<p>I just want to know which would be a better choice for me if intend to peruse medicine.
At Stony, I would have Biomedical engineering as a major and total cost would be under $3k</p>
<p>Barnard is just filled with opportunities to explore other possible majors and still do pre-med,
plus I like the idea of living in the city… but it cost around $18k after all my aid.</p>
<p>and then there’s NYU which gave me a good package as well, but I’m weary of the lack of campus and large student body where it would be tough to reach professors… and would cost $16k.</p>
<p>Money IS an issue, but I don’t know if it’s worth passing up the city schools. Opinions?</p>
<p>I live five minutes from Stony Brook and have a D who graduated from Barnard so I can answer your questions.</p>
<p>I can’t answer yours directly because I don’t know enough about you and your family finances from your post.</p>
<p>All of us have studied at Stony Brook at one time or another. Some find it ugly; I don’t. I kind of love the old place.</p>
<p>It <em>is</em> a bit of a suitcase school, but I’m told that is changing. </p>
<p>From your post I would rule out NYU because I don’t think the $2K differential is enough to replace what Barnard can offer in terms of a close community. My D also much preferred the Upper West Side for school for many reasons. It’s quieter and costs are lower, even for a coffee.</p>
<p>I know my D wouldn’t have traded her time at Barnard for anything, but we all have a soft spot of Stony Brook too.</p>
<p>If you need to pay and would incur $72K of debt, then it’s a no brainer – go to Stony Brook.</p>
<p>Thank you! I was leaning towards Barnard from the beginning for that reason, but wasn’t quite sure if I was overlooking something at NYU.</p>
<p>It’s a tough choice to let go of Barnard, especially when I hear that there isn’t much to do at stony brook since the campus is “dead” on weekends. </p>
<p>How much would you say your daughter spent on extra costs by living at Barnard, such as transportation around the city/food?</p>
<p>Not as much as you might think. A metro card is a very good bargain for the subway, and there are many, many inexpensive food options nearby. In fact, food there is less expensive than near Stony Brook (well not upscale restaurants of course, but noodle shops, etc.)</p>
<p>But Barnard frosh are required to buy the meal plan and live on the quad, so those food choices are just the occasional splurge for a frosh.</p>
<p>When you live off the quad and don’t have to use the meal plan (or has that changed? I’m not sure), the food is cheaper than the meal plan by a lot for most women.</p>