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How would Columbia compare with NYU? It costs just as much.

By C_Vasoontara (C_Vasoontara) on Tuesday, May 11, 2004 - 01:02 pm: Edit

Urrrr Columbia is one of the better ivy league schools and NYU is not even in the top 30. I would say Columbia is much better than NYU in terms of academic and prestige.

By Ace707 (Ace707) on Tuesday, May 11, 2004 - 05:42 pm: Edit

yea but if you if you want fun NYU is the funnest university- your in the nicest part of new york where famous people live right down the street- its kinda cool
the academics are great to- i passed up columbia for NYU

By Treyy685 (Treyy685) on Tuesday, May 11, 2004 - 07:33 pm: Edit

yea i know someone who chose NYU over columbia because he liked the neighborhood better. ask a bunch of people at columbia if they really like it..and they'll probably tell you they don't.

By Godis (Godis) on Tuesday, May 11, 2004 - 08:06 pm: Edit

i don't understand your reasoning.

By Monekit (Monekit) on Wednesday, May 12, 2004 - 12:55 am: Edit

I think Columbia and NYU should team up or something. Like for their Stern school of Business or other stuff. NYU is certainly a rising school in image people like, and Columbia is an established university, and they are both in the same place. You know what I think? I think it's equivalent to a Harvard:MIT proportion like:

Harvard:MIT
Columbia:NYU

Except the Harvard:MIT proportion is somewhat older (like saying Harvard is older than the Columbia counterpart, and MIT is older than the NYU counterpart, and so overally more known + respected). And Harvard and Columbia are both established old, Ivy League universities, and MIT and NYU can both be acronymed into 3 letters, and they both represent the state they are in their acronym..anyone see similarties? Harvard and MIT teamed up on some stuff; so should Columbia and NYU. Though I am probably not answering your question...but I was wonder if anyone was thinking like me(?)

By Mosquito86 (Mosquito86) on Wednesday, May 12, 2004 - 02:48 am: Edit

MIT is a different type of institution than any of them. It's a tech school. I don't think you can compare MIT and Harvard..it's more..what's your interest? Yes, MIT, has a lot of other majors besides science/engin, but it's focused on that.

NYU and Columbia you can compare academically. Columbia does have the famous Core though..which NYU doesnt have.


In general, I think Columbia and NYU are both good academic institutions. One has got more "prestige," but they are both fine schools.

By Ineedcolumbia (Ineedcolumbia) on Wednesday, May 12, 2004 - 11:44 am: Edit

This is good student input. Why do all of the adults I talk to dislike NYU? Is it because it provides less of the college experience? Columbia is gated, so where Columbia ends and New York begins is clear. NYU is not at all separate from New York. Also, how do classes/majors, etc. work at NYU? I've heard rumors that tuition pays for exactly one amount of classes, no more, no less?

By Jessc (Jessc) on Wednesday, May 12, 2004 - 04:28 pm: Edit

Its all about the core. If that is the kind of well rounded education you want then go Columbia. If you want more freedom in your classes then pick NYU. The neighborhood is way better at NYU but the fact there is no campus can be a bit isolating.

By Invalidusername (Invalidusername) on Wednesday, May 12, 2004 - 09:53 pm: Edit

I propose a different analogy.

NYU:Columbia::PSU:Penn

Most people think NYU is Ivy League, a lot of people haven't even heard of Columbia, or think it's upstate--and I live 15 miles away.
Penn State is big. NYU is big. Both have fake prestige. Both can be acronym-ized in three letters. Both are geographically named after states. Both Penn and Columbia are Ivy League. I am a big geek.

By Babybird87 (Babybird87) on Wednesday, May 12, 2004 - 10:19 pm: Edit

No one I know thinks NYU is Ivy League. Plus, that earlier comment about different, funner neighborhoods...it's NYC. You take a train 10 minutes one way and you're in Harlem. You take a train 10 minutes the othe way and you're in Greenwich. Transportation makes neighborhood a non issue.

By Invalidusername (Invalidusername) on Wednesday, May 12, 2004 - 11:33 pm: Edit

Well, then you have a very informed circle of friends. Ask the average person on the street, and he will tend to call both Penn State and NYU "Ivy League." NYU is the top dream school in the country, and Penn State has been ranked in surveys as one of the top 3 or 4 colleges in the country. Both PSU and NYU, along with BU, are overhyped in the public image.

By Springster (Springster) on Thursday, May 13, 2004 - 10:04 am: Edit

This is a hilariously uninformed thread on so many levels.

First, NO ONE thinks NYU is Ivy League. That is ridiculous.

Second, neighborhood is somewhat relevant. Greenwich Village is what, I presume, Babybird means (Greenwich is in Connecticut, and England, for that matter). In fact, it takes about 35 minutes to get from Harlem to the Village (can be more on the weekends). Even so, frankly, downtown in the NYU area on the weekends is rather "Bridge and Tunnel" thus many New Yorkers, including myself, avoid it entirely.

In any case, neighborhood should NOT be the deciding factor when choosing between NYU and Columbia.

