New York University

At the time I went to NYU it was a very different school. Now-a-days it is primarily residential, compared to commuting back then. It is a great school for the education and variety of classes that it can offer (not to mention NYC is your learning and playground!), and now that it has more of an "on-campus" feel it should make for happier students that are not constantly communting, which made it feel like a job rather than schooling. If I could do it over again (and could have afforded it) I would definitely live at school OR gone to a campus school. So I suggest always living at school if you can. At the time I was there, it was also VERY competitive in the science classes, especially considering all of those students aiming for pre-med., dental or veterinary schooling. So would I go to NYU again? Absolutely. All that said, you can receive a very good education in many colleges/universities. As a physician, having gone through undergraduate and graduate schools (abroad) and having done fairly well, my best bit of advise is: YOU DON'T need the big name, expensive schools to achieve your goals. Don't break your parents bank accounts,don't put yourselves in debt, and don't get frustrated/obsessed with going to IVY league schools or IVY league "knock-offs". They are not worth it UNLESS there is something specific in that school that it alone offers towards your education or future. In the end, it is what is in YOU that will count on your success. Save the money (and frustration!) for graduate school or to use post-college for investing into your future life/business, etc. I am amazed at the students that are offered scholarships, including "free rides" to good schools, but instead choose to attend a "bigger name" school at full cost for no significant or tangible reason. In my opinion, that is short-sighted and egotistial, either on the students and/or parents part. As has been pointed out in recent publications, the students/parents that have that choice and make the more logical decision of saving now for something more important (or focused) later, fare better in the long-run. It only makes sense when you think about it: If you have enough presence of mind to take the money and education over the "big-name" big-buck school, who has the better "smarts" for living in the real world?! Finally, this is a time in your life when you have the chance to sit back and learn for learning's sake. You worked to get to college throughout high school, now is the time to just soak-up as much knowledge and information as you can before entering the "real-world". So stop going for just the grades, go for the enjoyment and learning (and some socialization!). If you are pre-med, don't forsake history or art courses. If you follow the standard pre-med biology/psychology curriculum as the masses will tend to do, aside from the "cut-throat" competiton you may find, you also end up missing out on so much else that your school can offer you. You rarely get this opportunity again to just be a student and not worry about much else - carpe diem and good luck!

Alumnus Male -- Class 2000