<p>I posted this already in the Transfer Students forum, but I thought it would be nice to have some parent feedback on the issue.</p>
<p>I am currently a sophomore in college who is applying for transfer to several schools, and I am considering Pace University in New York City as one of them. I have visited a friend there twice for a weekend stay, took a formal campus tour, and spoke with an admissions counselor. As of right now, I am seriously considering Pace as a transfer option because I really like the social atmosphere there and I think I would be very happy.</p>
<p>However, I am also applying to NYU (Gallatin), Fordham (Lincoln Center, Individualized Major) and Barnard (Film Studies, Sociology). These schools are all a little more prestigeous (and expensive!) than Pace, as I’m sure everybody knows.I am just a little worried that going to Pace, which is not as prestiegious, will hurt me in the long run when I am looking for employment.</p>
<p>On the Transfer Student forum, some students pointed out that choosing prestiege is worth it because NYU, Fordham, and Barnard can offer more programs and resources because they have more money. Another student pointed out that the campus may have seemed a little more attractive because I was visiting a friend.</p>
<p>Do you (parents) think it’s okay to choose social atmosphere over prestiege? I don’t doubt that I could have fun and make friends at NYU, Fordham, or Barnard, but I felt really comfortable at Pace, like I was on the same level as the students and the people that I talked to, which I like. Which do you think, however, will benefit me most in the long run?</p>
<p>cg86 - depends on what you’re wanting from college… if it’s an education, be sure that PACE is able to meet your needs academically! IMHO prestige & atmosphere are parts of the puzzle, but the most impt piece is the LEARNING!</p>
<p>Are you planning on going to graduate school? If so, you may well want to save the money and go to Pace, do REALLY well, and save the “prestige” school for graduate school. You can get a good education at any of these schools. I live in the NY area and yes, NYU and Barnard are more prestigious, Fordham a bit more presitgious than Pace but not that much, at least from what I know. Also remember many really bright students go to Pace and other state universities because of the price, so employers will not just “assume” you couldn’t get into a more prestigious school.
That being said, why not spend some more time at the other schools. Find a “friend” (maybe the admissions office can help you) - you need to find out whether your enjoyment of Pace is because it truly is the best fit for you, or simply that you enjoyed it because you had a friend to make it enjoyable. You are in a great spot - your first choice school is also one you are likely to get into, so you really can’t lose. See where you get in, explore it more, and go where you want.</p>
<p>Imo, neither “making friends” nor “prestige” belong high on the list of criteria that determine “fit.” </p>
<p>There’s probably some threshhold for social compatibility that needs to be crossed but, again imo, unless the social presence reminds you of rubbing your face against a cheese grater, social considerations shouldn’t signify.</p>
<p>Note that I also roll my eyes at prestige-driven students who post things like, “Which has more prestige, Brown or Columbia?” However, I’d put your other three schools in one group, Pace in another.</p>
<p>Feeling comfortable at a school is very important. I would venture that many people who transfer do not transfer because they went into the wrong academic level out of high school (excluding Community College transfers), but they are unhappy at their current school socially. Why go to a school that makes you think “I guess I can manage” when you can go to a school where you feel “man I love it here”? I agree with TheDad that academics are important, but if you aren’t happy, you won’t be getting everything out of your academics.</p>
<p>I vote for Pace. Doing well there will lead you to a good graduate school. However, if you aren’t planning on grad school, you might want to spend the extra money on undergrad.</p>
<p>Thank you guys for your advice - it is much appreciated. I definitely plan on going to graduate school, though I may not start right out of undergrad. I think saving my money for grad school may be something to really consider, and my mother definitely agrees.</p>
<p>I will definitely go and spend some time at the other schools and try to visit Pace (without my friend) because I think it’s important for me to get a feel for each atmosphere before I go and make any decisions. </p>
<p>I am unhappy at my current school both academically and socially - I have really outgrown my environment and it no longer suits me the way that I thought it would. I did make the right decision to go to my current school - I don’t regret my decision at all, it just so happens that it isn’t right anymore, and I feel that Pace could possibly be able to provide what I want, socially and academically.</p>
<p>I guess I just didn’t want to be passed over for employment because of what college I went to. Sometimes I feel like people get defined by what college or university they attend. I don’t doubt that there are wonderful and bright kids at Pace, and it’s definitely a serious consideration of mine. When it comes down to it, I think I need to give academics and environment equal consideration, and I will certainly do that.</p>
<p>Again, thanks for the advice. Everyone here got me thinking about a lot of things, and for that I am appreciative.</p>
<p>If you are a good interviewee and a hard worker and good to have on a team no one will deny you employment for going to Pace unless you were trying to work for McKinsey or Bain or Goldman Sachs right after college. And even those firms, if you did absolutely fabulously in school and had some amazing work experience might not be able to deny you.</p>
<p>Have you done the same due diligence at the other three schools, that is stayed overnight, toured the campus and talked to an admissions officer? Im a native New Yorker and Pace is known primarily as a commuter college. (I assume you were talking about the Westchester campus because Pace doesnt really have much of a campus in New York City.) I dont think many people from New York City would think of Pace as having a superior social life to the other three schools you mention. Before you decide, if it is possible and you havent yet done so, try to do the same thing at the other three colleges that you did at Pace so you can do an “apples to apples” comparison. Good Luck!</p>
<p>To sixsixty - That is the logical thing to do, but once decisions arrive I don’t have alot of time to compare and contrast before I need to make deposits and decide on housing options and things like that. If I can have some of the initial decision making process ironed out beforehand, it will save me from making last - minute spur of the moment decisions that will have a serious impact on the rest of my life. I don’t know if I’ll get into any of these schools (admissions these days is so random!), but thinking about it now will help me later when I get the decisions.</p>
<p>PDaddy - You are probably right, as are the others who suggested that I do that. Thinking it through, I haven’t done an “apples to apples” comparison. I haven’t stayed overnight at the other colleges (except Barnard, but that was two years ago when I applied as a freshman). I did visit, but not as much or as in - depth as Pace.</p>
<p>Also, I am speaking of Pace in New York City. Although Pace is primarily a commuter college, I would be looking to live in university housing, probably in one of the dorms in Brooklyn Heights. It wasn’t that I thought Pace had a superior social life, it’s just that I felt alot more comfortable there (and I admit that it may have had something to do with having a friend there) than I did at the other schools in terms of alot of things, including the classes I visted and the admissions officers that I spoke with. As far as social life outside of school, all of the colleges are on an equal playing field because they are all in New York City. It’s the internal social life that I felt a little more comfortable with.</p>
<p>Alumother - Thanks for the advice. I am going to check out the opportunities that I would have at Pace. I know NYU is very focused on having their undergraduates do internships, but I don’t see that same job placement enthusiasm at the other schools, so that’s something that I will have to look into more.</p>
<p>Everyone, thank you again for the advice and the suggestions. I really do appreciate everyone’s input!</p>