And, again, this everyone thinks NYU is Ivy League is HYSTERICAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By Ineedcolumbia (Ineedcolumbia) on Thursday, May 13, 2004 - 11:17 am: Edit

What is NYU's major/minor/concentration, etc policy. I know I could graduate from Columbia with just a concentration or two. This sounds like freedom to me.

By Babybird87 (Babybird87) on Thursday, May 13, 2004 - 04:33 pm: Edit

Springster, sorry I abbreviated Greenwich, that's just what I call it. (look at my hipness, lol) And that's what I meant, you take a train and it's a relatively short time to get anywhere you want to be. Considering NYU and Columbia are in the same frickin city, I don't think neighborhood is a factor.

By Invalidusername (Invalidusername) on Thursday, May 13, 2004 - 05:39 pm: Edit

"First, NO ONE thinks NYU is Ivy League. That is ridiculous"

NO ONE, eh? Whatever, fool.

A. I refer you to a list called "Ivy League Universities and Institutions"

www.cylist.com/List/400300044/Ivy_League_Universities_and_Institutions.html

B. "Petersen's academic literature calls them just under the quality of a columbia or cornell in new york...it suggests that admissions counselors in high school see NYU as a full fledged ivy league school"

forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php%3Fs%3D%26threadid%3D68461

C. "The other rumor Mehr spoke of, that NYU is becoming part of the Ivy League, is also false. Last year, however, in a review of national universities, one magazine labeled NYU a ""New Ivy" because" of its increased popularity and selectivity. "
www.nyunews.com/news/campus/2642.html

D. " my mom thinks nyu is in the ivy league. that's part of the reason she was gonna pay for it"
www.•••••••.com/thread.php?thread_id=18403

E. "Princeton Review survey this year naming NYU the No. 1 "dream college" in the United States. "
"it’s notable that high-school students are now attaching more value to a diploma from the leafy streets of Greenwich Village than they are to one earned on the banks of the Charles or in the gritty streets of New Haven"

www.nineronline.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2004/04/18/408401952442d

F. When I tell people I got accepted to Columbia, they say, "Oh. Uh, did you apply to NUY?"

I guess all these people don't exist, right?

By Mosquito86 (Mosquito86) on Thursday, May 13, 2004 - 05:45 pm: Edit

I don't agree that "Most people think NYU is Ivy League.." I may agree some people might think that (looking at your "proof"). I live in a completely different coast and can tell you not one person I know has ever thought NYU was in the IVY League.

By Invalidusername (Invalidusername) on Thursday, May 13, 2004 - 06:04 pm: Edit

Well, "most" might have been an exaggeration, but "NO ONE" is just stupid. Perhaps "many" is a better word.

Also consider the fact that I live about 15 miles away from the campus. Am I right in saying that a large number of people on the West Coast have never even heard of most of the *real* Ivy League colleges (e.g. Cornell, Columbia, Brown)? I seem to get this impression from other West Coast posters on this board.

By Springster (Springster) on Thursday, May 13, 2004 - 06:13 pm: Edit

Jesus. "NO ONE" was an obvious use of something called hyperbole.

By Invalidusername (Invalidusername) on Thursday, May 13, 2004 - 06:34 pm: Edit

"Jesus. "NO ONE" was an obvious use of something called hyperbole. "

"And, again, this everyone thinks NYU is Ivy League is HYSTERICAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! "

Irony, meet Springster. Hopefully you won't get lost on him.

By Runningwolf (Runningwolf) on Thursday, May 13, 2004 - 07:01 pm: Edit

I would like to point out that the Harvard:MIT analogy is definitely wrong. A LOT of people who don't even go to MIT consider it a much better school than Harvard. One time my dad was at work and someone asked him where I had decided to apply, and he said "Oh, some pretty tough schools northeast" and the dude said "What, are we talking like MIT here?"

And I really don't think anyone who knows anything thinks NYU is even close to Columbia. If anyone thinks they are equally good, then that person must think that every school from U of Texas and NYU and UGA on up is prestigious (which some people do - and if you look at it from a certain point of view, all of those kinds of schools are prestigious). But I guess we aren't talking about people who actually know what they're talking about here, we're talking about John Q. Public.

My guess would be 90% of people at NYU would rather be at Columbia, and .01% of people at Columbia would rather be at NYU. I say this because 99.999% of people who could get in Columbia could've gotten in and attended NYU, but if they chose Columbia then obviously they prefered it.

By Runningwolf (Runningwolf) on Thursday, May 13, 2004 - 07:01 pm: Edit

and I realize 90% is very high... perhaps it is not so high, but I am confident that it is a high percentage.

By Invalidusername (Invalidusername) on Thursday, May 13, 2004 - 07:12 pm: Edit

"And I really don't think anyone who knows anything thinks NYU is even close to Columbia."

True. I was just going by John Q. Public, as you stated, as confirmed by NYU being the #1 "dream school" in the country, with Columbia as #6. I think my analogy with PSU works because the same people who tend to think of NYU as prestigious think of Penn State as prestigious.

