For Rutgers, I got accepted to the Honors Program, Undecided in CAS
For NYU, I got accepted to my alternate program which was the Liberal Studies Core (LS Core) Program, where I do liberal studies and core classes for 2 years, with the second year allowing me more freedom to explore my interests and then I have an automatic transition to any school besides Stern & Tisch (which I have to apply for) after I declare a major at the end of the 2 years
It’s 4 humanities classes, 2 writing classes, one science class, and one elective per semester for the first year, and loosens up second year
So I’ll gain some credit and fulfill my liberal arts requirements
Both are nearby
Both I got very little aid for, I’m thinking about calling NYU and requesting extra aid of some sort
NYU is looking like a cool $75k, but $55k commuting, which I’m considering
Rutgers is looking to be around $28k
Right now, I’m leaning towards Rutgers, but it reminds me so much of my highschool and I want to kinda be pushed out of my comfort zone in a way
Also, I’m not completely undecided, and right now I think I want to pursue something related to Psychology/Neuroscience/Cognitive Science
Do you need to take on debt to attend NYU? How much of a financial struggle would this be for you and your family?
To me this looks like a no brainer. They are both very good universities. Rutgers is way less expensive. The only exception would be if your family is very wealthy (well into the millions in net worth).
For psychology or neuroscience you are likely to want to attend graduate school at some time. Rutgers is plenty strong enough to get you into a very good graduate school provided that you do well there as an undergrad.
I will admit that I might be biased based on a few people (between 5 and 10) that I have worked or studied with (at a very good graduate school) who had graduated from Rutgers. They made the school look very good. At a minimum they made the point that it is possible to get a very good education there, and graduates from Rutgers can be very successful in life.
Commuting to NYU from NJ? How long a commute? For an arts and sciences degree for which you need grad school? And not eligible for Stern or Tisch without some extreme hoopjumping?
If it’s a financial struggle to go to nyu, then reconsider.Commuting to NYU will get old pretty quickly, and I dont see the payoff for all that extra time, money, effort.
Just the one year tuition at NYU gets you almost two full years at Rutgers , and that includes on campus living. I am assuming you are instate.
Rutgers is not high school 2.0 .It’s big and busy and its not like you’re going to be running into your high school classmates every day.
NYU is not admitting you to their premium programs. Looks like they’re wanting to fill up spots in other programs and generate revenue and are banking on their brand name. Otoh, you have admission to Rutgers honors , which will provide some nice opportunities for you.
OP, did you originally apply to Stern or Tisch, or did you apply to a program that has automatic transfer from LS?
I agree that the cost and commute are negatives for NYU, but the “not admitted to top program” is only an issue if you actually applied to one of those in the first place. If you applied to CAS where you’ll get an automatic transfer (I presume you did given your expressed interest) and if your LS core gets you to your major without much hassle, then I don’t think that’s the issue. But cost and commute times are. You’re unlikely to get extra aid, and undergrad programs are generally not worth getting into much debt for.
@bopper : it’s not clear OP will have to apply for his/her major, it depends what that major is. Many of them are automatic admits from LS assuming the correct electives etc have been done (as in any declared major), and it sounds like the ones OP has mentioned would fall into that. Not being admittedly directly to a major when you are undecided is not a problem anyway?! Again I don’t think this is the issue so much as cost.
@SJ2727 I originally applied to CAS, and was admitted to LS Core. After the 2 years of LS Core, I’m able to have an automatic transfer to CAS or any other school like Steinhardt or Gallatin (with the exception of Stern & Tisch, which require application). Like you said, the cost and commute times are the main issue. However, I do feel like the first 2 years being in LS Core may be a waste of time in a sense, since I likely wouldn’t be entering a field related to Liberal Studies.
@momprof9904 It’d be a one hour commute, but I’d basically have free housing, since my parents have ownership of their old apartment nearby, where I’d be able to live without cost.
That’s definitely a consideration then as you would both be doing courses you’re not that interested in, and it might be tricky to complete everything you need in four years if the LS courses don’t work as prerequisites. Sounds like all round Rutgers is the best option then.
If that is one hour driving in each direction, then that would take a pretty big chunk out of your day and would get old fairly quickly, especially if there is traffic.
Would you be living on campus if you went to Rutgers?
“I’m thinking about calling NYU and requesting extra aid of some sort”
If you took a poll on this board: “Which T50 school is least likely to be generous with financial aid appeals?”
NYU would be right up near the top of the list.
NYU’s aid is almost entirely need-based so whatever you have been offered is already based on that (second choice program already tells you the few merit awards are not in contention) - so won’t be extra aid, and sounds like the extra cost is an important factor
hour each way commute is hell for most people, it takes a heck of a lot out of any enjoyment of the college experience. Maybe also worth mentioning that 90% of NYU freshmen stay in dorms so you miss a big part of the freshman social scene
course does not work that well for intended major
I just don’t see NYU coming out ahead on any of the main considerations here.
By the way: my daughter is starting at NYU in LS core this fall, and also her second choice, so we have looked at this in-depth. It works very well for her intended major, but it doesn’t sound right for you.
@SJ2727 What’s her intended major, if you don’t mind me asking? And do you feel like the LS Core program would restrict the potential to pursue a science-related field?
She’s looking at IR (if she gets the grades, it’s honors-only) or politics, but she also has a deep interest in history, and loves literature and film. So LS almost looks tailor made for her. I really don’t know about the science pathway, I’d suggest maybe asking an advisor in NYU if LS would give you the foundation you need easily enough. (It seems to me one science course a year isn’t enough, though I’m not entirely clear on if the right second year electives might be enough.). But honestly- even if it does - I think the cost and commute are still big issues for you.