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<p>Looks like the NYC subway interiors do have space to lay flat on the seats (although getting into the train may be an issue with some types of medical restrictions):
[File:Interior</a> of R62 Subway.jpg - Wikimedia Commons](<a href=“http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Interior_of_R62_Subway.jpg]File:Interior”>File:Interior of R62 Subway.jpg - Wikimedia Commons)</p>
<p>Getting to the train would have been an issue. The hospital wouldn’t release her to anything but a car. There may be cabs that would meet the requirements, but with a risky procedure, it is generally a good idea to have someone who can legally make medical decisions for you. Designating your 18 year old roommate as that person doesn’t seem right.</p>
<p>Non-emergency medical transport services exist.</p>
<p><a href=“http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/tcrp/tcrp_webdoc_29.pdf[/url]”>http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/tcrp/tcrp_webdoc_29.pdf</a> (page 37 of article, page 45 of PDF) seems to indicate stretcher transport was about $90 per trip in 2004. That may be a less expensive option than flying there and renting a car with a sufficiently reclining seat or long flat cargo area.</p>
<p>No, I am not really focused on that kind of medical emergency but it does happen. I am more interested in exactly what each school has to offer my son and what role it will play in his future.</p>
<p>I think since he has said he wants to do engineering, he should pick Berkeley. For Mechanical Engineering they are ranked 2. Columbia is ranked 26. Does that mean he won’t get a job coming out of Columbia? No but he would certainly get a job closer to where we live and engineering jobs are pretty plentiful in our area right now. If the economy gets worse, he could always then decide to hang in school longer and get his grad degree to ride it out but I think those grad school prospects are greater coming from Berkeley. Columbia SEAS is known for grade deflation. As a regent scholar, he would also have some extra perks regarding research opportunities and some extra resources at his disposal at Berkeley.</p>
<p>I certainly didn’t have a clear cut choice when I first posted on here today but I do now! I really wanted to love Pomona and if not, maybe he should just take the free ride to UCSD. I won’t demand that my son pick what I think is the best choice. I don’t think any parent would do that! He will have to decide what is best for him but I can ask him to take one more look at Berkeley in the next few days before he makes a final decision. </p>
<p>romanigypsyeyes, Yes, I posted that I disliked my son’s common app essay and wanted advice about what to do and if I should persuade him to change it. I listened to everyone who posted telling me to leave it so I never mentioned it to my son again. I will always wonder if he would have had more choices had he used more conventional writing but I would never tell him! He did what he wanted then and I’m sure he will now but the indecision is almost pitiful and the time is running out so I reached out here to help get some clarification. It’s the best place I know of to ask about college things,</p>
<p>Thank you to everyone who posted and helped me so much!! I really appreciate all of your opinions, tips and experiences.</p>
<p>Has he read this thread? Perhaps someone may have brought up a point that matters to him that he has not considered yet.</p>
<p>Honestly, these all sound like excuses to keep a ‘kid’ nearby. First of all, how often do these extreme emergencies really happen to an otherwise healthy college kid? Secondly, many schools have security services that will drive you to/from the health center, especially in an emergency. Thirdly, what about when this same kid moves to where he doesn’t know anyone AFTER college? Emergencies come up there too, and that’s not a reason to not live your life or stay by your parents for your entire life. </p>
<p>All I am saying is ask your kid if he would even want you to rush to his side. Clearly, even from this post, there are people out there who don’t want mom and dad rushing to take care of them, and clearly for those people distance should not be such a huge consideration. Don’t assume that because the parent’s desire is to take care of the ‘kid’ the kid wants the same.</p>
<p>I have heard many parents (not just on CC) want the kid to be nearby or around family for college. I have heard a lot fewer kids express this sentiment. Something to think about.</p>
<p>For an engineer, I’d take income-based aid over a GPA-contingent scholarship any day. Unless he’s coming from IMSA, TJHS, or a like school with an engineering program, no one can be sure they won’t have a 2.9 in the first year of engineering.</p>
<p>Cal is a fantastic school, but I view the shortage of on-campus housing as a huge downside. The residential component of college is a big part of the point for me.</p>
<p>OP … your son has all terrific options for him. From my experience 35 years ago I do have one concern. To me in your posts you continue to try to figure out and rationalize what you believe the choice your son should make … and I hope all ends well if he decides something other than your preference. The one really bad memory I have of my Mom is her reaction to my picking my college … she didn’t approve and had an immediate negative reaction to my picking one of a great set of choices but not the one she wanted … and it sticks with me decades later. It’s his choice please revel in his journey wherever it takes him.</p>
<p>Agree. This sounds more like a mom having a hard time with the distance–a totally understandable position, but let’s call it what it is.</p>
<p>Fido, my kid went to college 3000 miles from home, majored in engineering, worked 10-15 hours a weeks for all four years, had a medical emergency, flew home ONLY at Christmas and in the summer, never had her own parents at parents weekend…and survived. So did we…and our student was very happy at her school.</p>
<p>Do you REALLY think that a degree from UCB will. E more favorably looked upon than one from Columbia? Even in YOUR state? Those two schools at both highly regarded.</p>
<p>Let you KID pick the school, in my opinion. You let him APPLY to the schools. If you really didn’t want him to attend if accepted, you should have spoken up BEFORE the applications were sent.</p>
<p>Just tell him you need to send the deposit to his choice by April 29 (don’t wait until the 30th in case there is a computer snafu). In the meantime, leave him alone. He will pick a school…and his choices are all fine.</p>