In reality, NYU is nowhere near Columbia in quality. It's basically a private Rutgers or Penn State. Once most people really get into the admissions process, they realize this, and so most such people actually choose Columbia.

By Dsh (Dsh) on Thursday, May 13, 2004 - 08:48 pm: Edit

Whoa. NYU is certainly no Columbia, but neither is it a Rutgers or a Penn State. The location gives NYU a huge boost over practically every other Ivy wannabe.

By Dsh (Dsh) on Thursday, May 13, 2004 - 08:49 pm: Edit

Actually, the location gives NYU a boost over quite a few of the Ivies themselves, in my opinion.

By Godis (Godis) on Thursday, May 13, 2004 - 09:11 pm: Edit

Rutgers/Penn State are better than NYU in many areas. all this talk about location is nonsense. you're not going to spend the majority of your time out on the streets. also, take it from a guy who works there--you'll get bored quite quickly, even if the pizza is amazing.

By Babybird87 (Babybird87) on Thursday, May 13, 2004 - 11:20 pm: Edit

"I was just going by John Q. Public" That's a bit arbitrary, don't you think? First off, who is John Q Public? There are many people in this big country and they don't fall into an average Joe sort of a thing. Second off, there are many things that many people don't know. For instance, up until I was about 15 I said the word "plaid"..."played". I know a couple of other people who do that. I'm sure I could find a random link about people who do that. That doesn't make it "John Q Public"'s thing. I think it's unfair to lump all people who don't know the Ivy Leagues into a certain category.

By Edmoney (Edmoney) on Thursday, May 13, 2004 - 11:41 pm: Edit

NYU is in the Ivy League. Most people are above average intelligence.

By Theinnocntone (Theinnocntone) on Friday, May 14, 2004 - 02:50 am: Edit

This Ivy League is a SPORTS league.

By Babybird87 (Babybird87) on Friday, May 14, 2004 - 06:55 am: Edit

NYU isn't in the Ivies. To be an Ivy, you have to have a football (or basketball? not sure) team. It's required. That is why UChicago can't be an Ivy, nor can NYU.

By Dsh (Dsh) on Friday, May 14, 2004 - 08:11 am: Edit

Godis, the location isn't about being on the streets. It's about access to cultural institutions and exciting, resume- and intellect-building internship and job opportunities. It's also about attracting good professors, who also want to live and teach where they have access to world-class cultural institutions and the recreational resources of the city.

By Godis (Godis) on Saturday, May 15, 2004 - 01:27 am: Edit

where are you from?

By Myoryu (Myoryu) on Saturday, May 15, 2004 - 01:14 pm: Edit

NYU is popular because it's less rigorous than Columbia academicwise and because it's relatively easier to get in than Columbia. That NYU is # 1 dream school does not necessarily mean that it's Ivy League-level school.

NYU is a great school, but academicwise, Columbia is far better (exceptions: Business, Film studies, and few others). NYU's neighborhood might be better than that of Columbia, but don't most of us go to college to get a great education?

By Contessa (Contessa) on Saturday, May 15, 2004 - 10:46 pm: Edit

look at the main forum and it will tell you the answer... "ivy league schools" - 7 subcategories - NO NYU.
"most ppl think nyu is an ivy" - most people are misinformed. columbia is far more selective, a much greater history and tradition, and incredibly prestigious. there are only 7 ivies... u chicago and nyu don't contend. the list is set and it is not going to change.
columbia is in a great neighborhood, morningside heights, with frequent street fairs, cute restaurants, and a real nyc feel to it. it has its own subway stop and is well connected to the rest of the city. this whole discussion is silly anyway - nyu and columbia don't compare. If you choose the former over the latter, its a personal preference, definitely not a mass trend.

By Edmoney (Edmoney) on Saturday, May 15, 2004 - 10:51 pm: Edit

pretty sure there are eight ivy league schools. (nine when we count NYU)

By Edmoney (Edmoney) on Saturday, May 15, 2004 - 10:53 pm: Edit

ten when we count University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

By Contessa (Contessa) on Saturday, May 15, 2004 - 11:00 pm: Edit

..umm yea 8! thats what i meant :-)
i feel like that totally killed the credibility of my post...

By Deferreddude (Deferreddude) on Saturday, May 15, 2004 - 11:06 pm: Edit

The ivy league doesn't even mean anything anymore. There are only 3 ivy-league schools "john Q. Public" actually cares about-Harvard, Yale and Princeton. All the other ivies are dubbed the "lower ivies" and most people don't even know nor care about them. Then there are 3 non-ivy schools that rival Harvard, Yale, and Princeton in prestige: Stanford, MIT, and Caltech. Therefore, there is a tie between ivy and non-ivy prestige.

By Godis (Godis) on Sunday, May 16, 2004 - 12:08 am: Edit

yup, your credibility went down the toilet when you said 7.

By Blah1111 (Blah1111) on Sunday, May 16, 2004 - 02:07 pm: Edit

I don't think John Q. Public knows what MIT or Caltech are. From what I hear, he likens those two to ITT Tech and CalPoly, respectively.

