New York University Top Questions

Go with whichever school makes the best impression....there is no right answer

NYU has a price tag of $50,000+, an insurmountable burden on my parents. Gandalf the Grey is still falling down my hole of debt. So I?m making the most of my education. Perhaps there?s a bit of fatalist theory in me, but everything happens for a reason. I was forced to turn down my first choice, but freshmen year was incredible. I couldn?t imagine being anywhere else. The application process probably drove you mad, but remember: you will attend a school. Consider advice from others, consider academic prestige?but choose a college that'll allow you to challenge yourself, pursue pulsing ambitions, grow, and be happy/successful?even if means compromising parental wishes. But keep an open mind. Keep your passions within reach, allow your education to serve as cornerstones for your career path, but look into universities with arrays of options and room for exploration. Approach someone who intrigues you; be open to new relationships, perspectives, environments; balance the social and academic aspects of college; be independent but don?t be afraid to seek guidance, step out of your comfort zone, carve out your own opportunities, take an unexpected class, take the stage, have fun.

Even despite price, go where you want to. I know I'm going to be in debt for quite a while, but at least I'm not going to ever have to wonder, "what if..." I'm attending a school I want to be attending. That's the most important thing of all.

There's an ethos to a campus that the student will perceive the minute they walk onto it. (In order to get an accurate feel for a campus, try to visit on a day when classes are being held.) The parents have to respect their kids' gut reactions to this ethos, for that feeling will be with them for their entire college career. Also, most students can be happy at most schools, so, as cliche as it sounds, it really isn't the end of the world if you don't get your first choice. The student should also try and isolate what is important to them at a university: community, traditions, homework, professors, size, job opportunities, etc. and do their best to get a real sense of these things. Speaking to a student (usually not in the admissions office) is a good way to do this. Asking what they most like and most hate about the college can be useful. Also, if you care about community, during the tour, watch to see how many people greet each other (or the tour guide) while walking around campus. At school, pursue all your passions without worrying about anyone or anything else.

Finding the "right fit" is not about which is most prestigious, what's the highest ranked, etc. It's about the environment and community that feels best to the student; where they feel most "at home." While visiting, parents should keep their opinions of the schools to themselves untill after the student has expressed their opinion, as to not dilute the opinion of the student in making their decision. While at school, the student should keep a balance of hard work mixed with fun, as to balance out the stress involved with classes and activities. Pressure by parents and self-applied stress are the two biggest sources of unhappiness in the college experience.

That is it very important to pick a place where you feel comfortable, and where you could imagine living even after you graduate. It is also important to think about the kind of atmosphered the place has in terms of academics, because that will most likely shape you for many years to come. I would also strongly advice picking a school with interesting study abroad options.

Be very open. While I was blessed to get into the college of my dreams the cost of such school is starting to wear on my family and myself I wish I could have seen myself at a variety of places. However, if you just have to go to that school that you always wanted and the reality of the workload, cost and location seems unrealistic, be prepared to manage time well and don't forget to make time for a social life. After all, once homework is done, work is over and your near collapse, friends will revive you.

When choosing a college I would first really think about the type of enviroment that one would want to spend the next four years in. After the first year of campus life students may move off campus and start exploring the surrounding areas- and I would want to have options off campus. I also would suggest getting to know people who are in the same program as yourself, including students, professors, and faculty. These are the people who are going through a similar academic experience and can help you decide and form what your future will look like.

Visit different colleges to get a feel of what it's like to go there. If you can, go without your parents or friends who will influence your perspective on the school. During your visit, try to talk to an array of different students, not just the tour guides (but talk to them, too!). I would also advise picking a school not just on academics, but on location, size, extracurricular opportunities, and politics. Plus, your academic interests will probably change during your four years, so it's important to pick a school that offers more than just the area of concentration you think you want to go in to (unless you're 99.99{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} sure that's what you want to do). The most important piece of advice I can give, though, is to relax! Remember that you can always transfer if you don't like your school, and contrary to popular belief, Ivy Leagues are not always the best choice, so stopping stressing about getting into one. Once you go to college, school rankings and status are not nearly as important as they seem while you're searching. Good luck!

This may be the most cliche answer, but it's true: listen to your heart. When you find the right school, it should all just click. I chose my college because of instinct. I knew it was where I wanted to be the moment I heard about it. It's also important to research, to know enough about the college so you know you're making the right choice. While for me, the fact that my college was in the heart of the city was enough for me, I was able to find a myriad of other benefits that my mom found attractive. It's about compromise, and it's about thought and research. Overall, it should feel right to you. Making the most of your college experience means following your heart as well. Pick a major you love, join a club or sport that you have a passion for, use your school to make the experience right for you. College is really about self-discovery so try new things, face your fears, and prepare yourself for any challenges you'll find in life. So visit colleges, google them endlessly, and when you find your match, you'll know.