Choices, choices...

[deenerbug]

My son has heard from two schools:

Tulane -- invited into their honors college and offered $24,000 a year scholarship, which will be extended to five years if he attends their graduate school. We're out-of-state -- South Carolina -- so the scholarship would be nice.

NYU -- not accepted into their regular program, but offered entry via their General Studies program. If he maintains a 3.0gpa over the two year program he is guaranteed admission into their regular program.

We're still waiting to hear from two other schools.

We're going to visit both campuses, but he seems to be leaning in the NYU direction although he acknowledged he felt he was being accepted into their "not quite the brightest" category. He said he supposed getting in at all was an achievement and he'll take it from there if he decides to attend.

I don't know why I'm posting this. I suppose to request opinions on the programs if you have any and how some of you would feel if your child had the option to choose between the two?

[jmmom]

Why does he prefer NYU over Tulane?

What will be the "culture" at NYU General Studies - largely commuter? peers with similar level of academic interest/achievement to him? How would such things affect his experience there?

NYU has a reputation for being so expensive, I find myself really wondering about why one would choose it over a ~half-ride at Tulane.

*full disclosure: my S attended Tulane on a similar scholarship; had to transfer because they eliminated his major post-Katrina, but I am a big Tulane fan.

[calmom]

I think your son would be nuts to turn down Tulane.

That being said, it's your money.

Note: My daughter's top choice was NYU, and she got into the program she applied to (Gallatin). Financial aid was skimpy. Turned them down. When she visited NYU she met a lot of students who complained of red tape, long lines, difficulty getting desired classes. Your son is looking at a choice between a fine university that is welcoming him with open arms and an overpriced, overcrowded school that is grudgingly letting him in the back door, where he will be last in line to get into courses needed for his major.

[garland]

I have to concur with the above. Tulane Honors Program and money seems like a great choice compared with NYU, no money, less selective program. the schools seem pretty even in terms of student body and reputation.

Are there specific reasons for prefering NYU (particular major, abolutely needs NYC, etc)? Because otherwise, it seems like a clear choice.

[Muffy333]

Congrats on the acceptances!!!!

I'm afraid of big hurricanes but I've always wanted to live in Greenwich Village...lots of people would love to be accepted to General Studies. I'm jealous!!!!!!

[paying3tuitions]

Here's something to wonder about with your S. Does he want to go to NYU or does he want to live in NYC? There are many students who move to NYC right after college or grad school for work, and continue on from there. NYC won't go away, and if he wants to live there, he can move there with a strong education from Tulane and less debt. OTOH, if he envisions college and grad school as his time "away" and then he'll return to your region to live forever...he might be feeling this is his only chance to experience living in NYC.

[anotherNJmom]

Actually, NYU is not a bad choice, imo. The kid might be able to land some well paid intern job when he is still in college. There are tons of jobs available in city, but it is also easy to lost your focus on college study, if he think about those are 'easy money'.

[jasmom]

My s has LOVED NYU. Perfect school for him, despite red tape (so I can understand why your s would want to study there). And, from what I've heard, the GSP program is a fine point of entry. That being said, I would have felt like doing a little arm twisting (presuming comparable majors) if he had been offered the option that your s has at Tulane.
Maybe you could help him see how the $ saved, compounded over 10 years or so, would add to his earning power.

[icy9ff8]

I cannot make a recommendation as I have not been to New Orleans since Katrina hit. My concerns would be whether or not New Orleans is safe and whether there are any health issues regarding mold spores.

[deenerbug]

Thanks for the responses. Sorry I have not replied sooner -- I have had strep throat and it has not been a fun experience.

jmmmom -- from our discussions, he seems to think NYU is a more prestigious institution than Tulane. He plans to be a college professor and feels NYU would be more beneficial and is more well-known across the United States. He would stay on campus at NYU -- not commute. Oh -- and NYU not only has the reputation for being expensive, it IS expensive.