By Mosquito86 (Mosquito86) on Sunday, May 16, 2004 - 05:27 pm: Edit

I think a majority of John Q. Public knows MIT. However, Caltech does get shafted sometimes.

By Jamesah1 (Jamesah1) on Sunday, May 16, 2004 - 06:27 pm: Edit

I have a friend who is going to MIT next year, and she has been asked by many people why she would be going to ITT Tech. She has also been asked where MIT is. You have to understand that they average person does not know too much. But, hey, why does that matter unless you are just a prestige whore.

By Babybird87 (Babybird87) on Sunday, May 16, 2004 - 06:41 pm: Edit

Who is this weirdo John Q Public? you guys aren't serious, are you? I don't even know what ITT Tech and Cal Poly is! Anyway, I think it's offensive to say that Dartmouth, Columbia, etc are not upper ivies or whatever. Columbia's selection rate is near to Harvard's. Brown definitely is lower level though. j/k!

By Blah1111 (Blah1111) on Sunday, May 16, 2004 - 07:25 pm: Edit

To how much of your post are you saying "j/k?" John Q Public, not knowing what ITT Tech is, Dartmouth/Columbia, Brown being a lower level, or all of the above?

By Edmoney (Edmoney) on Sunday, May 16, 2004 - 10:35 pm: Edit

Only the part about Brown, I'm guessing

By Jbizz (Jbizz) on Tuesday, May 18, 2004 - 03:30 pm: Edit

UCLA!

By Stephendedalus (Stephendedalus) on Wednesday, May 26, 2004 - 12:24 pm: Edit

Trust me on this. NYU isn't Ivy. It is probably the most improved university over the past 10 years, but not ivy. It is in the best location in America, but not ivy. NYU is the 2nd or 3rd largest private real estate owner after the catholic church and I think Trump. Rankings are bogus. They can tell you which schools are good but can't tell which are better among those good schools. I can tell you that Columbia is a better school than NYU no contest, but NYU is improving. NYU has been 'stealing' great professors for a decade now and they spend more than any school. This is one of the reason why NYU doesn't rank as highly as one would expect. Endowment is about 1/3 of Harvard's, but because NYU needs to spend it's endowment to improve. That factor and alumni contribution are huge in rankings like 'Newsweek'. Columbia's CC(core) is amazing and one of its most notorious features. Columbia has incredible organization and HUGE Alumni contribution. Many Columbia rejects DO attend !
NYU. Consider this: Columbia's enrollment is around half of NYU's so my prediction is that in another decade when NYU's reputation has swelled, they could afford the selectiveness of Columbia and maybe then I might be less hesitant to call NYU 'ivy'.
P.S.
Allow me to set this straight too; just because Columbia is in 'the city' doesn't mean those kids enjoy the city like NYU kids have the chance to. Columbia's night-life can be summed up in this: Am-Caf, 1020, and West End. I turned Columbia down for NYU... I sometimes regret it during the week, but never-ever on weekends

By Dsh (Dsh) on Wednesday, May 26, 2004 - 12:47 pm: Edit

NYU claims it admitted one in fifteen applicants this year--although that figure might apply only to the College of Arts and Science--which would make its acceptance rate far lower than any other school's I know of. It is true that NYU was extremely popular this year, and since it's the number of applications received that is the biggest factor in an acceptance rate (since the size of the entering class is relatively fixed), I suppose that statistic could be true. Of course, since the U.S. News ratings use two-year-old data, it will take that long for this low admittance rate to affect the rankings.

In any case, NYU is a great school, but that's not what makes a school an Ivy. Although the Ivy League has admitted new members in the course of its history, I kind of doubt that's going to happen again and certainly not for another school in the same city as a current Ivy.

By Edmoney (Edmoney) on Wednesday, May 26, 2004 - 03:53 pm: Edit

I'm guessing that the Ivy League is closed up as far as admitting new members. Good thing for NYU that it is already a part of it!

P.S. I recognize the character Stephen Dedalus, and therefore I've proved myself to be a cultured person, and I want credit!

By Dostoyevsky (Dostoyevsky) on Wednesday, May 26, 2004 - 06:05 pm: Edit

if you were going for business (for undergrad), where would you go: Columbia or NYU?

By Pigeonblood (Pigeonblood) on Wednesday, May 26, 2004 - 06:21 pm: Edit

"In any case, NYU is a great school, but that's not what makes a school an Ivy. Although the Ivy League has admitted new members in the course of its history, I kind of doubt that's going to happen again and certainly not for another school in the same city as a current Ivy."

You don't know what you're talking about.

By Dsh (Dsh) on Wednesday, May 26, 2004 - 08:18 pm: Edit

Why do you say that, Pigeonblood? What do you disagree with about what I said?

By Pigeonblood (Pigeonblood) on Wednesday, May 26, 2004 - 08:57 pm: Edit

Yeah? Still don't get it? I'll even spell it out for you: There has and will always be only 8.

HTH

By Dsh (Dsh) on Wednesday, May 26, 2004 - 09:30 pm: Edit

I guess we know now who fills the rude know-it-all niche in the incoming class.

