Pittsburgh v. Columbia - odd comparison, but hear me out!

College Search & Selection
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<p>I applied to a variety of schools last October/November, but did not expect to get into most of them.</p>

<p>I got an acceptance letter from the University of Pittsburgh over Christmas break, which I was kind of expecting. Still, I was excited. I've visited the campus before and loved it. However, Pitt was not my first choice, academically. But, a few weeks later, I got a scholarship offer from Pitt, offering me full tuition and room and board for four years.</p>

<p>A few days ago, I got a letter from Columbia University designating me as a "likely candidate for admission". I was shocked. I applied to one Ivy, just to see if I could get in. While narrowing down my college choices, I hadn't even considered Columbia! </p>

<p>Columbia, academically, is my first choice. Not to mention the reputation - I am thinking competitively in terms of the job market, especially with the economy the way it is today. I'm told that having an Ivy League school on your resume boosts your hireability. The financial aid is also better than at the other schools I applied to. Several of the programs at Columbia really interest me and the professors seem great. I am genuinely interested in learning, and CU seems like a great environment for that.</p>

<p>Now, I love New York City, but at the same time, I have misgivings about Columbia. </p>

<p>I think my priorities have changed a little since I've started applying to colleges. Before, I was completely eager to get out into the real world and into the city. (I recently moved to a small-town, and I've been missing living in a metropolis.) Now, I worry about missing out on a more traditional college experience. I mean, I have the rest of my life to live in a big city, right? I also realize that athletics are more important to me than I previously thought. I love the feeling of school spirit that football and basketball games inspire. </p>

<p>I like that U Pittsburgh is in city environment, but there is still a campus-feel to the neighborhood. I really clicked with the campus when I visited. Columbia's campus is not quite the same way... it seems like students are more likely to go downtown on the weekends, and athletics and school spirit don't seem very prominent at all. I'm also afraid of being surrounded by pretentious indie kids... but I don't know how founded this fear is!</p>

<p>At the same time, turning down Columbia for Pittsburgh seems unthinkable, because of the academic reputation and the prestige. Pitt's academics are nothing to scoff at, but they're not on the same level as Columbia, I don't think. And I don't want to regret turning down an Ivy League education! I guess I'm afraid that should I forgo Columbia, I'll always regret "almost" going to an Ivy. And I'm not going to pretend like the bragging rights don't appeal to me! I mean, saying "I could have gone to Columbia" isn't quite as exciting. :P</p>

<p>I know that I will get a good education no matter which school I pick, but uggghhh. I am very conflicted. any thoughts??</p>

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<p>you should go to columbia. </p>

<p>1) a lot of people will assume that you went to Pitt because it was the best school you could get into. this is unfortunate but true.
2) columbia has great FA. if your parents make under 100k a year you will be getting a free ride there as well. regardless, you should be able to afford it.
3) surrounded by high caliber classmates
4) Columbia’s prestige in NYC will be helpful in getting job interviews senior year. the country is in a recession right now, so trying to get a job out of college is a big gamble for all but those at top schools.</p>

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<p>“n the reputation - I am thinking competitively in terms of the job market, especially with the economy the way it is today. I’m told that having an Ivy League school on your resume boosts your hireability.”</p>

<p>wat?</p>

<p>“1) a lot of people will assume that you went to Pitt because it was the best school you could get into. this is unfortunate but true.
4) the country is in a recession right now, so trying to get a job out of college is a big gamble for all but those at top schools.”</p>

<h1>s 1 and 4 are absolutely absurd.</h1>

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<p>Only you can decide. I have a friend whose oldest child was torn between Stanford and USC Film School. He was most excited about USC, but when push came to shove, he chose Stanford. Why? He told his dad that when he daydreamed about USC, he was really excited and nervous. When he daydreamed about Stanford, he felt peaceful. He decided, long-term, peaceful was the preferred state.</p>

<p>My younger son applied ED to Columbia because, of the 14 schools he visited, he “knew” Columbia was his first choice. (I would have placed Columbia 4th, but it was not my choice). Is his choice rational? Who knows? Even at age 52, I have no idea whether I would be able to pick the “perfect” college for me.</p>

<p>I strongly believe, at the end of the day, college choice needs to be all about feel (assuming financial considerations are not involved). Go with your gut!</p>

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<p>Yea… I don’t get that either. I go to Rutgers… could have done better, not the best school I gained admission to, but decided to attend Rutgers anyway. I would say Columbia would be awesome, but if you don’t get FA and are not to worried about prestige(which you shouldn’t be) go to Pitt for a full ride. I honestly believe in the current economic climate, the best college value is more important than prestige. But if you are looking for the best academic experience in the classroom, Columbia is the best option. Good luck!</p>

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<p>Do you know if you’ll be able to afford Columbia? If so, i would def consider Columbia.</p>

<p>It is true that people tend to go off-campus, but there is definitely a LOT to do on campus as well. Columbia has a very good campus scene in that there are frats and parties, but if that’s not the kind of thing you’re into, there are many other things you can do either on or off-campus. Some of the best times I’ve had so far this year were on campus and during university-sponsored events. The city -for me at least- is basically complementary to campus and it can be like that for you too.
There’s always many people around on campus during the weekends and you don’t have to go down-town to have fun if you don’t want to.</p>

