NYU or Hunter?

[uwskate]

Hi Everyone,

Last week I found out that I was accepted into the NYU Clinical MSW program (yay!) I am now waiting for the decision from Hunter. I went in for my group interview 2 weeks ago. NYU is giving me three weeks to decide and I am worried that if I do in fact get accepted into Hunter I will have to make a very difficult decision rather quickly. So I wanted to throw it out there to everyone, Hunter or NYU? I do understand the obvious tuition difference. I have lived in NYC for 11 years and I am financially independent though do not make much money at all. That being said I would be saving a ton of money by going to Hunter. I also would be counting on my FAFSA scholarships and loans to make it all happen. My focus is very much on the clinical side, especially working with children and adolescents. Is Hunter recognized the way NYU is in other states?

Hunter or NYU - what would you do?

[avas]

I would go with Hunter. I also applied to both of those schools (for mental health counseling). I'm in Boston and several people I've spoken to here, who are professionals in the field, have said excellent things about Hunter, but have not said a peep about NYU when I told them where I applied. Which program do you like better?

[jrbmsw2011]

I would go with Hunter. Everyone that I know who has gone to NYU or Columbia, and Fordham alumni, have all said if they could have chosen differently they would have gone to Hunter. I think because Hunter is the most competitive, financially better, has a good clinical track. When did you interview? I also interviewed earlier this month and am nervously waiting for an answer.

[accepted]

I would pick hunter. I am currently in columbia and although I think it's great and worth the money, if I would have had the choice of hunter theres a decent chance I would have chosen it because of its price. They have a very good clinical program and NYC knows it.

[uwskate]

Thanks for the input! Still waiting to hear from Hunter so maybe I am brainstorming for nothing but hey. My main Hunter hesitation is that I have always wanted to go to NYU plan and simple. They allow you to do electives your second year in the creative arts therapy program ( my undergrad was in psychology and creative arts therapy) which is a bonus. NYU is also more flexible as far as field placement, and they work from a psychodynamic approach ( the main reason a friend of mine chose Fordham over NYU, but unlike her I like that approach.) I have no intention in working in policy or administration. After graduation I hope to work with groups and individuals in a clinical environment utilizing the Creative Arts Therapy certification I have, while working towards becoming licensed, and eventually a LCSW. Does anyone have any suggestions of reading materials that compare the programs?

jrbmsw2011 what time was your interview on the 7th? I was in on the 5:30pm group!

[ineffableshe]

Thanks for the input! Still waiting to hear from Hunter so maybe I am brainstorming for nothing but hey. My main Hunter hesitation is that I have always wanted to go to NYU plan and simple. They allow you to do electives your second year in the creative arts therapy program ( my undergrad was in psychology and creative arts therapy) which is a bonus. NYU is also more flexible as far as field placement, and they work from a psychodynamic approach ( the main reason a friend of mine chose Fordham over NYU, but unlike her I like that approach.) I have no intention in working in policy or administration. After graduation I hope to work with groups and individuals in a clinical environment utilizing the Creative Arts Therapy certification I have, while working towards becoming licensed, and eventually a LCSW. Does anyone have any suggestions of reading materials that compare the programs?

jrbmsw2011 what time was your interview on the 7th? I was in on the 5:30pm group!

from what i was told at my hunter interview, hunter lets you pick your second year field placement. that might have just been the community organizing program.

[MaggieDot]

Need some advice, guys!

 

I applied to NYU and Hunter, thought NYU would be out of my price range but ended up being accepted to both programs and was offered a $12,000/year scholarship at NYU. Now it looks like the two programs are about equal in price (with Hunter's out-of-state tuition 1st year + resident tuition second year). 

 

I'm interested in becoming licensed (LCSW) after my degree, but also want to be well rounded in policy and research. 

 

NYU

- Clinical focus

- Has professors whose interests relate closely to my own

- Is a name

 

Hunter

- Is more selective than NYU

- Greater diversity/stronger social justice & anti-oppression focus

- Is also very well respected in NY/tri-state area

 

Still need to find out more info on class sizes and how available professors are at each program--that's really important, too. 

 

Any opinions or advice? I have about a week to decide and am very torn. 

[Lifesaver]

Just be mindful, if you choose Hunter and leave the tri-state area, you're going to get a lot of blank stares when you say you went to Hunter. If that bothers you, choose the alternative.

[MaggieDot]

Yes, that's something I've thought about, especially since I'm from CA and there'll always be a possibility of me returning. 

I did a bit more homework on costs/aid/loans, and as it turns out, NYU is still very much out of my price range, even with the generous scholarship they've offered me. 

 

Hunter it is, and I am more than okay with that--it was always a "win/win" decision (just a tough one to make). I'm so happy I have the option of attending Hunter; I might not otherwise be able to plan a move to NYC (somewhere I've wanted to live for a long time). 

[Lifesaver]

Hey, I hear ya. I turned down expensive prestige (NYU being one of them) for a less expensive school that gave me a scholarship, and I'm pretty dang happy about it now!

 

Good luck with your move!

[silverfang]

While NYU is known around the country and Hunter is mentioned less, I still think hunter is better overall not just for financial reasons but also what you learn. As far as moving to another state and getting a blank stare when mentioning hunter, if that does happen...once you are licensed it isn't the 1st thing they are interested in focus on experience and knowledge.

Edited April 18, 2014 by silverfang