My daughter was admitted to both Santa Clara University and NYU. Santa Clara is 20 minutes from home and offers a better financial aid package. NYU is a bigger university with more majors, though my daughter intends to major in English. What is a better choice? Would love to hear your opinions. Please feel free to comment. Thank you.
The big question with NYU is, perennially: is it affordable? If not then SCU. If so then what does she prefer?
NYU is coming in at $72,000 a year, while SCU is around $50,000. She prefers NYU, we wonder if the academics is worth the distance and the expense…
I see. Why aren’t there other choices?
Worth it is relative to you situation. On the face of it 90k extra, well no. Although I think it is a wonderful opportunity if you can swing college away, it is broadening and all the experiences. But at what cost? Will she become a better writer? No. What does she want to do with her English degree? Will she get jobs and connections from NYU? very possibly.
If you don’t want to pay the extra, you can always pay for semester abroad as consolation and maybe a summer program in NY?
My goodness… these 2 schools are polar opposites! Like @BrownParent said - why no other choices?
I’m an SCU grad and think it’s a great school. I personally would rather my D at SCU than in NYC. It’s a beautiful campus. But, the fact that you are 20 mins away might change that for us.
When I was in school, I had several friends who lived nearby and would go home often to do laundry, have Sunday dinner, go home for the weekend. I know my D wants to be “away” from home. So, 20 mins would be way to close for her. 
There were other choices, just narrowed it down to these two. Thank you for sharing your thoughts, I really appreciate the different perspectives.
Mine wanted the away experience too, so she has UCs on the list but top choices were away. College is a great setting to experience another part of the country and have a support system around you.