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I have been accepted into PhD programs at both NYU and Yale. Of course I have many, many points to consider in regards to the academic opportunities, but I would really like opinions of simply living in the two cities. I am currently living in the English countryside, so either will be a huge, but exciting, culture shock!
It appears they are both fairly even in terms of the offers, although Yale is offering almost $3000 in stipend more than NYU (I don't know how much this difference would affect standard of living).
Any kind of opinions are welcome - I could do with all the input I can get!
having lived in both cities, your sol will be greatly increased in new haven. you can probably get a nice spacious apt by the water (long island sound). new haven has a lot to offer re: culture, but, its primarily a college town. there are a lot of international students and the area is very picturesque. a definitely sketchy in parts. the city is small enough so you probably can't avoid the sketchiness. its also seen as a satellite city to nyc. its the final stop in the metro-north regional rail that goes back and forth into grand central station in manhattan. takes about 1.5 hrs.
the nyu area is arguably the best part of manhattan if not all of nyc. very vibrant, crowded. great restaurants, lounges, shopping you name it. its one of the greatest cities in the world similar to london. but the sol will be low. you'll definitely need roomates. really depends on how comfortably you want to live.
both schools are excellent and yale is big time. i knew a lot of phd students who went to yale and lived in new haven. and hit the train down to nyc on the weekends.
I mean, the answer to your topic is clearly New York (although I'm not sure New Haven is as bad as some make it out to be), but if you go to Yale it might be cheaper (NYU is notoriously expensive and ungenerous, and NYC space is $$$$$) and you might have more money to enjoy popping down to the city when you have free time.
Of course, you should choose based on what doctoral program appeals to you more, too.
NYC would be more exciting, but you won't be able to enjoy it much as a serious PhD student (and one without much money). If things were the other way around with NYU giving 3K more than Yale to offset the cost of living differences a bit, then I'd say NYU. But it's not.
I'd really just go with the program that seems "better" or more interesting.
Thank you every body! I'm flying out to visit both next week, so I hope that more information about the schools themselves will help me make my decision, but it's great to hear about the reality of living in these places rather than just reading what's in school prospectuses! Of course it should be based on which is the best program, but this will also be my life for the next several years.
I've visited NYC for leisure and absolutely get the excitement and vibrancy that you guys are talking about. Now I just have to see what kind of a feel I get in New Haven...
I've visited NYC for leisure and absolutely get the excitement and vibrancy that you guys are talking about. Now I just have to see what kind of a feel I get in New Haven..
New Haven is only 90 mins to Manhattan on the Metro North rail...you'll be going every weekend.
Yale is a better school, anyway.
Congrats!
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