CUNYs Vs Privates

[UpsonDowns]

Originally Posted by jaimeblt

If you go to a more well-regarded college, it'll be easier to get into grad school because your undergrad is taken into consideration by the admissions committees. Some may not like that, but it's true. That said, it's plenty possible to get into grad school from a CUNY; just remember you have to have a higher GPA than someone who graduates from NYU.

It depends on the degree and the rigor of your program. The admissions officers don't assume that you are a better student only because you paid more for a degree. I worked in higher ed for five years and know this for a fact.

[Otis_Nevins]

If you get a scholarship to NYU take it and don't look back. Otherwise, if you get in, great! But, if you have to pay, and don't have the funds readily available (i.e., you have to borrow): don't. CCNY/CUNY are excellent schools, despite the open enrollment. Of course, you're not going to get to wear the NYU sweatshirt, but, ah, it's all vanity.

I live close to the Union Square dorm (ex Palladium) and let me say this: NYU has more than its share of loaded "chicks" on weekends. Their parents should be proud.

[MattSiggs]

I attend the Macaulay Honors College at CSI.

I think what people aren't taking into consideration is the close, one on one advisement of the MHC. I'm pre-law and I've met with countless people about internships and law schools already, and I'm only a sophomore.

The Honors College is really nothing to joke around about. Personally, I would go to the MHC, judging from my experience here. I constantly get asked about applying for internships and scholarships, and the student to adviser ratio is amazingly small.

So while you can take the college's name into consideration, nothing beats personal attention from people that want to ensure you get into a big name grad school. Remember, Macaulay is new, and they are eager to see their students get into good grad schools in order to really establish their name.

[Amerie]

GO TO CUNY. Brooklyn College, Hunter College and Queens College have a lot of money. They are also feeder schools into professional graduate programs med school, law phd etc. The Honors program is one of the best and you will have many opportunities to excel on their dime. And don't worry about contacts - CUNY has contacts too. Some professors teaching in NYC may double dip and teach at other universities in the city.

I went to NYU and my sister who is into science went to BC and Hunter and she got a much better education in my opinion than I did. For example, the program at Hunter was a Master's and the only one in the city in her specialization area and they have more jobs for students then they can fill. NYU and Columbia don't have programs in that area.

Brooklyn College is a feeder into medical school. If you are going to do science, you may want to consider going there. They have a lot of research opportunities and funding for students as does Hunter. My sister received a ton of money and research opportunities from both BC and Hunter. She and others I know have gone on to Ivory league and other top tier doctoral programs with full funding and others have gone to various highly ranked professional schools (medical, law).

Not trying to force you into a CUNY but I really suggest that you DO NOT incur debt for biology. College will be WHAT YOU MAKE OF IT. I did private but I also basically got a free ride. The biology department at NYU is horrible. If you want to go to NYU - go for grad school. Their resources and contacts are outstanding.

Good Luck

[jaimeblt]

Originally Posted by UpsonDowns

It depends on the degree and the rigor of your program. The admissions officers don't assume that you are a better student only because you paid more for a degree. I worked in higher ed for five years and know this for a fact.

I stand corrected. I assumed NYU was great across the board.

[sirtiger]

Originally Posted by nyoka

I graduated from NYU (Stern) a few years ago. If you go to GSP you will take all your general requirements your first two years and will get an automatic transfer into CAS after your second year. Your degree will say NYU at the end and no one will know you were in GSP externally unless you tell them. GSP does get put down within the school quite a bit...I remember a few GSP jokes...but not to anyone's face, mostly because the GSP courses are much easier and everyone from GSP came to Stern with a 4.0 while the rest of us were suffering through the tougher classes and taking many of the Stern classes which have a strict curve. Is your SAT out of 2400? If it's out of 1600 I'm shocked that CAS didn't take you outright but I guess times have changed. I don't know how important name recognition is to the graduate programs you're applying to or in the science field so I can't be of much help. If you were going into a field where name matters a great deal then I would definitely tell you to go to NYU. If it doesn't, then you can save money and go to CUNY, get all A's, and go to a good grad school.

Being a Stern alum myself....yes the stern curve sucks... but I didn't think it was all that tough in my personal experience. There is some intense competition.

Its def. true that GSP is the laughing stock of NYU schools. The course are not that easy as there is a lot of reading involve The classes are very intimate and small. Its a real shame that they don't the recognition they deserve. Figure which school you want to really go to and know what GPA u need to get you there.

One thing I learned is that if you are that smart & driven, you WILL succeed in life. You can't be denied of that. The school on the piece of paper does help but its not everything in life. It def. open doors for me and get me access to a lot of interviews...but it was all about me to really succeed in life.

If you have specific ques, feel free to PM me as I know a handful of people who went to GSP.

[emroyka]

I will say this - I was lucky to not have undergrad debt, but the amount I accumulated from med school alone is horrendous enough that I'd be truly screwed if I had any more. Especially going into pediatrics which is comparatively lower-paying.

That said, you do have to take into account that prestige helps in getting into med school in the first place. But don't discount the debt because chances are it will make a difference later on.