<p>And about the pretentious indie kids: yes they go to Columbia. But so do physics nerds, political junkies, community service enthusiasts, classical musicians, creative writers etc. etc. Columbia has an incredibly diverse student body and there is no such thing as a typical Columbia student.</p>

<p>Plus, the academics are truly amazing.</p>

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<p>Sounds to me like the OP would be happier at Pitt.</p>

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<p>The typical Columbia student won’t go to an NCAA tournament game or a Bowl Game, however.</p>

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<p>Lol probably because Columbia could never get into either one?</p>

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<p>Which is the point.</p>

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<p>This question has been raised a gazillion times here at CC: Do I go to the cheap/free school that I like, or do I go to the expensive famous school that I think other people will like me better for attending?</p>

<p>The answer depends on:

  1. if you really are accepted at Famous Name School.
  2. if you get a financial aid package that makes Famous Name School affordable
  3. if you truly believe you will be a more successful, happier student at Famous Name School</p>

<p>There is no more shame in preferring fill-in-name-here to Famous Name School than there is in preferring fill-in-economical-car-name-here to Famous Expensive Vehicle. If you truly prefer Pitt, stop worrying about Columbia.</p>

<p>And, remember that in your personal case, the answer to “Why not Columbia?” would be “Pitt offered me a full ride. I didn’t have to pay a single cent for tuition, room, board, or fees for all four years. I would have been an idiot to turn it down!” You can always go to Columbia for grad school.</p>

<p>Wishing you all the best!</p>

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<p>Go spend a weekend at each. You’ll know for sure following this.</p>

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<p>I think it’s a smarter choice to pick Pittsburgh in this situation That is, only assuming that Columbia doesn’t kick in with Financial Aid. </p>

<p>If they do, then definitely considery spending time at both before making a choice.</p>

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<p>I vote Columbia. If you don’t like it, it gives you a better platform from which to transfer to more Pitt-like Ivies (namely, Penn)</p>

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<p>I think that you can get a good education anywhere you choose to go. If you decide to go to graduate school, Pittsburgh may be a good/cheap option and also remember that happiness may be a factor. Even though the reputation would be there, if you are miserable for 4 years, it may detract from your work ethic during college.</p>

<p>On the other hand, it also depends on your major. What are you planning to major in? Pittsburgh is more of a health sciences/liberal arts focused schools rather than on professional majors such as engineering and business. </p>

<p>Good Luck with your decision!</p>

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<p>Wow! Congratulations on your acceptance (:</p>

<p>and I agree with ilovebagels. Columbia does give you a much better springboard to transfer in the case that you aren’t happy.</p>

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<p>I don’t presume to have a vote, but to me this is a very close call and you should just go with your gut—which if I read you correctly seems to be pointing you in the direction of Pitt at the moment. But by all means, wait for the Columbia acceptance and visit both schools before deciding. You’ll know which one feels right.</p>

<p>There’s no question that on the whole, the academics will be better at Columbia—more smart and academically motivated classmates, smaller classes, more interaction with professors, more professors who are top people in their fields, better libraries and (in most fields) better research facilities, etc. That’s a lot to turn down (assuming you’re actually accepted). But on the other hand you sound like a very level-headed, academically motivated, independent-thinking, self-starter type of person. Someone like you could soar at a school like Pitt because you’ll search out smart and academically motivated friends and challenging classes and make yourself known to professors—and there’s a lot of academic talent at a place like Pitt, there for the asking. So I think you’ll get an outstanding undergrad education either way; it’s just that more of it will depend on your self-motivation and individual initiative at a place like Pitt.</p>

<p>As for the notion that “people will think Pitt is the best school you could get into,” that’s hooey. There may be a handful of uninformed elitists who think so, but the vast majority of people you’ll ever meet, including most of the people running things, making hiring decisions, etc., DIDN’T go to Ivies themselves. They know there are a lot more really smart and talented people in the world who DIDN’T go to Ivies than there are people who did. They know a lot of really smart and talented people never even bothered to apply to Ivies, whether for reasons of geography, finances, or simple personal preference. Even a heck of a lot of the faculty and top administrators at the Ivies themselves didn’t go to Ivies as undergrads. It’s no handicap to go to a good state U. You may be a little more on your own to find your way without the hand-holding you’d get at a more elite school, but there are plenty of paths open to you.</p>

<p>Bottom line it’s a question of fit and personal preferences. Go where you’ll be happy. You’ll thrive academically and do well with your life either way.</p>

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<p>For what it is worth, there is very substantially more NIH research money at Pitt than at Columbia. </p>

<p>“Even a heck of a lot of the faculty and top administrators at the Ivies themselves didn’t go to Ivies as undergrads.”</p>

<p>In my d’s graduate program at Princeton, out of 14, precisely 1. These are faculty that Princeton entrusts its undergraduates to. And in her graduate program and year, exactly none.</p>

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<p>I agree with every sentence of bclintonk, and I attended and did very well at both types of universities.</p>

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<p>mini… I assume from the context you meant exactly one out of 14 DID go to an Ivy …</p>