<p>Hello. I’m new to the forum. My daughter has less than two weeks to choose which school to attend. Her options are UCSC, UCSB, UCSC, Drew, Syracuse, BU and NYU. I think she’s mostly debating between UCSC and NYU. She would pick NYU, except for the cost. With the financial aid package she received, with a big stretch, we could make it happen. But, the question is, is it worth it? I don’t even begin to know how to evaluate that. We live in CA and I know the UCs are good. Folks seem impressed that she got in to NYU, but I don’t know if that means it’s better; or if it has a better enough reputation that we’ll be buying her something in that regard. Thoughts?</p>
<p>Since you wrote UCSC twice, I vote for it. But only for that reason, and also because I love Santa Cruz.</p>
<p>:)</p>
<p>More importantly though is what is her area of interest (study wise)?</p>
<p>Oops, the second one was supposed to be Santa Barbara. She has wide and varied interests and is not set on what her ultimate major will be. She is an amazingly wonderful young woman and I want to right by her. : )</p>
<p>Unless she wants to go into high finance or Broadway, NYU is not worth the money over a UC campus.</p>
<p>UCSC and UCSB are fairly different. What sort of a girl is she socially? Would the party scene at SB be too much for her? Are you from N.Cal or SoCal? What are her extracurricular interests? Greek life in her future? You may want to check out the different clubs and organizations that are offered at both UC’s and then check individual club websites. NYU is so far to go and unless she is a real city girl I wouldn’t send my kid there.</p>
<p>She’s not a partier, but she is quite social. She is very “involved” in everything she does. We’re from San Diego, which is no NYC, but the urban environment appeals to her. I think her two favorites were BU and NYU. BU is ruled out b/c they did not offer enough aid to make it even possible. I don’t want her so far away, but that’s more about me than her. So, I’m trying to think what is best for her. As for extracurricular, she sings, is involved in community service, and in h.s. has done such things as yearbook, prom committee. I don’t really see her in Greek life; but that may be my generational bias.</p>
<p>My immediate thoughts (based on what you’ve written) is UCSB (social, urban-ish, not everyone there parties - but yes, MANY do!, similar lifestyle to SD, and “close” enough to home, and certainly an Amtrak ride away)…UCSC is quite remote, countryside, very hippie, peacenik, granola oriented…which I adore…NYU is an animal all of it’s own. My D goes to school in NYC (from So Cal - not NYU), and loves it. Best to have a very clear focus for NYU, it doesn’t seem like the kind of school to go to to “discover” yourself…and living in the city is VERY expensive…my D is holding 2 jobs as well as 18 units a semester, lives off campus which at nearly $1k a month is substantially cheaper than on campus :0 and she doesn’t have to move at the end of the school year (she lives in the city year round)…also 2 trips home a year (winter and summer, 10 days each, max) really taxes our budget…think, and think again…What’s your D’s “gut” saying?</p>
<p>justaMom, mine is in Boston I’m in Central CA…I’ll second the comments about budget. DS comes home twice a year, winter and summer about 10 days each max. The costs of being on the other side of the country do add up. OP, please throw that into your equation. Is your DD going to be happy when she can’t come home for Thanksgiving? (Mine doesn’t seem to care, in the past he has gone to friends, one year he stayed on campus by his own choice).<br>
Those extra costs of being in the city add up fast. Groceries are more, transportation requires a subway pass or commuter bus pass, off campus housing is pricey, etc.
Will going to NYU require taking out student loans? With the current economy and lots of kids graduating without jobs I would vote for whatever school will mean the least amount in loans at graduation. </p>
<p>I would have her choose one of the UCs.</p>
<p>It is easy to underestimate the value of a really good State U when you are in-state. I speak as a Michigan resident who really did not fully appreciate the “status” attributed to a University of Michigan degree.</p>
<p>If the money difference is significant, and if there are no big reasons to do otherwise, I’d say go for the excellent in-state option.</p>