I was recently accepted to NYU’s Core Program in Liberal studies. But I made a big mistake. When I applied, I chose Florence as my top campus choice and I’d have to pay 30,000 per year to attend. I live in New York so staying in New York
would be much easier for me financially because I wouldn’t have to pay room and board (18k). I emailed NYU and asked if I could stay in New York and they said no, I’d have to spend my first year abroad.
Even if I do choose to go to NYU and spend the first year abroad, I’d end up with 60k in debt in 4 years and my EFC is 0.
I was also accepted to the University of Rochester. I’d have to pay 10k per year after financial aid and grants and that’d mean 40k in debt by after 4 years.
Syracuse is the same deal. 40k debt at the end of 4 years.
I was waitlisted at Cornell and Williams. I would be thrilled to attend either but I have to wait until the end of May to figure that out. I still have to enroll somewhere on May1st.
So, please help me decide. I really want the feel of a traditional college campus. And I want the traditional college experience which I feel NYU wouldn’t really provide.
I would skip NYU. It’s more expensive and spending your first year abroad strikes me as being very jarring and disruptive. I’d personally pick Rochester over Syracuse, but it all depends on your academic interests and your view on what you want from campus life. Syracuse has more focus on big time sports, while Rochester is more of an academic vibe. I’m more familiar with the Rochester campus and it is very traditional. I would look closely at the academic programs they both offer and also at the specific curriculum requirements of programs of particular interest. Having just helped my daughters with their college choices, I’m always amazed by how different course requirements can be for similar programs between schools. Visit both if you can. Good luck - both schools can be great choices.
Rochester’s academics is more prestigious than that of Syracuse. It also has a great traditional college campus vibe you’re looking for. I would choose Rochester over Syracuse or NYU.
If you are into big-time sports or if you are interested in Journalism, Syracuse could make sense.
Otherwise, I’d choose NYU or Rochester: they are academic peers that are stronger overall than Syracuse.
Between NYU and Rochester, it’s all about fit: would you prefer NYU’s relative lack of a campus in NYC, or URochester’s traditional campus in a (much) smaller city, with nearby outdoor activities available?
U of Rochester… The open curriculum is awesome and they have a very good reputation. All in all, 10k per year for an education at a top 30 private university is a steal!
Ahh, I missed the cost discrepancy between NYU and Rochester. Unless you absolutely must be in NYC, and you can afford the difference, in no universe is NYU worth $80,000 more than Rochester.
What does your package at Rochester look like? Is the $10k net cost after applying the $5900 Pell Grant, ~$5k NYS TAP/tuition grant, and the $5500/year federal student loan? If so, where will the $10k/year come from? Are you still interested in early childhood education?
@austinmshauri the net cost of 10k is after tap and pell. It doesn’t include the federal student loan. I will be taking the federal student loan of $3,500 and I don’t know how I will pay the rest. Hopefully I will find a way. And I’m still interested in early childhood education although I’m not completely sure it’s what I want to do in the future.
You can only borrow the ~$5500/year federal student loan. If you work summers you can probably raise $3k. But you’ll still need $1500 for direct costs, plus money for books and travel. Your parents have a $0 EFC, so they probably can’t borrow it. Is there any wiggle room in Rochester or Syracuse’s budgets? Can you choose a less expensive dorm? If you get work study, you can work during the year for spending money.
Liberal Arts are going to be similar at Rochester and NYU. I would take the money since it sounds like finances are a concern for uou. You also want a traditional college experience which NYU (with first year away from the home campus) would probably not provide.
I agree with others, UoR makes the most sense. (Disclosure, I’m an alum.)
Give Rochester a call and tell them your remaining money issues and see what they might have to suggest. Possibly they can help with more money or at least with a campus job, especially if they can get you a job related to your major. I worked a LOT on campus every semester which helped to pay for books and a very skimpy social life. I ended up saving money after freshman year by working shifts in the cafeterias since workers could eat a quick meal right before a shift, which was a huge help.
@nmcorm Thank you so much for your response! I think my biggest issue is NYU’s prestige. Although NYU and UR are academic peers, NYU is more recognized. Rochester would cost me $40,000 in total and NYU would cost me $65,000 in total. Is it worth going to NYU and incurring a larger debt? The idea of spending my first year in Florence also sounds appealing but after that I won’t be able to dorm because of the cost. I don’t like NYU’s lack of a campus either. so confused!
I’m assuming the academic programs of interest to you are equivalent, so take that out of the equation. Prestige is in the eyes of the beholder, so only you can decide what that means, but I look at NYU and Rochester as “prestige” equivalents.
It seems that the real difference between NYU and Rochester is with the campus/living situation. If going to NYU means that you will spend your first year in fabulous Florence and the rest of your time commuting from your parents home (is that what you mean by “won’t be able to dorm”?), then I would not go that route, especially if it costs more. Spend 4 years living on a campus and build a growing network of lifelong friends. I keep in close touch with a group that I’ve known for years. I lived with them for 2 years in a dorm and then with different subgroups in off campus apartments for my last 2 years. Outside of the academics, that is what made my college life special. I hope a similar experience can make your college life special too.
so confused!