<p>D was accepted to both (without merit aid). We are from CA; she is currently considering these two, as well as University of California, San Diego. Any insight would be greatly appreciated..!</p>
<p>WashU is a terrific school, but I don’t think it’s known for Economics. NYU / Stern, however, is supposed to be excellent. Plus, she’d be in NYC, which has many more opportunities for internships. But these two are very different schools. NYU: totally urban (no real “campus”), WashU: a real collegial feel to it. So: she’ll need to visit if she can. It also makes a huge difference if she is absolutely certain she wants to major in Eco. Don’t know UCSD at all.</p>
<p>UCSD has had a great economics program, but I’m not sure if enrollment is capped. My impression (which could absolutely be wrong) is that NYU/Stern is more business oriented, and UCSD is more theoretical. I think there are three current Nobel prize winners in economics teaching at UCSD, but I’m not sure to what degree they’re teaching any undergraduate classes.</p>
<p>It was a small unknown gem of a department thirty years ago, and it has really grown into a major program in economics. Given that you’re in-state, it could be hard to beat the price as long as the UCSD college to which she’s admitted has general ed requirements that she finds acceptable.</p>
<p>Was she accepted at Stern or at whatever they call the College of Arts and Sciences at NYU? Where is the Economics Department housed, anyway?</p>
<p>I don’t know anything specific about Econ at any of these universities. NYU vs. WashU has all sort of pieces to it that are probably more significant in differentiating them than their Economics faculties: One of the most urban schools anywhere, in the middle of the biggest city in the country, vs. a defined campus on the outskirts of a much smaller city. NYU is probably close to twice the size of WashU. NY vs. the Deep Midwest. I would be surprised if NYU weren’t several thousand dollars more expensive, and if Manhattan didn’t offer close to that much in improved chances for part-time employment and paid internships if you are willing to do that.</p>
<p>And UCSD is a different kettle of fish altogether. Really, all of them can do a good job teaching Economics, but everything else is very different.</p>
<p>Thank you both for your comments. Good point regarding being certain of major choice. It is so hard to know at this age (of course). She also is interested in Political Science, so I’ll research where these institutions stand in that regard…</p>
<p>No question that UCSD is far more affordable (less than half the cost of the others). They will also permit her to graduate in three years, if she chooses to (they will accept all her AP units). I am consciously trying not to “sell” this option, although it is clearly tempting. One could certainly head East for gradaute school, afterall…!</p>
<p>NYU’s Economics major is in their College of Arts and Science, versus the B-school.</p>
<p>I found that adjuncts, part timers, instructors and PhD students (basically the faculty members that the university pays the LEAST) are the best at actually TEACHING the material rather than tenured profs or nobel prize winners. Nobel prize winners don’t impress me very much. I’ll give you that they’re smart, but they often lack communication skills, or rather targeted communication skills. I’m sure they can communicate just fine in academia. But very few can explain concepts at the basic level that an undergrad is at, keep said undergrad interested, AND explain to the same undergrad why the concept matters in the real world. Profs that are able to communicate the material to the students effectively AND have the theoretical knowledge AND have the practical experience to see those theories in action are rare.</p>
<p>Stern also has an econ major but it’s a BS and it’s more oriented towards business. If she wants to go into industry, then NYU might be the best option, but if she wants to do grad school or law school, not so much.</p>
<p>I’d avoid UC’s though-with the state being bankrupt and all, and budgets being slashed and tuition rising by the second, I don’t think it’s reputation will hold up so well as profs leave for better pastures (or try).</p>
<p>^ My experience at NYU has been the opposite, actually; most of the professors in my department have been amazing, whereas the TA’s are usually foreign and their English isn’t always great. I’m not an Econ major though so can’t speak for that department.</p>
<p>NYU has 2 Economics departments: one in CAS and one in Stern. CAS is the liberal arts school and so the major is more theory-oriented. The department offers both a BA and BS. Overall, the Econ major in CAS is one of the most popular majors and pretty easy, requiring only 10 classes for the BA. There is also an Econ major in the Business school but I think you said he applied to CAS?</p>
<p>Anyway, I reccommend you visit first, because NYU is a non traditional experience and many people simply hate it. He might decide UCSD or Wash U is better based on fit. Also, you didn’t mention finances, but I personally would not go into debt for NYU if you are in-state at UCSD or Washington. NYC is also a better location for internships and such, but not everyone would be happy with that kind of college experience in Manhattan.</p>
<p>Has your daughter visited these schools yet? If she’s been accepted, it’s definitely worth it to spend a day at each. They are such totally different environments.</p>
<p>She’s interested in econ now, but lots of kids change their majors. UCSD, as I recall, leans towards the sciences.</p>
<p>How much does the cost differ after scholarships/grants? And don’t forget travel cost and the inconvenience of coast-to-coast travel.</p>
<p>Futurenyustudent:
I’m just wondering how many Nobel prize winners you have actually met. I’ve met several and not a single one lacked communication skills.</p>
<p>Maybe you got lucky then and you’re older and you have a correspondingly longer attention span. My grades respond almost in direct proportion to the professor’s teaching ability and when I take a class with a tenured prof, my grades are usually lower.</p>
<p>When I get a prof that’s completely inept at efficient, targeted communication, I lose interest like any 20 year old would. Maybe their lecturing style just doesn’t fit my short, much inferior attention span…I tend to learn more when profs use the socratic method. Keeps me engaged and on my toes. And if a prof bounces around, well, they’ll lose me in about 30 seconds.</p>
<p>You mention both Economics and Poli Sci. WashU has a political economy department, with a second major for econ or poli sci students.
