Freshman at Cornell looking to transfer to NYU Seeking Advice
I'm currently a freshman at Cornell CAS Econ and I have an offer to attend NYU CAS Econ but NYU provides 0 aid for transfers, meaning I would have to pay sticker price ($90k-$100k per year) for the next three years. I am not from a well-off background so Cornell is covering about 75% of my cost of attendance (I pay around $20k per year). Meaning I would have to take out close to $300K in loans if I took NYU.
I understand this is not a move many would consider since NYU will be a severe downgrade in terms of prestige/placement as well as financial cost. However, as it is severely depressing here, I am considering the move for location/culture/lifestyle. I also keep experiencing the notion that I'm supposed to be having a blast in college, especially because I am going to be dicked down after grad by stint years since I am dead dick and balls set on doing IB after graduation.
So is the money and downgrade in quality/prestige worth it for mental health? Does the debt put my plan dead in the water?
There is a shit load of emotions factoring into my decision right now, so I would really appreciate some input.
An alternative plan would be to stay at Cornell until I sign an offer sophomore spring, then spend the next two years at NYU.
Edit: Thanks for the comments and advice. The financials of transferring really makes it a non-option so I am gonna stick it out here and see what happens. On that note, might get a guinea pig for my dorm. Would an RA notice?
Cornell is a great school and I likely wouldn’t make this move. It also places well for IB, so I think you really need to ask yourself why you want to move.
Are you having trouble with the social life at Cornell? Are you in any clubs or greek life? Simply transferring to NYU to hang out with your friends seems like a bad idea imo. Also considering the cost differential, it makes zero sense in my mind to do this.
I’d consider joining some clubs and getting more involved in groups if you’re feeling down socially. Just because you’re in NYC doesn’t mean you won’t be lonely / depressed…
It’s mostly location for me. I have some friends here I hang out with but I think the physical isolation from an urban area is really getting to me.
Dude I am from the LES and went to Cornell. Ithaca is a blast if you know what to do. No offense to NYU, but getting to go to college in a collegetown is so much better for someone coming from an urban background.
I’m from the suburbs of Dallas so going to college in NYC would be really nice for me. Ik a lot of people who are happy in Ithaca but it’s personal preference for me.
as someone who hated living in a college town in the beginning, you gotta find your hobbies and things to do that you will like there. (maybe like getting into running, joining some clubs, going to a rock climbing gym, etc).
also if you are tight on money you are gonna spend so much on food, going out, entertainment in NY so it’s pretty dumb decision to do that
My gut reaction is that you’re incorrectly faulting Cornell for your mental health issues and relying on your friends at NYU as a crutch. You’re choosing to go from one of the biggest Wall Street feeders to basically a semi-target since you won’t be in Stern. And you’ll be paying hundreds of thousands more for that downgrade. How does this make any sense?
First step is addressing your mental health issues. Make friends, exercise, have fun, etc. Once you feel better, you’ll realize that Cornell has a ton to offer. Diverse student population, solid school spirit, great party scene, beautiful campus with lots of outdoorsy shit to do. If you truly can’t enjoy it, just tough it out and know that NYC will still be there for you in three years. If anything, take the $300k delta to travel down to the city every weekend. Also remember that you’ll likely be in the city every summer anyway.
If you really can’t figure out the mental health issues and also can’t tough it out, I guarantee that you won’t make it past a year in IB. Being brutally honest with you here. Good luck.
Thanks for the words. I make sure to be proactive about my situation at Cornell but the location is just not cutting it for me. I'd like to reiterate that Cornell is a great school for many but its just not the right fit for me. I am pretty sure I can tough it out until after recruiting but I can't picture myself graduating from here, that's why I'm considering transferring to another school after I have an offer on lock. Again, I appreciate the honest advice.
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Sorry man but this is the price you pay for not having a rich dad.
You’re just going to have to stay at your Ivy League school for three years and somehow try to enjoy college life.
Woe is you.
I went to school in a rural town and hated it. Went through a very very dark time when I had everything going for me. Not much to do but financially didn’t make sense to transfer and looking back, anywhere I would have gone would have been a massive downgrade and having no debt anymore really helps. I ended up leaving campus every weekend with my sports team, clubs, or with friends and it helped a ton. Join a random club, talk to new people, and try to push your way through it. NYU is not worth 300k and it won’t solve your problems.
I don't go to either of these schools, but would hard disagree that Cornell is an "a significantly better & more prestigious university than NYU." Students are of the same caliber and finance placements are pretty much identical and should be bracketed in the same tier.
I believe the advice to stay at Cornell is correct along with most of what those commenters recommended. The one other item I'd consider is plan and schedule your study away now as a target for a change of scenery. If your willing to take on loans for NYU then doing a semester abroad shouldn't be a stretch. Schedule it so it doesn't screw up recruiting.
Also, if your not happy you may want to consider the classes / direction you have chosen. IB is that great big prize but maybe try some different classes to see if anything sparks an interest.
I empathize because I’m sure there are schools people dont feel a fit at however please consider the following before you take out life changing debt (300k principal with interest making it much higher) which will cripple you financially for uour whole life:
- NYU social scene is extremely clickey. My experience with many nyuers (especislly business studenta) is that they’re snakey, and the average student is pretty shallow. I’ve met so many people who complain about feeling lonely at NYU.
- it sounds like you’re making the move for just your friends. What if things go south between you and them? Then you’re telling me you took out a gigantic loan for that ? Speaking from experience, friendships come and go, but a 300k debt will be there for a long time…
- Have you taken therapy? This is important. I think making a big decision, especially as financially damaging as this one should only be made after getting help from therapy and internalizing what is bothering you. Is it really just the school?
- Similar to therapy, have you tried to make Cornell work for you? Have you joined clubs/sports teams, socialized? Cornell has so many clubs/teams
i cant emphasize enough how damaging taking out the loan you’re about to take out is. Fuck the school names, yes cornell is ranked much higher than nyu, but 300k is like almost losing a leg.
Please make sure to put in a significant time and effort before you make this decision.
I care a lot about you making the right decision so double posting. One of my favorite sayings is:
”The curr should not be worse than the disease”. Taking on a 300k plus loan to be closer to friends that you may not talk to a year from today, move to a school that is known for having non-collaborative and shallow students, will not be the right move for you. I think if you do this, you’ll regret this decision your whole life. Do some math and think about how much these loans will dedu t from your monthly cash flow.
Thanks for the care and thought man. Yeah reviewing my sallie mae portal for my cornell loans was a slap to the face for me. I am just gonna toughen it out and see how it goes since the financials of transferring make it a non-option.
Not worth from a career prospect perspective but if it means the world for you socially and mentally then.. go for it. NYU is not without its faults though so beware it’s not all parties and fun
Switching would be a shockingly bad decision. Do your best to enjoy your college town + Ivy League education (at 75% off sticker), then spend the next decade+ enjoying Manhattan.
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