I’m a freshman in a decent small private LAC in a rural area, paying about 20k a year (including 3.5k in federal loans). I got accepted to a CUNY (a public school in NYC) last week and the tuition and fees is about 7k without financial aid (I’m still waiting to hear from them about aid). I am not sure if I should transfer. My family veers more towards the lower end of the middle class spectrum, so it would make sense to go to a cheaper school. I’m also thinking that it would be better for me to be in the city because of the internship and job opportunities, which are scarce in the area where I am going to college now. My major is undecided but I’ll probably end up majoring in visual arts, film, or something else “liberal-artsy” (what I’m saying is that I’m not going into a field where I’ll be making a whole lot of money).
I really like the school I go to now but I’m not sure if it is worth the money, as my workload is not too stressful and I feel like I spend a lot of time doing nothing since I am not in a stimulating place like NYC. However, this is still a very intellectual school and I have a lot of friends here. What do you think would be a good plan? Should I stay or go?
Message me if you want the specific names of the school I go to and the school I may transfer to.
The difference between your LAC and the CUNY is $13,000. That almost certainly is less than what it would cost for you to live on your own in NYC. So, here are financial things to think about assuming that you will live with your parents and commute to the CUNY:
Did your parents find any savings in the utilities after you moved out?
Did your parents have any savings in food costs after you moved out?
How much will it cost you to commute to and from campus every day?
How easy will it be for you to fit a part-time job/internship into your schedule given the commuting?