NYU: 90k a year (no financial aid) MADE DEPOSIT
UCSD: 50k a year (haven’t received my FAFSA yet but probably won’t get aid)
I have until May 15th to make a decision.
This is my second post talking about these offers. In my first one, I was unsure about affording NYU but both my parents have since told me that affording NYU will not be a problem, and just want me to make the best choice based on the college offers themselves without thinking about money at all.
So I need help with choosing the best school that will offer the best experiences for me and my future success.
I got into UCSD for World Literature and Culture (Marshall College) and also got into NYU spring admission (start January 27th, 2025, makeup Fall semester in the Summer so would be back on track starting sophomore year) into the Liberal Studies Core. I’m a senior in southern California, and I am having a hard time making a choice.
I’m not 100% sure what I want to major in. I think it would be cool to make documentaries for a living because I love journalism and film. At the same time, I also want to make a lot of money and NYU’s LS Core gives me the flexibility to transition to business or other majors which are other potential interests. At UCSD, which I know is better for STEM, I’m not sure if I can change from my major of world literature, and switch degrees to something STEM (likely impacted majors). But I am, in general, a really well-rounded person with academics and open to pursuing changing interests.
I feel like UCSD is a good choice- perfect weather beautiful area, beach volleyball courts right by my college, and beautiful beaches.
ON the other hand, I cannot deny how reknowned NYU is in terms of humanities, prestige, and name. I also think it would be cool to not live in California my whole life and try out the city which I hear is “lit” from some of my friends in college on the east coast right now. (although some seniors last year that went to the East Coast for the most part wished they stayed in Cali, which worries me). I have a combined 6 weeks experience at East Coast cities- manhattan included, and I had a good time, so I don’t think I’ll be miserable in New York City, although when I went to tour NYU (which the tour got canceled from demonstrations so I had to do a self-guided) I did kind of feel like the air and some of the buildings were gross, but the park and library was really cool.
The main thing keeping me from fully committing to NYU is the spring start, which is kind of weird to me, right now I plan on using that fall gap semester to work and take community college classes to get as much credit and grind so the spring transition to college is easier. I’ve also talked to other spring admits who had for the most part a good experience with it, so idk how bad it would really be, it would just mostly suck to not start college while all my friends are.
My preferences for college are thus: mid size, (ideally good weather at least sometimes), cool people (I have been told I give NYU sstuent/ and would blend in well there). Not interested in greek life, good intramural sport opportunities, smaller class sizes, fun things to do, good teachers, nice dorms, academically motivated ppl, and security after graduation.
I was originally going to fully commit to NYU but started second guessing myself with the spring admission and thought about me missing the nature and weather here in California, but ultimately it’s still such a hard choice.
Im also waiting on some good waitlists, such as UCB, UCLA, and Columbia however I have a feeling the chances are slim with those (but who knows maybe the protests will change that)