<p>Alright, I'm not a big fan of typing extensive explanatory paragraphs, so I'll keep this brief and then list my thoughts. Basically, I have a choice between these two schools. I currently reside about 15 minutes away from Lafayette's campus. I'm planning on commuting if I attend there, and I will obviously be staying in a dorm should I matriculate into NYU. My circumstances have unfolded in a manner so that I will be paying almost identical amounts to attend either school. So, here's who I am:</p>
<p>Gender: Male (Straight)
Race: White
Political Views: Conservative
Religious Views: Semi-devout Christian
Views on Drugs: I'm so straight-edge it's not even funny.</p>
<p>Intended Major: International Relations/Economics (something involving international studies)</p>
<p>So, as you can see, I have a bit of a dilemma. I realize the academic superiority of NYU over Lafayette, for I believe it will definitely cater to my future plans much better than Lafayette (no offense to Lafayette, but NYU is far more advanced as far as globalization). However, I do not see myself fitting in socially at all at NYU (and I think my rationale is quite clear). </p>
<p>My ultimate goal is to transfer into Penn or Harvard (I realize how impossible the latter is), but for the time being I need to make a decision between where I want to commence my college career. While I want to thrive in an academic environment, I want to equally be happy and not regret my college decision. Can anybody offer me some insight?</p>
<p>–They are very different schools so think about the environment you want for the next for years: city/suburban, large university/small LAC, larger classes/smaller classes.
–Visit both schools again and go where you think you will be happiest and fit in the best.
–Consider how important the experience of living away from home is to you and factor that in as well.
–I think you can study abroad and plenty of “globalization” at either school. Lafayette in particular has lots of opportunities to go abroad not only for a semester/year but for the winter interim period.
–I would suggest you don’t go to either school with the idea of transferring first and foremost in your mind. Going with one foot out the door could stop you from developing meaningful friendships or relationships with profs. I’m not sure how many transfers those schools take anyway.</p>
<p>Oh my God, I love the International Affairs Program and the International Economics and Commerce Major. Do you think it’d be possible to double major in those two or is the International Affairs Program too extensive? Together they offer exactly what I am looking for…</p>
<p>@jetsfan289</p>
<p>I was under the impression that Ivy Leagues don’t care what school you come from as much as they do your overall academic performance and more importantly your reason for transferring…</p>
<p>Why do you think that NYU is academically superior to Lafayette? NYU’s location makes it attractive to large numbers of applicants who just want to be in NYC. But unless you are applying to a few specialized programs, I don’t think you can really argue that NYU, for general undergraduate arts and sciences, is superior to Lafayette. The former uses tons of adjuncts to staff lower level classes. The latter has full-time professors teaching students. Its focus is solely on undergraduate education. Unless you are going to Tisch or Stern, I can’t see that NYU offers huge academic advantages over Lafayette.</p>
<p>I also think you should forget about the transfer angle. The transfer rate for the schools you mentioned is even lower than the regular first-year admission rate. If you couldn’t get in now, you’re not more likely to get in later. Also, focusing on transferring will cause you not to invest fully in the place you choose, and that will lead to a poorer experience than you otherwise would have had.</p>
<p>Regardless of your personal preferences and beliefs, if you want to go into international relations, you are going to have to get along with people who have different values and beliefs. If you need to be around those who already think like you, you will be too uncomfortable with difference to pursue a career in IR or international business.</p>
<p>It seems like there are some common requirements for the two majors; however, I would suggest contacting the department heads to discuss possibilities. Since you are local, you might consider meeting with them in person.</p>
<p>^^I definitely think I’ll have a shot at Penn transfer. They accept about 200 students per year, and I’ve heard of a few kids from Lafayette getting into Penn. The only reason I didn’t have a shot for freshman year was because of my poor performance my first two years of high school. I take my education much more seriously now. </p>
<p>Also, I know I will have to interact with a plethora of cultures in the field. I don’t know how to explain it, but I just see a difference between interacting with different types of college students and working with different cultures in a career. I’ll have to put up with the former everyday for 4 years (most of whom are Americans), while in a job I’ll be solely working with people for professional reasons, mostly foreigners. </p>
<p>Your point about the teaching styles are very true. I’ve been considering them myself. At Lafayette, I feel like I’ll have a more personal experience with the professors, while at NYU I’ll be lost in the crowd and potentially be taught by graduate students instead of real professors.</p>
<p>Well, unlike college, where you have a choice of companions, at work, you have no choice. You have to deal with people that circumstances put you with, and because you need to get along to get paid, it’s harder. Tact, flexibility, and tolerance are very important. Might as well practice them in college.</p>
<p>And you know what? I agree with you. But, I don’t think I should throw myself into an environment that I’ll be completely unhappy within just for the sake of practicing my tolerance.</p>
<p>Yes I have. I was very unsatisfied with NYU’s campus (or non-campus) and I felt extremely out of place when I saw the types of people that surrounded me. Lafayette has a nice small campus whose students seemed really down-to-earth and welcoming. However, I do plan on revisiting both, mainly to give NYU a second chance.</p>
<p>Quick question: what exactly was it about the “types” of people that you didn’t like at NYU? I was under the impression that there was no set typical student and you’ll find a place no matter who you are. There are so many people there, there’s no way you wouldn’t be able to find some niche of people like you. </p>
<p>It sounds like your mind’s already made up for you, tbh.</p>
<p>Based on this alone, I’d recommend you not go to NYU. You will, eventually, need to be able to thrive among lots of different people, even people who make you uncomfortable, if you wish to pursue international relations (or, indeed, most careers). But I wouldn’t recommend throwing yourself into an academic environment that’s uncomfortable; that could be an expensive mistake. Like NJSue, I question the “academic superiority” of NYU over Lafayette anyway. I particularly question its superiority for someone who doesn’t seem to like the school much!</p>