<p>Major: Psychology (leaning towards criminal justice)
Minor: Film/Cinematography</p>
<p>UCSD Pros</p>
<p>-Better academic reputation
-Higher ranked psychology department
-OOS but only have to pay $31,500/yr (total fee is $51000 approx.)
-big campus, more people (20,000+)</p>
<p>UCSD Cons </p>
<ul>
<li>QUARTER system</li>
<li>weak film department (no "hands-on" experiences)
-"socially-dead"</li>
<li>Accepted to ERC, requiring 2nd most hardest GE's....</li>
</ul>
<p>Pepperdine Pros</p>
<p>-SEMESTER system
-only have to pay ~$23,000/yr (total fee is $66,000 approx.)
-Christian University
-Better in the film field (at least more opportunities as a freshman)
-Close to LA (I love the city)</p>
<p>Pepperdine Cons</p>
<p>-lower ranked (my parents really care)
-weaker psych department
-secluded area (2,000+ students in campus)
-I might not be able to receive aid after two years, because my parents will be out of country and I might not be able to apply for FAFSA....HELP?!</p>
<p>NYU Pros</p>
<p>-It's "NYU"
-Amazing connections, great alumni
-more internships and possible job opportunities
-city, urban life</p>
<p>NYU Cons</p>
<ul>
<li>Got into Liberal Studies Program where I have to study in London my first year... </li>
<li>Ridiculously expensive w/ least amount of aid</li>
<li>In the CORE program requiring 2 years of explicit classes only...puts many restrictions towards my other credits.</li>
</ul>
<p>Pepperdine is not particularly close to LA in any meaningful sense. </p>
<p>Culturally, you’ve picked three radically different schools. I’d be a little surprised if a student who liked one would also like the other two.</p>
<p>It is definitely closer than San Diego, which is my point. 30~40 minutes compared to two hours shows quite a difference…so any suggestions and where I should go…?</p>
<p>NYU certainly is best in terms of reputation, but is it worth the money? Would I be far off by attending Pepperdine for just twenty grand instead of sixty?</p>
<p>Pepperdine to Santa Monica is less than 1/2 hour. When OP says she loves LA it’s hard to imagine loving downtown LA proper. I’m guessing more the whole LA area which IMO includes Santa Monica and which is not that far from the campus. </p>
<p>You’d get a good education at Pepperdine and could possibly establish some good connections in the LA area. A concern would be your potential loss of financial aid after two years.</p>
<p>As a psych major you might be interested in the extensive study abroad program offered by Pepperdine.</p>
<p>They have a great study abroad program for psychology at pepperdine?? Also it turns out, my grants are reserved for four years! Only aid may be lost, but what the school offers me will stay despite my financial situation. Does this mean I should choose Pepperdine?</p>
<p>Pepperdine’s study abroad program is second to none. It’s for all students, not just psych students. I thought you might be interested in the psychology of other cultures, which is why I mentioned it. </p>
<p>They have school houses/dorms in places like Italy, Heidelburg, and others that I can’t remember. Student live together except in South America, where they live in people’s homes. This is usually done the sophomore year and is kind of planned into the program, figuring students will be doing their gen ed requirement then. </p>
<p>I can’t tell you what to choose. But if this interests you, it is a wonderful opportunity.</p>