[Washington</a> University–The Center for Political Economy](<a href=“http://artsci.wustl.edu/~polecon/]Washington”>http://artsci.wustl.edu/~polecon/)</p>
<p>WashU’s poli sci department is already recognized as being quite strong. Their econ department is not currently as well known, but is on a major push to improve, including enlarging the department’s faculty, and the department just moved into a new building, which is shared with the law school.</p>
<p>[Faculty</a> Recruitment](<a href=“http://economics.wustl.edu/recruiting/]Faculty”>http://economics.wustl.edu/recruiting/)
</p>
<p>12 new faculty have already been recently hired.
<a href=“http://economics.wustl.edu/Newsletter_May08.pdf[/url]”>http://economics.wustl.edu/Newsletter_May08.pdf</a></p>
<p>I wouldn’t think as much about the specific departments per se as I would the difference in campus environments between WashU and NYU. They are so different and there’s no right answer, but just the answer that your D picks! WashU is a traditional campus with access to a city, while NYU has no campus. The city itself is its campus! There is a small park right there (Washington Square), but the students share it with the world (not a value judgment, just the facts). </p>
<p>I know that at WashU, a student can pick and choose classes across the colleges and even switch majors and schools if they change their mind from their application; I don’t know the answer for this for NYU. </p>
<p>At both schools, you will get students from all over, less so at UCSD.</p>
<p>Is her goal economics grad school or just a major in economics with an eye maybe to law school or business school? Econ grad school is highly, highly competitive; you aim for a top 14 program, need essentially a perfect math score on your grad exam and a high gpa. That would suggest going where you want and where you think you might do better, but I have no idea how one could figure that out. Law school is also by the numbers; gpa and LSAT. The LSAT score doesn’t depend on your undergrad so again that suggests pick where you want and do well. Business school is also by the numbers but involves work after undergrad to get into a top program. I’m not sure how that would be affected by undergrad because the scores again correlate to how well you do on those tests generally and not to your specific undergrad. </p>
<p>I suppose if I were seriously thinking econ, then I’d also be thinking math and that would mean looking at the better math programs.</p>
<p>WashUniv has a very good to excellent economics department though a bit in the shadows compared to NYU. Prof. North (institutional economics) is a Nobel Prize winner at WashUniv. Murray Weidenbaum (essentially retired now) served with Reagan. They have had other faculty who have served in the FedReserve from time to time. The program has always been strong but has really been buffed up in the last few years with a lot of new hires. Keep in mind the Olin BSchool also has a cadre of excellent economists and that expands the courses available to an undergrad. The overall experience at WashUniv is likely to be a bit more laid back (though still intense work load at times) simply due to Midwestern attitudes. NYU has a great econ dept. as well as Bschool and is known to be strong in banking (location in NYC). Having been through this very decision with a son last year it really boiled down to fit. I don’t think you will go wrong if you pay attention to the quality of life issues and personal preference issues that make four years fun versus tolerable. Good luck.</p>
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<p>Recently I ( NYU parent) was chatting with a cousin (WUSTL parent), the cost of the two schools came up and it’s very close. D aso looked at Northwestern, cost is virtually the same as NYU. So much for the cost being lower in the midwest.</p>
<p>D’s experience at NYU ( College of Arts & Science, but not econ major) has been that very few classes have been taught by TA’s and other assistants.</p>