Hi, I’m a high school senior right now who is debating between UMich Ross and NYU Stern for undergrad. I got into Umich Ross’ pre-admit program from EA and committed by placing a deposit, but I just got off the waitlist at NYU Stern. To summarize my background, I’m from an Asian family and we reside in Michigan, so we would receive the in-state tuition with Ross. However, I didn’t apply for financial aid with NYU so I would be paying around 80K tuition with Stern.
My parents told me to not let the tuition discourage me from choosing NYU Stern. At the end of the day, they want me to be happy with my choice and happy throughout college (aka me not calling them up telling them how depressed I am in college). Also, my dad (although he told me he would pick Ross in my situation given how it would be a more laid back lifestyle with more college fun in Ann Arbor) is fine with me choosing NYU Stern given how he knows it’s a worthy investment if I want to end up in Wall Street doing finance (since there are more networking opportunities).
I’ve been living in Michigan for the past 10 years so a change up like NYC would be amazing (since I love the city and visited many times). I even ed’d to Columbia which shows I’m super down for the city life. However, I’m not opposed to the traditional college experiences like games and tailgates and staying nearby my house to frequently visit my family and my dog. I’m probably going to end up in NYC if I pursue finance anyways but I’m not sure if spending my 4 undergrad years there would be worth it. I do worry that it would be harder to get jobs in Wall Street with Ross given how it’s easier to do so at Stern with internships year round and ideal location.
Also, I attended a private school for most of my life so I really appreciate the one on one attention I received in classes (including a chance to develop close relationships with amazing faculty members). Therefore, I’m scared that with U of M being a public school with bigger class sizes, I won’t be able to develop relationships with faculty as I am able to in Stern.
At the end of the day, I think I would have regrets with either choice I make since they are (I believe so) schools on the same tier. However, I would appreciate some advice or thoughts on this!
Ross and Stern are peers. And you will likely live over another half-century.
Plenty of time within that span to live in and experience NYC.
But you won’t ever get to live the traditional college undergrad experience again if you turn down UMich.
And yes, Ross is smaller than Stern, I believe.
Finally, classes next school year may be online again. Paying in-state tuition for online classes is much easier to swallow than paying over $50K for online classes.
I agree…I’d go to UM undergrad. I don’t think Stern is worth the difference in price or missing out on a typical campus experience if that is what you want. If you want to change things up and get a different, perhaps more urban college experience, you can always consider taking a semester (or even a year) abroad.
My biggest piece of advice is that once you make a decision never look back.
I would not pay sticker price for NYU Stern when you have an excellent in state option that feeds into NYC finance. You have your whole life to live in NYC after college (if you want), and you can intern in NYC during the summer like many Ross students do.
If you really want to go to Stern and your parents are OK with paying for it, then go to Stern. But going to Ross isn’t any kind of disadvantage, and as others have said, Stern isn’t a great value proposition.
Why is it always the business students that have a problem making a business decision?
So instate with Michigan Ross one of the Best programs in the Country. Yes, Stern is there also.
ROI: let’s say you go instate. Let’s save your parents some money and make you some ?.
Go instate and save like $40, 000/year. Tell your parents to put 50% of that in an account for you. At the end of 4 years you have $80,000 in the bank and your parents just saved as much. Nice win :win. Huh?
Or go to NYU and at the end have nothing in the bank and your parents pay $280.
Hmm. So your parents giving you an educational is the best gift they can do for you. You don’t deserve the $80,000,so think about that.
If I understand correctly, Michigan will cost about $28,000 per year for tuition, fees, room & board, while NYU will cost about $73,000 per year (even though you suggested that NYU would run even more at approximately $80,000 per year). The difference in cost over 4 years is about $180,000–maybe more due to travel between your home in Michigan and NYC.
Your career goal is to work in finance on Wall Street.
You love New York City.
COA is not a concern for your family–even assuming a 4 year COA difference of $200,000.
My biggest concern, therefore, is that you are a “pre-admit” to UMichigan-Ross as opposed to being a “direct-admit”. The terms need to be clarified as it is not clear to me whether or not you have assured admission to Ross.
“Ross students who apply through LSA (literature, science, and the arts) enroll in Ross as Direct Admits. Students who choose one of the other schools (such as engineering) will be Preferred Admit Students.”
Direct Admits are in Ross.
