Columbia vs. NYU

[AstoriaGal]

Thoughts?

[RiemannForBeginners]

I applied to NYU, which is my first choice because I want to do clinical practice, and to Columbia's online program.

 

I like NYU's program itself, the curriculum and their reputation for being an excellent psychodynamic/biopsychosocial program. But they have also been really, really nice, available, they email back, they have answered numerous questions for me, I got an appt with a faculty member who spent considerable time with me and seemed to love the school and made me feel like they wanted me there and were interested in my goals, etc. It is also $20,000 cheaper and they offered a great scholarship.

 

Columbia is attractive to me because of the online option and the name. I love taking classes online. I am sure that the program is very good, though maybe their reputation is better in policy than in clinical practice. However, they have been SO unresponsive in my experience, v aloof, not answering emails, not really willing to talk abt the program; the staff I met with or talked to have all been kind of blase. I feel like they are counting on their Ivy league laurels a little bit. I am also disappointed that it is taking them months to send out decisions when we were supposed to receive them within weeks.

 

I gave NYU my deposit months ago. I am still waiting to see what Columbia offers (if anything!) but even though they started as the frontrunner for me, they fell waaaaay behind NYU.

 

What are your thoughts?

[jharper]

I'm going up to NYC (from Richmond, VA) next weekend to visit NYU and talk with an advisor, current students, and to take a tour. I will be sure to report back my observations and experience  

 

I went to Columbia this summer but only really interacted with the admissions rep who gave the presentation and tour. I loved how everything was housed in one building and that there was a little social work library! I applied Advanced Standing to Columbia so I am still waiting to hear back, but if I get in there too it will definitely be a tough choice.

 

I hope more people contribute to this thread because I know there's a lot of us in the same boat trying to make this decision! 

[AstoriaGal]

Hunter is my top choice, and I still haven't heard back after my interview, so I'm kinda devastated! I did get into Columbia and NYU. I have no idea which to choose. I know NYU is a very strong clinical program and I am very much interested in social justice. I am not sure if Columbia would focus more on this than NYU would or if they are somewhat similar in the strong clinical emphasis.

[jillchristine]

I'm going up to NYC (from Richmond, VA) next weekend to visit NYU and talk with an advisor, current students, and to take a tour. I will be sure to report back my observations and experience

 

I went to Columbia this summer but only really interacted with the admissions rep who gave the presentation and tour. I loved how everything was housed in one building and that there was a little social work library! I applied Advanced Standing to Columbia so I am still waiting to hear back, but if I get in there too it will definitely be a tough choice.

 

I hope more people contribute to this thread because I know there's a lot of us in the same boat trying to make this decision! 

 

Visiting is the best thing to do, these two schools are in entirely different areas and that may make your decision pretty easy. Good luck!

[socialworkette]

I was an undergrad psych major with a social work concentration and spent a ton of time in the SW dept, and a lot of my BSW friends went on to the Columbia MSW program (albeit the advanced standing program.) Everyone I've spoken with really enjoyed the program and have nothing but good things to say about it - they've said that the profs were readily available, classes were engaging/interesting, field placements were generally good (though you don't have much say in the first year placements if you're a 2-year), and of course the school has a recognizable name on top of that. So maybe all their good experiences have made me biased xD They all did the clinical track (as will I) but I think it will be nice to get continued exposure to the macro side of things as well because I think I'll want to get further into macro later on…so we'll see. 

 

Something I found interesting was that a girl I met at a Columbia info session last fall who was a current NYU MSW student pulled aside the admissions lady and was essentially begging her to see if she could still apply for transfer (I think because the transfer deadline had just passed or something) because she was super dissatisfied with her NYU experience (citing the fact that one of her finals had been watching a movie, that the classes she was in had been a joke, etc.) Of course, that is just ONE student's experience of NYU so that could mean absolutely NOTHING, or she could have had beef with a certain professor she had, whatever. People have gripes about Columbia's program too, like it's not worth the money, it's just about the name, too macro, etc. So I think what it'll boil down to is that no program is going to be perfect and you gotta visit both schools and see what vibe you get, how it aligns with your goals, compare the $$, etc

[jharper]

@socialworkette thanks for sharing that experience. Like you said, not something to completely base your decision off of but it's another piece to the puzzle in figuring out which school is right for each of us. There are students in my current BSW program with negative things to say whereas I feel like it's a really strong curriculum, etc. MAN, this is such a tough decision!

[chilly8]

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

[rosesw]

Why are you leaning more towards nyu, chilly? I think I'm visiting on Saturday too.

[chilly8]

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. 

[sakanie]

I applied for the online program, but haven't heard back yet. My experience with admissions has been really pleasant so far. They've been accommodating and responsive. They had a webinar recently that was helpful in understanding more about the online program.

[AstoriaGal]

Even without the health insurance and living expenses, it's $44,781 for the first year at Columbia, and possibly a few hundred less for the second without the orientation fee ($405). That is totally insane! Wahhhhh. This isn't including any scholarships btw. Just the estimated cost.

[jharper]

HEY! If you end up choosing NYU for advanced standing, join the Facebook group!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/758610267579778/

[AstoriaGal]

I've chosen Columbia! I think NYU is too clinical for me... I am working at a homeless shelter in Manhattan so I'd definitely like to focus more on social justice issues... anyone else attending Columbia??

[jharper]

I've chosen Columbia! I think NYU is too clinical for me... I am working at a homeless shelter in Manhattan so I'd definitely like to focus more on social justice issues... anyone else attending Columbia??

Congrats on making a decision! I know it is such a good feeling to be done with admissions and waiting for decisions and deciding between schools

[RiemannForBeginners]

Guys! I am soon confused right now. I got the financial package from Columbia and in the end, it is very comparable to NYU.  I would of course owe more in loans if I go to Columbia and have less money for living expenses, but in the end, they are pretty comparable, which I was not expecting. 

 

The course curriculum seems very similar too.

 

Argh! Now I'm not sure anymore.

[AstoriaGal]

Did you appeal for more money at Columbia? i did and I received 5k more in total, which definitely makes it comparable to NYU. You should appeal for more and it might even make more financial sense financially to go to Columbia if they give you more $. Also, you are going to spend less money living near Columbia than you would NYU. NYU is in one of the most if not most expensive area in NYC.

[hiclub2]

I currently attend NYU and I commute from Queens which most students do. They don't live near NYU.

Edited March 31, 2015 by hiclub2

[AstoriaGal]

Right, I also live in Queens and I'm going to be commuting to Columbia. Just if you are looking to live close to the school it's cheaper to be near Columbia than NYU.

[JessicaRGarcia14]

I currently attend NYU and I commute from Queens which most students do. They don't live near NYU.

 

Hi hiclub2,

I am experiencing the same dilemma, choosing between Columbia and NYU.  I am interested in clinical social work.  I am especially interested in working with children who've experienced trauma both domestically and internationally in the way of dissemination and implementation of evidence based therapies.  I know NYU is more "known" for the clinical social work program, and I'm sure I would get a good education at either institution, but I was hoping you could talk a little about how you like NYU, why you chose it, how you feel your clinical education is: is it rigorous, are you learning a lot about a variety of evidence based therapies?  I have yet to hear from someone at NYU and would love your input! 

Thank you in advance!