chilly8

i am going to assume the track questions are different because the students that were interviewed with me were all clinical. they ask why social work, why hunter, what experiences led you to choose social work!

got accepted today but I am declining it because I like NYU's location and program better.

After seeing hunter, I am choosing NYU. I don't feel safe in the area, and there is no where to grab food or to hangout and relax. It was a very weird vibe and I am willing to pay more money for safety and a better area.

So sorry Astoriagal but Columbia will be amazing!!! What did everyone answer for why hunter?

I am in the same boat... I have an interview this week at Hunter, and it is my top choice. I am in love with NYU but honestly the loans are stressing me out way too much... I would feel a lot less anxiety at Hunter. Plus Hunter is a great school and well known in the tri state area and a lot of successful social workers come out of that program!

I would say hunter is your top choice and you have deadlines from other schools! My friends application went straight to pending program decision no interview... is that a rejection? I have my interview this week! How should I prepare? what questions do they ask? how many questions? thanks

Riemann, I am so glad you felt the same way. I thought I was the only one who was annoyed by their viewpoint. I am graduating from a state school where people are much more down to earth and I honestly am praying I get into Hunter because the people are much more realistic than the ivy league. It is a huge switch from public to ivy league. There were faculty members there who did a panel, there were four who ran each "concentration". When one was asked a question she replied "you don't have to worry about anything you have Columbia on your resume". I really didn't like the feel at all and couldn't justify taking out 90k in loans for the school that I already didn't like. I like NYU much much better, the students are much nicer, Greenwich village is an amazing location and it's a clinical only program. Def will be declining Columbia based on the vibe I got today.

I went and hated it. I felt like everyone was too pretentious, and not realistic. They made it seem like Columbia was so amazing and you were gonna get a stellar job meanwhile when I asked about the salary of grads they said 45k. I went to NYU right after and it was a much better fit. The area is much more lively than the Columbia campus.

I talked to financial aid at my school they said that alternative means it isn't guaranteed to get those loans since they go based on credit score but def lower interest/easier to get than private bank loans, @jharper the max you can take out for federal is $20,500 a year for grad school so their numbers are wrong if they say $41,000!

mine took 2 days! I would call

It's 38 per year but they add in 20 thousand for living expenses, mine was 7 thousand scholarship, 3 thousand work study, 40 thousand grad plus and 20 unsubsidized

I got 9500 in scholarship, no work study though I want to call tomorrow because at this rate my loans are at 77k for 2 years and NYU is still 66k!

still havent received an email to interview even though my app status changed! How long before you all got emails?

I want to be an LCSW so their program is focused on clinical aspects only. Plus Columbia would be about 30 thousand more right now... as I wait for financial aid. I have heard bad things about Columbia's field placement, as a first year you have no say. I like that NYU takes your resume and interests into account even for first year field placements. I also love NYU's location and campus. I talked to a career advisor at my school and she said the name doesn't matter in social work at all, and other people's experiences will help me understand it from a more complete view. I talked to a girl at Columbia and she seemed okay with the program, didn't seem too excited or enthusiastic. Although it is an ivy, i really don't want to get caught up in it because the name doesn't matter too much especially since I am staying in NY.

I am leaning towards NYU but visiting columbia this Saturday so we will see