NYC schools, Columbia and NYU

[hunterx2]

Hi guys,

Is anybody else considering applying to these two schools but concerned about their location in NYC? I know that NYU has a large class size and hence my application fee gets me more bang for the buck, and Columbia is very prestigious and good for specializing, but I really cringe at the thought of having to live in NYC. I grew up in a large house in a small town and having to live in a studio for $1500/month would not be very fun. Is the quality of these schools enough to trump the possibly unpleasant living experience for 4 years?

Thanks.

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[Glimmer1991]

It's not that it's an unpleasant living experience. It's an unpleasant expense.

Is money no object or do you have HPSP? Both of these schools are VERY expensive.

If they weren't, heck, I'd be applying. I think that living in NYC for a few years while I'm young would actually be quite fun, and I'm not even the going-out type. It's just an exciting place to be. I also live in a small town and don't have living quarters, but I think living in the city would be an adventure. 🙂

 

[hunterx2]

Is money no object or do you have HPSP?

lol if money were no object I'd live in the Trump tower 🙂 I might go for the HPSP but even if I get that its only $ 2000/month which is nothing in NYC.

Are you only applying to 4 schools? I'm surprised with your stats you aren't applying to Harvard, Columbia, and Penn. My stats are almost as good as yours but I'm going for 12 just in case, half super prestigious, the other half regular places.

 

[periopocket]

Living in the city isn't all it's cracked up to be. In fact I feel it's an additional difficulty to deal with while in dental school : personal opinion :

 

[gn4]

Thought about applying to Columbia just because I wanted to live in NYC, but I've heard the commute to school takes at least an hour. Didn't want to do that. However, NYC would be a great place to live whilst young though

 

[ryansgs]

Living in the city isn't all it's cracked up to be. In fact I feel it's an additional difficulty to deal with while in dental school : personal opinion :

I live here and this quote is very right. OP, go to a NY school if you don't get into other schools that are in better locations.

 

[Baba Yaga]

I'm originally from NYC (lived there most of my life, though am located elsewhere now) and it's damn expensive to live there. Even if you get HPSP, $2k/month isn't going to go too far, especially if you want to live in a nice area/close to the school and have some fun money.

 

[iwillbedds]

NYU is located in a very nice area but Columbia is NOT!! and to OP you going to be spending much time in the library studying anyways so no need to have a large expensive apartment...

 

[Baba Yaga]

NYU is located in a very nice area but Columbia is NOT!! and to OP you going to be spending much time in the library studying anyways so no need to have a large expensive apartment...

Yeah, I assumed OP would want to live in a nicer area in Manhattan (I say nicer because everything is relative hahaha). That's what my non-New Yorker friends who moved to NYC after college seem to prefer. If not, OP could end up in a not nice area or with a longer commute. Or both. It really depends what the OP's preferences in terms of living arrangements actually are, but NYC has a much higher cost of living than other places around the country, so the same amount of $$ does not get you as far.

Idk, it all seems like a hassle to me if you're taking out many loans (tuition is high at NYU and Columbia) or living on HPSP---you're not even going to have much time/money to enjoy the city...at that rate, what's the point of being in NYC? It's much better to move there after graduation with less loans and actually try to live there IMO. Everyone has the right to his/her opinion, and I'm sure others might have a different one from mine. I do know that my opinion is shared by many practicing dentists I have met, including a dentist I shadowed who turned down a state school to go to Columbia. YMMV.

 

[Springs01]

You're going to have to live very modestly for the next four years anyways unless you're filthy rich.
NYC isn't so bad. I don't think the location should be an issue. Also, if you're willing to commute a little, there are other boroughs outside of the city itself, such as bronx, brooklyn, and queens which tend to be much cheaper when it comes to housing. And you get easily get to the city via the subway in less than an hour.

But like others have said, I think tuition is the biggest thing to consider when applying to Columbia and NYU.

 

[ktran17]

Doesn't columbia have student housing?

 

[Glimmer1991]

Are you only applying to 4 schools? I'm surprised with your stats you aren't applying to Harvard, Columbia, and Penn. My stats are almost as good as yours but I'm going for 12 just in case, half super prestigious, the other half regular places.

Cost is a major factor to me--I don't want to be saddled with 500k of debt. Those prestigious schools don't have scholarships, and I honestly think I can become a competent dentist regardless of the school. They're all good! 🙂 I've applied to only the schools that I would really consider attending, which has clinical strength, cost, and location combined.

Literally, if I couldn't get into anything affordable, I'd take a year off, strengthen my application, and try again the next year. If I only had super expensive options the second time, I guess I'd stomach it. There is a threshold, though, where the cost is just too much. I am lucky to have two awesome state schools. 🙂 Also, UConn lets students switch to in-state residency, and UoP sometimes gives scholarships. Obviously, there are other reasons I picked these schools, but that's a big one!

 

[periopocket]

Living in the city, dealing with the hustle bustle, handling the high costs associated with this and the commuting is frankly a mess during dental school. This is why I decided not to attend a school in this type of city. I like the fact that I can live less than a mile from school, walk If I need to, drive and park my car there if I need to, walk home for lunch...etc. I also was able to get a bedroom 15x18 in a 3500 square foot house with parking, laundry, and all utilities included for under $500 a month. This is just not possible in the city, I tried.

 

[hunterx2]

Thanks for all the helpful responses guys. I honestly thought that more ppl would defend NYC and how great it supposedly is but I guess it needs to be weighed against the high cost of living and other hassles. I've therefore decided not to apply to either school and pocket the $180 plus supp fee 🙂

Glimmer1991, you are really lucky to have 2 state schools in a relatively small state. I'll be applying to UNC oos but they only take a couple of ppl a year.

 

[iwillbedds]

I will be applying to Columbia although I don't think i have a chance with my low scores but just saying if I get accepted to NYU or Columbia I will just go to NYU because safer area. i wouldn't care for IVY school 😕

 

[518590]

as glimmer said,
I wouldn't mind living in the city as an young adult, just because I am young.

I'm not applying to NYU because of the same concern that you have, but decided to apply to columbia
just because columbia is located a little bit less crazy side of the city

 

[KittySquared]

Doesn't columbia have student housing?

Good luck trying to get that if you're not from the city. Flushing, Queens residents etc basically are on their own for housing.



I like how every predent think s/he is going to land HPSP. It's getting more and more competitive by the minute. If you're applying to an Ivy or anywhere with a massive price tag you aren't willing to pay, don't automatically assume HPSP is going to come save your day.