Preferred Admits must complete a list of required courses in a satisfactory fashion and, if done, then are admitted to Ross in their second year.
OP: If your family has substantial wealth, then it is a matter of personal preference.
However, because Covid-19 may affect the Fall term, the safer choice is Michigan-Ross.
P.S. OP: Because you mentioned “financial aid” in your initial post in this thread, my thought is that you did not apply for financial aid at NYU-Stern in order to increase your chances for admission. Therefore, I suggest following your Dad’s advice to attend & enjoy Michigan-Ross.
“Why is it always the business students that have a problem making a business decision?”
Why are your posts always judgemental to 17-year old kids who, guess what, think a lot differently than you? Many kids have not taken a business class apart from maybe one on fundamentals. ROI would have to done, typically by the parents, because it involves differential in earnings, discounting, opportunity costs, things a high schooler is not going to know. And teenager are going to make emotional decisions, and it looks the OP has fallen in love with New York City.
“Got it?”
lol, is it possible to help without the condescending tone?
“My parents told me to not let the tuition discourage me from choosing NYU Stern.”
I’m assuming that NYU is your second choice behind Columbia (ED), since you’ve come off the waitlist and seriously considering it. Have a honest discussion on the finances, and if your parents are ok for all four years, then I’d enroll there.
Pre-pandemic, I’d say go to Stern, if your parents can afford the extra dough and it’s a better fit. Now however, I’d advise my kid attend UMich, since A2 is a great college town, the education is superb and there’s college football Saturdays, hopefully, cross your fingers. I know my own DC21 kid wants to stay closer to home now.
I don’t know if I’d describe UMich as “laid back.” It’s certainly not for my kid during the semester, although in comparison to NYC, maybe so.
as an aside, many of the things that make New York New York, will be closed for the foreseeable future. Many restaurants will close permanently and it could be years before they replace the boarded up windows. Even as things open up, do you really want to ride on the subway? How is Broadway/concerts gonna figure out a way to social distance on the stage (forget the audiences).
It’ll be interesting to see how schools like NYU do with yield if they announce fall is online.
Thank you for pointing this out to me. It was intended to be a “tounge in check” response. I was having some fun with it
I thought it was funny… But maybe more emojis are needed.?
I apologize if I offended the OP or anyone with that post. I have no issue admitting when I am in the wrong. Thx for pointing that out.
I don’t disagree with you but won’t many of the things that make Michigan appealing (i.e. football games, tailgating, parties) be affected by social distancing restrictions too? I wish all college kids the best in having anything close to a normal experience this fall.
I made a similar decision just a couple days ago, except I was rejected from Ross, but accepted to NYU Stern off the waitlist. I’m from NJ. I had previously already committed to UMich LSA for Econ+CS. My end goal is Finance (Investment Banking) or Consulting. I decided to stick with UMich for a few reasons.
Stern has a very competitive and cut throat culture, especially among those who want to go into IB, due to grade deflation
Stern was a little more expensive (will be a LOT more for you)
Stern doesn’t have a campus, sports, or a good sense of community
UMich is a very well-known school with a great alumni network
If I decide against IB later, I’ll have better prospects from Michigan, especially for Consulting or Tech
UMich is a fun school as well, with amazing sports and school spirit
Also keep in mind that landing IB roles from Stern isn’t as easy as it seems, especially since half the school is going for it. Only around 100-130 or so kids from Stern actually end up in IB.
I think Ross is the way to go for you, since you have in-state tuition. Plus, it’s one of the top undergrad business programs with amazing placement. All the same opportunities will be available from Ross as Stern. With good networking, you’ll be just as well off. Plus, you’d have a lot more fun at UMich. You’re lucky to be in-state and have the pre-admit into Ross; It was my dream school and I didn’t get in. Definitely make use of it.
Just to confirm, I spoke with 5+ kids at each school to get a good feel for them and the benefits and drawbacks, so I’m positive I had good information.
@Mom270: sports will probably start sooner than bars and clubs become crowded again and you can watch them on a computer/TV while texting about the games with your friends. Can’t really experience bars and clubs virtually, though I suppose you could get takeout from fine restaurants.
It’s still not going to be the same experience watching a gameon TV as a student and social distancing measures at a place like Michigan. It may be only for the first fall semester but it’s definitely not the same.
