A- in general</p>
<p>Yea I dunno what your talking about. There are A LOT of hot girls on campus.</p>
<p>i'm hot, anyway. :P</p>
<p>I dont see how NYU has a better MATH and ECON programs. Our economics program is top 20 and graduate program is much higher. I can tell you this because i am an econ major and NYU definitly does not have a better econ program than Maryland. Anyways dont come here, we get enough of you New Yorkers here, seriously theres so god damn many of you here. We dont need another one babling about how better NY is to MD.</p>
<p>anyone from NY/NJ reading this, please don't think that sarah's opinion (which she is certainly entitled to) is reflective of the opinion of the general student body.</p>