If you're talking about the officially designated Ivy League beginning in the fifties, then, yes, there have always been eight. But the Ivy League unofficially goes back a long time before that, beginning with four schools.

By Godis (Godis) on Wednesday, May 26, 2004 - 09:55 pm: Edit

there's always the possibility of another school joining the ancient 8, so pigeonblood can't rule that out, even if his spelling is admirable.

By Pigeonblood (Pigeonblood) on Thursday, May 27, 2004 - 12:31 am: Edit

"there's always the possibility of another school joining the ancient 8"

Yet, you've revealed your lack of in-the-know once again, Godis. I love how you desperately try to come back with some witty remark time and time again. I feel your inferiority complex brimming over- how wonderful. As for unofficial ivy league? How about Uncle Bob's version? Aunt Sally's? I could add TAMU on my version.

HTH

By Edmoney (Edmoney) on Thursday, May 27, 2004 - 02:53 am: Edit

I have an inferiority copmplex. I also have a God complex. I think I want to transfer to another Ivy, where people don't dislike each other, maybe NYU?

By Dsh (Dsh) on Thursday, May 27, 2004 - 08:13 am: Edit

I don't really know why I'm bothering to explain this to you, Pigeonblood, but unless your Uncle Bob and Aunt Sally created sports leagues involving Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Columbia, etc., their leagues have no relevance. I'm talking about sports leagues involving the schools now known as the Ivy League. The schools are hundreds of years old, and they didn't get together in the 1950s to create a league out of nothing. Some of them had been associated since early in the nineteenth century. If you still don't get it, I really don't care.

By Elleneast (Elleneast) on Thursday, May 27, 2004 - 08:34 am: Edit

Jeeze......once you get to Columbia you will see that there is so much less fixation on this stuff than while you were still in high school.

By Nyugrad (Nyugrad) on Thursday, May 27, 2004 - 09:46 am: Edit

NYU is a solid school. When I went there in the late 70s early 80s, a few Columbia friends jokingly used to refer to us as "the Ivy league rejects." That was just a small standing joke between the two schools.Everyone knew it wasn't so true, as some of us were accepted to Ivy league schools but chose not to go for one reason or another.Each school had its strengths and weaknesses.

By Springster (Springster) on Thursday, May 27, 2004 - 10:09 am: Edit

Ellen--exactly. This is ridiculous. If only these children knew how they sound.

By Pigeonblood (Pigeonblood) on Thursday, May 27, 2004 - 10:36 am: Edit

LMFAO! Dsh, I was being sarcastic to prove a point! Uh.... wow.

By Godis (Godis) on Thursday, May 27, 2004 - 11:23 am: Edit

what's this inferiority complex you keep on harping about? i wouldn't be surprised if you brought it up even if i were posting about the merits of eating pickles.

picture it this way

Godis: "I love ham and sunshine!"

Pigeonblood: "I need to whip out the CP Davis and put this bastard in line."

By Pigeonblood (Pigeonblood) on Thursday, May 27, 2004 - 08:52 pm: Edit

Dude, chill out about the fact that I'm in the scholars program and you aren't. Seriously-- I don't think that pickup line will work too well with your parents, rofl.

HTH

By Edmoney (Edmoney) on Thursday, May 27, 2004 - 10:36 pm: Edit

I think we should all give our names and then go out for a drink when we get to Columbia. Then we can laugh over all of this silly animosity (and we can slap Pigeonblood).

By Pigeonblood (Pigeonblood) on Friday, May 28, 2004 - 10:23 am: Edit

Edmoney: "I'm guessing that the Ivy League is closed up as far as admitting new members. Good thing for NYU that it is already a part of it!"

Again, this is coming from a Columbia student. Why don't you get your facts straight before you resort to violent tendencies?

HTH

By Adxj220 (Adxj220) on Friday, May 28, 2004 - 10:55 am: Edit

Man, you sound like a true and utter idiot (pigeonblood, that is).

By Edmoney (Edmoney) on Friday, May 28, 2004 - 02:11 pm: Edit

I know it's hard to discern jokes online, but I like to think that my last few were pretty obvious...

But it's ok, Pigeonblood; becaue of people like you, I know I'll be at the head of my class.

By Pigeonblood (Pigeonblood) on Saturday, May 29, 2004 - 01:16 am: Edit

Yeah, dood. You're so cool and smart. Your 1390 makes me *shizzle.* Future SEAS valedictorian, eh? LMFAO.

By Irock1ce (Irock1ce) on Saturday, May 29, 2004 - 03:04 am: Edit

SATs do not measure intelligence whatsoever.

By Invalidusername (Invalidusername) on Monday, May 31, 2004 - 06:27 pm: Edit

you people need to figure out when others are being sarcastic.

By Edmoney (Edmoney) on Monday, May 31, 2004 - 08:01 pm: Edit

I don't think Pigeonblood is being sarcastic...but I don't feel like I need to say anything either, because he has proven he is fully capable of SHOWING US HE IS AN IDIOT on his own

By Godis (Godis) on Monday, May 31, 2004 - 08:34 pm: Edit

hell, everyone's sarcastic these days.