Hi calmom. Thanks for your response. Although the scholarship money would be nice, cost is not the deciding factor for us. He said he could look at it as them "grudgingly letting him in the back door" or he could look at it as an opportunity. There are a lot of applicants who don't get in at all.

garland -- thanks -- see above.

Muffy -- thanks so much! We live in South Carolina and have experienced a few hurricanes, but fortunately we're not quite as low as New Orleans. I'm sure they would evacuate the campus in advance, should one be heading in their direction. I'm sure they're especially alert after Katrina.

paying3tuitions -- we won't be in debt from the education. He said, as far as he knows, he does not plan to remain in New York -- but time will tell. I suppose it depends on where he is employed.

Hi anothernjmom. I think he feels his opportunities may be better post college if he attends NYU as opposed to Tulane. He's also interested in NYU's Florence, Italy campus for a year. He plans to study history and minor in English Lit, I believe.

jasmom -- that's good to hear. I don't think of the GSP program as anything negative really. Of course, he would have preferred to have entered straight into NYU's regular program. He did well on his SAT and actually scored an 800 on the writing test, but his GPA -- although not bad -- is not where it should be in comparison to his scores, so I think that's why he was not admitted into the regular program.

I am doing a little arm twisting -- -- and am going to make sure he visits both schools before choosing. We're also waiting to hear from two other schools. I feel it is best to actually make visits so he can try to experience the atmosphere as much as he can (in a short time) of each school. As for his earning power, part of what he explained to me is that he thought it may be better -- with his intended occupation -- to graduate from NYU as opposed to Tulane.

icy -- I have thought of safety as far as NO is concerned, but have not thought about the mold spores. Of course, when sending a child off to college, parents usually do have safety concerns. I know I did with my daughter -- and she went to the College of Charleston (South Carolina).

Thanks so much for all of your replies. I really appreciate them!

[2boysima]

If you son is planning on being a college professor, his graduate school (and what he studies/who he studies with/what he writes his thesis on) will have much more influence on the kind of job he gets versus the undergrad school he attended.

However....he could change his mind about what he wants to do!

Both are good choices. If you can afford either, and he really loves NYC and NYU....he should be able to make the most of his time in the General Studies program.

[mafool]

deenerbug,

I can't help much with the Tulane/NYU decision, but I had strep that I had ignored for a while as an adult and can say that I have never been so sick and miserable in my life! Welcome back.

[deenerbug]

Thanks 2boy -- I agree -- he could most definitely change his mind.

Thanks to you also, mafool. Strep has been tough! The symptoms are still lingering, but I'm getting better.

[Pharmagal]

If cost of education matters to you, NYU is pretty expensive. When you add all other extraeneous expenses such as books, money for eating out with friends, movies now and then with friends etc, it totals to $50,000/year.

My friend's DD is at NYU and complains that even a lunch outside costs nearly $9 to $10!

[calmom]

He would stay on campus at NYU -- not commute.

You do understand that NYU does not have a "campus" in the traditional sense, right? Student housing is in various apartment building that have been converted to dorms, some very close to the main academic buildings, some not so close. The nice thing is that the housing tends to be much nicer than traditional dorms - no corridor-style dorms with communal bathrooms down the hall --but there is still a lot of variation in amenities and rooming costs are set accordingly.

He's also interested in NYU's Florence, Italy campus for a year. He plans to study history and minor in English Lit, I believe.

Was he offered the freshmen in Florence option? I think that is the one big exception to the "back door" + overcrowded/red tape picture --- the opportunity to start studies abroad, living in Florence, as part of the much smaller program. For a prospective humanities major it is a wonderful opportunity -- so if money is not a problem and he has that option, then I think he is right to go for it. Of course, visiting the NYU campus won't give him much of a feel for what it will be like overseas... but I think we can all agree that Florence is an amazing city and a great way to start a college career. I also think the idea of starting college abroad is wonderful. So if that is the option, I'd say go for it.