I was just admitted to a number of universities, and waitlisted at a few places. I am interested in studying biology and possibly going into medicine or pharmaceuticals.
At this point in the college selection process, I am between UNC (big state school) and NYU’s College of Arts and Sciences (bigger private school). I know that both schools have solid biology programs, but I will have to reestablish research connections by joining NYU. I also know that the city has a huge amount of resources and internships available for NYU students.
With that said, I have a few questions about both schools:
Which school would be better to attend with the intention of transferring to a top-15 university, after my freshman year? (Would an Ivy in the city value the fact that I am already studying at a city-school, or is that irrelevant to them?)
How much more prestigious is UNC relative to NYU CAS (or vice versa)?
UNC offers a traditional college environment (community, closed campus etc) while NYU is basically in the middle of the city. Are the resources available to NYU students in the city really worth sacrificing the spirit and tight-knit student body that UNC offers? I have lived in a college town my whole life, so the NYC scene is very new to me.
Transferring is obviously pretty difficult, and I want to give myself the best chance at doing that. I was waitlisted at some elite schools, but I wasn’t fully admitted. I want believe that I am a student who belongs in a top-15 university, so transferring is the next best thing I can do.
Wow - you certainly picked two very different schools! Where do you live? Which school is less expensive? Why do you want to transfer to a top 15 university ( besides believing that you belong there) and do you think it’s a good idea to start college with this intention? Why not try and become a rock star at a school you were accepted to? There will be plenty of students like you at these schools.
Here is my opinion:
Transferring to a top 15 school will not be easy. Neither UNC nor NYU will impede the process.
I would not worry about the prestige differences between these two schools. I would worry about what you accomplish at your school. Both schools have plenty of opportunities.
UNC is a tight knit community with a traditional campus, but it's an open campus- not closed. Do not underestimate the resources that are available at UNC- they are plentiful.
If medical school is a possibility, I would pick the less expensive school- especially since you may be there for four years. I also question where else you were accepted.
If you really want to transfer to a “top 15” (and can’t go to a LAC with a 3-2 program with Columbia or WashU), go to a NYS CC or public which one of Cornell’s contract colleges has an articulation agreement with.
Neither UNC or NYU will be more helpful for transferring. But, IMO, you’re setting yourself up for disappointment entering either of them with the mindset that you will transfer.
And if you get in to med school, no one will care.
BTW, a WL is essentially a soft rejection.
Thousands get waitlisted at elite schools these days and only a few handful tend to get off.
Thanks for the reply! I am from Chapel Hill actually, so UNC was an easy decision when it came down to choosing schools to apply to. I chose NYU because of my love for New York, and their pretty solid academics. When I said that UNC’s campus was “closed”, I meant that the campus experience is very unrelated to what goes on outside of the dorms and physical campus itself. NYU is in the center of the city, so it makes sense why it would be more “open” to the larger NY community.
I was also accepted with a large scholarship to Case Western Reserve, however I am not interested in living in Cleveland. Also, Case’s biology program is not as large/well known as UNCs, so I am less inclined to go there. I have lived in Chapel Hill all my life, and I have heard so much about the NYU student experience, and the importance of having so many internship opportunities in such a concentrated location. It would just give me a chance to break out of the Triangle area, and experience something new.
I think that starting college with the intention of transferring is a decent mindset to have, because it would cause me to understand that my immediate college community is not the community that will follow me once I leave. I am all for attending sporting events, and going out with friends, but I believe that being at a top-15 institution will really open new doors (simply because of more opportunities, a more intimate class environment, and more competition).
Not sure what your budget is, but NYU may be the most expensive school in the country. Honestly, unless you’re studying finance or theater, it’s nowhere near worth the price.
^That’s if you manage to leave. For most of the top 15, the odds of transferring in without being a wanted athlete or compelling in some other way range from tiny to infinitesimal.
And you’re making some pretty big assumptions here which seems to show that haven’t done a ton of research.
To me this is a no brainer. I would go to UNC and pay in-state tuition above attending NYU which is painfully expensive. Save the money for medical/grad school. You could look for summer internships in NYC and study abroad.
I just don’t get the appeal of NYU. It’s one of the most overrated and overpriced colleges in the country. Proximity to Wall Street and Broadway are beneficial for their top students, but most aren’t at that level. I know lots more waitresses than actresses from NYU, and more knife salesmen (not kidding) than investment bankers. To pay $70,000 a year for the privilege of being in NYC just seems foolish. Their grad schools are a different story, among the best, but undergrad is just a ripoff.
If you want to leave the Triangle and want to live in a vibrant urban setting, Case would be ideal. It’s as good if not better than NYU for biology. University circle is awesome and filled with hospitals that will gladly take Case interns, and to top it off it’d be cheaper!
Considering the number of applications NYU had this year (up 10%) at least 60,000 students understand the appeal. For many this is their chance to live and go to class in one of the best areas of New York City. Check out real estate prices and rents - you will need to be very successful to have the opportunity again!