Advice for a possible transfer? (SU Newhouse > NYU Steinhardt)

Colleges & Universities New York University
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Hello there! I’m feeling a bit lost and would really appreciate some advice! Oh, and I apologize for the long post – I’m a mess.

Basically, I just finished my first semester at Syracuse University’s Newhouse School – I’m currently undecided, but intend to follow the public relations path. I took some great classes and made a few wonderful friends, but needless to say, I’m not sure that I’m entirely happy where I am – I haven 't felt that overwhelming feeling of school pride yet, if you know what I mean.

The party atmosphere at Syracuse doesn’t really sit well with me and the surrounding city is not pleasurable for someone who prefers an urban environment. As a result, transferring to NYU’s Steinhardt school for their Media, Culture, and Communications program has always been in the back of my mind… I didn’t get accepted to NYU ED II when I applied last year – granted, I applied for the Liberal Studies Program.

Anyways, after visiting some friends in New York City over Thanksgiving break, it reoccurred to me that NYU is my dream school; I want to experience living in an urban setting where there are endless opportunities for a media/communications major. However, given Newhouse’s stellar reputation in the media industry, I am reluctant to give it up. Is it worth it?

Also, Syracuse gave me some merit and financial aid, but it’s still more expensive that what my family should be paying – according to the net price calculator, at least… for what it’s worth. In any case, I’m going to need a solid amount of aid. Should I still try to transfer knowing NYU’s stinginess with aid? There’s also the concern of some of my college/AP credit not transferring over either…

At this point, will I even make a competitive applicant?

SAT: 1960 (probably will not be sending)

ACT: 31 (one sitting), 32 (super scored)

HS GPA: 4.08/4.00 (W), 3.31/4.00 (UW)

UNI GPA: 3.79/4.00 (3 A-s, 2 As)

HS EXTRACURRICULARS: Varsity golf (4 years), Teen Court Student Attorney (3 years), Speech & Debate (4 years), Big Sisters (2 years), National Honor Society (2 years), Spanish Honor Society (2 years)

UNI EXTRACURRICULARS: Member of Ottonomous Productions (on-campus student film club), member of Korean American Student Association, member of Work in Asia

INTENDED PLAN: Major in MCC, minor (or major… I haven’t decided) in marketing/business, possibly minor in East Asian Studies as well (I want to work in the Korean entertainment industry along the lines of public relations and marketing).

Thanks for the help! You really don’t know how grateful I am ~ Again, sorry this is so long! I’ve been stressing over this for an entire semester… and at this point, I really just want some direction in my life haha ><

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Hey! I think you have a good shot at getting accepted. Your scores and gpa are very good and from what I’ve read on these forms, nyu looks for students that would make a good fit into their program for MCC.
What school in NYU did you apply to last year?
And are you applying through common app because it only allows you to put 10 ECs so would you put college first and then hs?

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@nyrider AHHH thanks ^^ I’m hoping that everything works out.

Do you know how much the MCC program is recognized in the industry? The biggest difference between Newhouse and Steinhardt is that I would be majoring in PR vs MCC which is more broad of a major…

GAHHH I’m just torn over everything haha.

Last year, I applied to the Liberal Studies Program… which I don’t think is a separate school? I think it’s just a program at NYU… Well in any case, you can see how well that worked out haha.

… I guess I’ll have to prioritize my extracurriculars? I didn’t even think about that :3

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Yeah the liners studies program isn’t a separate school, you take classes for two years and then transfer into a specific major/program.

Honestly I don’t know if MCC is highly recognized. I never heard about it until this year are you definitely applying there?

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@nyrider that’s what I’m having trouble deciding…

I don’t know if it’s recognized enough for me to give up my spot at Newhouse… I also heard that the MCC major is no different than just a communication major which is worth considering too…

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Yeah I’ve known of Newhouse for a while but I’ve never heard of MCC until recently. MCC is a program on Steinhardt which isn’t recognized as CAS