By Influx (Influx) on Monday, May 31, 2004 - 08:51 pm: Edit

Nobody on the west coast thinks NYU is ivy league, nor do they consider NYU to be on the same level as Columbia.

By Godis (Godis) on Monday, May 31, 2004 - 09:47 pm: Edit

nyu is in a league of its own.

By Edmoney (Edmoney) on Monday, May 31, 2004 - 10:39 pm: Edit

was that sarcastic?

By Godis (Godis) on Monday, May 31, 2004 - 11:55 pm: Edit

i'm not sarcastic.

By Pigeonblood (Pigeonblood) on Wednesday, June 02, 2004 - 08:42 am: Edit

Edmoney: "I don't think Pigeonblood is being sarcastic..."

Maybe that's why you scored so low on the verbal section. In fact, Edmoney, University Writing is a course EVERYONE at SEAS has to pass. I suggest you prepare for this, because as I've seen so far, you're going to fail. Good luck- and deep inside, all of us '08 SEAS'ers wish you the best of luck, obtaining val status and all. If I were you, I'd improve my verbal reasoning skills first, lol.

By Pigeonblood (Pigeonblood) on Wednesday, June 02, 2004 - 08:50 am: Edit

And now to Godis... first he says "there's always the possibility of another school joining the ancient 8, so pigeonblood can't rule that out, even if his spelling is admirable."

AND THEN HE SAYS, "nyu is in a league of its own."

TWO-SIDED, INDECISIVE, DEBATE-LOSING, HYPOCRITE. It looks like you only try to turn right to wrong and wrong to right when you're talking to ME, Godis. You and Edmoney should form the Columbia Writing and Verbal Reasoning Improvement club.

HTH

By Godis (Godis) on Wednesday, June 02, 2004 - 06:34 pm: Edit

i love clubs.

By Edmoney (Edmoney) on Wednesday, June 02, 2004 - 10:40 pm: Edit

we're all friends deep down

By Cadence (Cadence) on Wednesday, June 09, 2004 - 04:22 pm: Edit

This is hilarious. I'm so glad I chose Columbia over Harvard and Stanford and Brown. LOL.

By Ace707 (Ace707) on Wednesday, June 09, 2004 - 04:43 pm: Edit

NYU is a great school for people who are independent..the lack of campus is not an issue let me tell you. Just because theres not ropes around the property dosent mean theirs no campus. At NYU the whole city is your campus- everything is so close and the neighboorhood is undoubetly better: Oh yeah walk a couple blocks from columbia and you find yourself in harlem. And neighborhood is a huge factor..my factor in deciding to go there. ..its the place where your gonna go out and party, were ur gonna sleep at night....college is not all about academics

By Edmoney (Edmoney) on Wednesday, June 09, 2004 - 09:37 pm: Edit

Of course NYU is great. What else would you expect from an Ivy League institution?

Anyone see the new Olsen twins' movie? Columbia is in it. Yeah, that's the reason I went to see it...

By Knightmare (Knightmare) on Thursday, June 10, 2004 - 02:00 pm: Edit

This thread is so damn ridiculous. Columbia and NYU are great schools for different things, and although the "Ivy League" is a collection of all good schools, the significance of the term is antiquated and there are tons of great schools one can choose from, including NYU. They are ALL different and unique in their own way, and specialize in different things.

PS - Pigeonblood, you seriously need to chill out.

By Edmoney (Edmoney) on Thursday, June 10, 2004 - 09:19 pm: Edit

Did you read the entire thread, Knightmare? If you did, I commend you.

By Jonw222 (Jonw222) on Friday, June 11, 2004 - 11:48 pm: Edit

I think this conversation is fairly silly to try to compare Columbia University with NYU which has seven schools which have different majors (i.e. it makes more sense to go to Tisch Drama than try to major in drama at Columbia. Columbia does not have a major in linguistics and NYU's is allright but mostly social linguistics.)

The only thing that makes a little bit of sense would be to compare Columbia College with the College of Arts and Sciences which has many of the same programs.

If you look at the faculty lists, you'll see that NYU and Columbia both have amazingly great faculty in several subjects. The Core Curriculum at Columbia is definitely a reason to either go to the school or not to go to the school (I would say it is a reason to go to the school.) It's definitely a rigorous collection of undergraduate courses.

Academically for undergraduates, the best thing is that NYU full time faculty is forced to teach undergraduate courses which are sometimes very small. This means that if you are a good student, you will end up with a recommendation to graduate school, or work from a full time faculty member who is fairly well known and appreciated in his field (and means more than coming from a graduate student or post-doctorate student). This is not to say that this doesn't happen at Columbia but my sources at that school say it happens more at NYU (and the same at Harvard).

As a postscript to this message, I am amazed at how selective Columbia and NYU have gotten in recent years. It's getting quite insane to be admitted.

