NYU vs. Purdue

Hi, all! I need advice on which school is better for me because I literally am open to anyone’s advice.

For NYU, my major I got in as is called media, culture, and communications. NYU is really a good opportunity and experience for my field and if I want to do theatre as well. However, NYU is really expensive (I’m out of state btw) for me.

As for Purdue, it’s cheaper and I plan to double major in communication and theatre. However, there’s not much opportunity or internship around that area because it’s in the middle of like nowhere.

Any advice would be apprecaited! Please and thank you!

OOS does not matter for NYU.

You hit the nail on the head - unfortunately, you are choosing majors that are invariably low pay.

Purdue is the smart choice - but it is going to be much harder - but you’re not going to saddle yourself with insane debt (assuming you are full pay at both) - and the major will be a low paying major - and even NYU people struggle to find jobs and many end up in small towns, having to work up the chain.

I went to Syracuse - and for every famous person, there are 500 like me not working anywhere near the major. My dad paid.

I was going to go to Arizona State and had I a chance to do it again, I would save my dad the $$ and go to ASU.

If you’re that good, you’ll be found.

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Purdue has one of the largest career fairs in the country, across all majors. You won’t be limited to internships to in IN. My D’s friend who is a theater major did her internships in CA.

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There are also articles on the web on the debt of NYU and people in their 50s still paying it off. Think about that for a minute. Yes the above link is old but the sentiment is the same. Unless your wealthy and can afford NYU with like no loans. Stay way. Don’t destroy your life.

How’s that for an answer…

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From your other comments it sounds like you’re from CA. How much are your parents willing/able to pay? NYU isn’t worth debt. You don’t seem overly find of Purdue. What are your other options?

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Honestly not many since UC’s weren’t kind to Cali ppl this year. i also have SUNY Binghamton (56K for 4 years and got into their research program) and UC Riverside

What’s your budget? Which of your choices can your parents pay for (without taking more than the federal student loan)?

There’s a reason you mentioned NYU and Purdue though - and not SUNY B and Riverside - both great schools. I assume the theatre aspect.

You don’t have a bad school on your list.

What you have is a likely bad future, even if you are successful in job, by taking on an immense amount of debt.

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Net price at each school, and what can you and your parents pay without loans?

Direct cost of NYU: 76K ish
Direct cost of Purdue: 38K ish

so obviously Purdue is much cheaper. Idk about laons yet cuz i haven’t committed yet. After the advice given, I prob am leaning towards Purdue

But to UCB Alumnus point, what are the cost at UCR and SUNY-B.

I assume you’re not going to consider either? Not sure if either has your major but I assume or you wouldn’t have applied.

You don’t want to go anywhere near loans - especially with these majors.

I haven’t looked into SUNY B yet because I cant find my financial status haha, but UCR is about 32K

Well you better go on the portal. I assume if you applied to a school you are willing to consider it. If you’ve eliminated it, that’s fine. But if you just don’t have the info you need, then got on line and find it. Time is running out.

You’re right, which is why I sent an email out to their financial aid office, asking for assistance. Thanks tho!

And how much can you and your family pay without loans?

Lol, I’m not exactly sure yet.

That is very important information that you need to know before deciding.

You can only borrow $5,500 first year without a cosigner.

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If it’s like any other college, you have a student portal - you set up your id and all that. Your aid offer will be on the portal.

Don’t email - call Monday. Always call.

The COA for next year is $47.1K - but let’s say $48.5K because they only show $750 for transportation and you are coming from CA (I think). Also, college costs more than any of these colleges say - especially if you go Greek.

You’re not going to get need based aid there if NYU is full pay.

So find your acceptance letter - it likely contains any scholarship offer.

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There is no choice to be made until you know what your budget is. You can borrow $5.5K this year- after that it’s on your parents. So, whatever is in your piggy bank + $5.5K is your current budget.

It’s time to stop lol-ing and get serious.

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I need to ask you…what makes Purdue so much more appealing than your instate option at less cost?

I agree with everyone else replying here.

First…find out how much your parents are willing and able to pay for your college costs every year. That is the most important question to get answered. It doesn’t matter what the net costs are to attend the college if your parents won’t pay that bill.

Second…do not guilt your parents into taking loans for attending NYU or really any other college. We have NYU grads in our extended family…but even they say it’s way overpriced. And NY is extremely costly.

Third…what is your career goal…not your intended major…your career goal? Keep in mind that many, if not most, college students change their intended majors and sometimes multiple times.

Fourth…find out if you got any aid at the SUNY you applied to. From what you have written here, that’s not likely, but come on…it’s not that hard to look through your portal or make a phone call.

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