<p>UCBAlum has given you a great breakdown of costs for comparison, but I am not sure the budget for electronics is fully established and perhaps should be considered for graduation presents or use of those funds from gift money. It is necessary for engineering & much of STEM to have both MAC & a Robust Windows notebooks… I fought that cuz I love Apple & my MacBookPro… Of course U will be told that systems are available throughout campus & do not worry… Tho true, sadly the people working in those labs desire to have lives & or do updates at inconvenient times for you and students must scramble & maintain their own control of their especially during finals… In addition my IPad is important for reading all of the on line textbooks & courseware that is being used to save us $$$ but is less manageable wout IPad… My iPhone is mission critical all over campus w email, calendars, & 2 profs even use twitter for updates… Lots of my compadres R utilizing Phablets like Samsung Galaxy Note3? To deal w/ all the emails, texts, submissions, & access to electronic billboard for classes… I am low tech compared to my male friends cuz I am not a gamer so do not care about all the Xbox etcetera some have to have available… Just think Engr/ Stem grads need this for grad presents wherever they attend plus budget costs for software & replacement 2 years out if lucky not to be acquired by sum1 else or drowned/crushed in series of misfortunate events… It happens… Been lucky so far fingers crossed! Sorry your son missed Cal Day cuz Bruin Day was really fun to see the excitement & nervous energy for so many & Sunday is for Engineering Students alone to experience classes, labs, food & ask ?s Hopefully this week will allow UCB to be experienced more fully… I was able to stayin Stern w an Industrial Engr major in a STEM community floor for women & I think Cal is beautiful & San Francisco is wonderful for weekends as well as quirky Berkeley with all the trees, diverse co-0ps, and Bart taking U everywhere… SF natural beauty kicks NYC A$$ any day, but NY would be Gr8 for grad school w a well paid internship to really enjoy living there…
Good luck w so many gr8 opportunities!</p>
<p>Hipkitty - this is a parent forum, would you mind not using short hand?</p>
<p>I don’t really view her being in NYC and having to go there for a medical emergency any different than when parents retire to another state and you sometimes have to go there for a medical emergency. If I knew now what I knew when she was trying to choose between the U of Michigan and Barnard, I still would encourage Barnard. I think she got a lot more personalized support from health services, the disability office, and her professors because she is not just a number there.</p>
<p>Adding one more thing…I totally agree with Hanna. Having to maintain a 3.6 GPA in engineering MIGHT be difficult. </p>
<p>We told our kids (both had merit awards) that if they LOST them due to a lower than required GPA, they would be returning home to attend the local state university as a commuter OR they would have to make up the monetary difference themselves.</p>
<p>If financial concerns are significant, I would take the school (UCSD?) with the 3.6 GPA right off the table.</p>
<p>P.S.my engineering major daughter had a Dell laptop (high end) that was JUST FINE for engineering majors. Should I add that my husband, an engineer, picked it out? She just has to meet the system requirements. We got hers from the Dell outlet and 7 years later, it’s still working just fine!</p>
<p>She also somehow managed to live without an iPhone.</p>
<p>I went to UCSD (for Physics, not engineering) and I would probably take one of the other choices if I had to keep a 3.6. Not that it isn’t possible, but even though it is sort of a nerdy school, it is pretty much right on the beach, and that can be a bit distracting to a young man away from home for the first time (if you get my drift). At least that was my experience.</p>
<p>Agree with thumper1 . Discussion about schools/location/cost should have been made before applications went out.Now that the results are in, let him have some space to make his decision.
Son in engineering has had a Lenovo laptop all 4 years of school with no problem(also no Iphone). Each school will probably have different requirements so I don’t think you can really generalize on what is necessary.</p>
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<p>Here’s the thing: in NYC there are these things called TAXIS. There are the yellow kind that you hail randomly in the street, and then there are car services. You call them up and they send the kind of car you need. Hospital emergency rooms and discharge offices have lists of service providers that can send the kind of car you need, and they take credit cards.</p>
<p>Just because most New Yorkers (especially Manhattanites–we live in Brooklyn and have a car although we have lived for years without one) don’t have their own personal cars doesn’t mean that they are consigned to stay in the hospital discharge office forever because they can’t find someone to drive them home. It’s been many, many years since I went to college but I believe that there are infirmaries on campus that could monitor a student who is not ready to be on his/her own. And if there is not, there are services that provide perfectly competent, honest helpers to stay with those who live alone and don’t have anyone to help. There is no reason a student couldn’t avail him/herself of these services.</p>
<p>As far as I can tell Columbia is the clear choice here… All the “perks” of Regents at Berkeley would be automatic for every student at Columbia, wouldn’t they? The whole thing boils down to a distance “issue,” it seems like.</p>
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<p>Actually, while NYC is great for some grad students…for engineers, the better path if they can wing it is to do Berkeley for grad school as their graduate departments are where their strengths really are. </p>
<p>Moreover, if OP’s son is able to do this, his California-based employer would be nicely positioned to pay for the experience. Not to mention that if the employer pays…the grad schools concerned will sometimes lower their admission requirements to get the employer-provided tuition.</p>
![http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Interior_of_R62_Subway.jpg]File:Interior](http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Interior_of_R62_Subway.jpg%5DFile:Interior){kind=link}