By Sherman1 (Sherman1) on Saturday, June 12, 2004 - 11:31 am: Edit

Its pretty incredible that everyone is fighting over who the members of a sports conference are... especially a sports conference that doesn't offer scholarships, whose major sports are lacrosse and squash, and who isn't even Division I (ivy leagues are 1-A). I also can't believe that pigeonblood really got into Columbia. For a school with a >15% admission rate, it seems like the admissions officers could have found someone a bit more qualified to attend.

Edmoney, you are hilarious.

By Macsuile (Macsuile) on Saturday, July 10, 2004 - 03:23 pm: Edit

Let's break it down another way, this time by presidents, a popular measure of "prestige":

Harvard - 5 U.S. presidents
William & Mary - 4
Yale - 3
Princeton - 2
Columbia - 0 (Alex Hamilton was an alum)
Penn - 0 (Ben Franklin was a founder)
Dartmouth - 0
Brown - 0
Cornell - 0
MIT - 0
CalTech - 0
NYU - 0


This may not be a credible measure to some, but I think it is a good proxy from a historical and influence perspective.

By Edmoney (Edmoney) on Wednesday, July 14, 2004 - 09:53 pm: Edit

we're bringing it back

By Madelinemay11 (Madelinemay11) on Thursday, July 15, 2004 - 09:17 pm: Edit

Deciding between NYU and Columbia is tough for a lot of people. NYU has a much better location in NYC, and it's in the city proper. Columbia is in Harlem (Morningside), so it's one strike against it. The tuition is the same, but NYU is more widely recognized.

By Edmoney (Edmoney) on Friday, July 16, 2004 - 06:38 pm: Edit

Ossama bin Laden is also widely recognized

By Abrandel05 (Abrandel05) on Saturday, July 17, 2004 - 11:37 pm: Edit

Madeline, the area directly around Columbia is NOT bad, there are certain directions (toward 125th and the real harlem) that i probally wouldnt walk into alone at nite, but its really not bad. Its Columbia dominated particularly on the good side of campus and its really not ruff. Columbia is better by far!

By Hype (Hype) on Sunday, July 18, 2004 - 07:06 pm: Edit

columbia dominates nyu on academics and prestige, but nyu is much better for the arts. NYU has Tisch while Columbia has, in comparison, small levels of extracurricular artistic offerings.

By Inneedofhelp (Inneedofhelp) on Wednesday, July 21, 2004 - 11:26 pm: Edit

I've lived in New York my whole life. I go to high school no about 2 or 3 block from their buildings (mu school's on 16th street - border of Chelsea and Grenwich Villiage) so I've been in the same area for the past 3 years. I've also visited Columbia several times and am going to be taking science courses this year for SHP.

NYU's in a "fun neighborhood" if you consider walking through Union Square amongst aggressive homeless people, new aged hippies, and a fat Communist with a megaphone (don't believe me, just walk through it any given Saturday). Many celebrities do live in the area: Tim Robbins, Susan Serandon, Ethan Hawke, Uma Thurman, and nearly every comedian on Comedy Central. Obviously, they are liberal themselves. But if you are liberal, wear tie-die shirts, enjoy getting high regularly, and can't wait to see Michael Moore's next movie, NYU is HEAVEN.

As for Columbia, partisan viewpoints are not the problem. It's in the middle of Harlem for God's sake. Deny it all you want, the campus itself may be beautiful, but you'd have to be suicidal to walk more than a block away from the campus after 10 PM. Why do you think they require freshman to live on campus? I know many of you think I'm just being paranoid, but that's because you probably live in the Mid West. Just read New York newspapers.

Despite this, Columbia is a fantastic university. It's education and prestige are far better than NYU's. However if you want to study anything in drama, cinema, or other art related fields, NYU is the obvious choice. I don't like either's neighborhoods: Communists or Crackheads.

By Techgirl800 (Techgirl800) on Friday, July 30, 2004 - 01:20 pm: Edit

Inneedofhelp: I live in NYC too. What high school do you go to?

IM: zzz48

By Crazybug (Crazybug) on Friday, July 30, 2004 - 02:02 pm: Edit

No one (including freshmen) are required to live on campus. It's just a economic situation: name one other place in the Morningside Heights area (hell, all of Manhattan) where you can get a single room for $6000 for 9 months.

By Blah1111 (Blah1111) on Friday, July 30, 2004 - 02:54 pm: Edit

First years are required to live on campus if they can't commute from their parents'/guardians' house.

By Crazybug (Crazybug) on Friday, July 30, 2004 - 03:10 pm: Edit

Not true at all. The housing website says that, but I know more than a few students who lived off-campus their first year.

Also, how is that bad? It builds community, if anything. Princeton requires ALL students to live on campus for the first two years, regardless of proximity. Is Princeton unsafe? No, its to build community.

By Ivyman1 (Ivyman1) on Friday, July 30, 2004 - 03:23 pm: Edit

Freshmen are "generally" required to live on campus but they arent going to force you to. You just have to request that you not be and explain to them why. Trust me, with the super high yields they had last year they were in a housing crunch and had to house some freshmen in some very nice hotels for a semester (not going to happen this year). So they arent going to complain if you can live somewhere else.
Also for the last time Columbia is not in the middle of harlem, I used to walk all around Morningside heights at 2am without a problem. Its no worse than, say, the upper west side. So inneedofhelp is dead wrong about this one. He is right on target for most of the rest though.

By Inneedofhelp (Inneedofhelp) on Monday, August 02, 2004 - 01:04 pm: Edit

Techgirl800: I go to Xavier in Chelsea.

The rest: 98% of the entire school live on campus. Freshman are suppose to live on campus if they aren't commuting from their home, but as many of you have said, many get away with living by themselves, even though it violates school policy (it's written on the website, I forget where).

Ivyman: I agree it isn't in the heart of Harlem, but it is still part of it, and there is a very high crime rate in the surrounding area.

By Crazybug (Crazybug) on Monday, August 02, 2004 - 02:42 pm: Edit

Inneedofhelp: Last I checked, Columbia had the safest campus in the Ivy League. As long as you don't go north of 122nd Street or east of Morningside, you're fine.

Why would you want to go north of 122nd or east of Morningside anyway?

By Ivyman1 (Ivyman1) on Monday, August 02, 2004 - 10:48 pm: Edit

a) Inneedofhelp, with all due respect, look at your crime stats at www.nyc.gov - the crime rate in the area is NOT high, its actually lower than the average for manhattan which has in turn the lowest crime rates within the city.
b) COLUMBIA IS NOT IN HARLEM, it is in Morningside Heights which is completely separate from harlem - there is a clear line of separation, known as Morningside Park, within which is a large cliff that one must climb two stories of large stone steps to overcome. It has never been considered harlem, the area has been known as Morningside Heights since at least the mid 1800s.
c) Columbia has the highest campus safety rating in the ivy league next to princeton, and NYC has been named the Safest large city in the US by the FBI.
"According to FBI crime figures released December 15, 2003 for the first 6 months of 2003, New York City remains the safest big City in the United States. Year to date, crime is at its lowest level since 1960. Total crime in the City has declined almost 5.5% from last year. "
This is out of the 210 cities in the U.S. with populations over 100,000.

d) Harlem is not a "high crime" area like you may think, it hasnt been since the pre giulliani days. It is a very nice area with a lot of culture, and great food I must say. Bill Clinton works there if that is any indication.

e) Regarding the housing deal for freshmen, I actually called and checked, they basically said you must live on campus unless you live a commutable distance away, in which case you dont HAVE to. The thing is, if you rent yourself an apartment in the city before you actually start classes, you technically live a commutable distance away, so it only applied to those who dont obtain residence in the city (which, prices being what they are, is comprised of 98% of the school population and 99% of first years.)

By Inneedofhelp (Inneedofhelp) on Tuesday, August 03, 2004 - 11:47 pm: Edit

I'm well aware of the neighborhood names in the area. I know it is not "Harlem." But just because the area north of 110 St is broken down so much doesn't make the neighborhoods much different from one another. Columbia does have great security on campus, I agree with you 100%. But this whole thread is about a contrast between Columbia and NYU. Many friends and I have walked around Grenwich and East Villiage at all hours of the day and at night. Fery few of them (aside from those who live in Harlem or Washington Heights) would walk past Central Park after dark.

Oh, and Ivyman1, "It is a very nice area with a lot of culture, and great food I must say. Bill Clinton works there if that is any indication." had me laughing for minutes. I don't want to turn this thread political, but that last part is just hilarious, lol.

And anyway, since most of us debating the safety issue live in New York, we could agree to disagree. This thread is mainly to inform those from out of state. We should give them differing opinions.

By Ivyman1 (Ivyman1) on Wednesday, August 04, 2004 - 12:26 am: Edit

And many of my friends and I have walked around Morningside heights at 4am with no problem. Honestly its a far cry from harlem, even though its nearby.
Oh and dont even suggest that my remark about clinton means that I actually like the guy ;-). If anything, he brings more slime and crime to the area. I only meant it to indicate that it couldn't be that bad for him to have moved there.

But at any rate, to really get the feel of the area one should visit Columbia him or herself. And not just Columbia, but explore the surrounding area too - have a stroll down riverside park, go visit grants tomb, see the amazing Cathedral. Get a good feel for where u will be living for the next 4 years if u do eventually get in.

By Star_Sail (Star_Sail) on Wednesday, August 04, 2004 - 11:09 am: Edit

Ok, I'm starting to apply now and basically the
reason I'm not applying to NYU but to Columbia
(even though the NYU app is sitting right in front of me) is the number of suicides this past year.

I LOVE NYC, but when I visited I saw that the school uses that as a trick--it's in New York, it must be good--to disguise the fact that there is no campus, freshman year would be hell, and of course the overall academics would in no way be ocmparable to those at an Ivy or even a top LA/public school like Berkeley.

By Ivyman1 (Ivyman1) on Wednesday, August 04, 2004 - 11:28 am: Edit

Yup, Columbia has the distinction of being the only university in the city with a full fledged campus.

While you are right about NYU in most respects, don't knock its academics. While its not, in my completely biased opinion, nearly as good as Columbia or most other ivies, it is certainly an academic powerhouse, particularly in the humanities.