Going to School in New York City

New York City is as much a focal point in the educational realm as it is in any other. The area features some of the most renowned schools, field experts, and programs that the world has to offer. The choice to seek an education in New York will provide students who are unaccustomed to urban life with an entirely new scope of experiences, ideas, and challenges.

The sheer magnitude of the city allows for potential students to better understand the tremendous advantages, and challenges, that one can face in acquiring an education in New York. One of those advantages comes in the high concentration and quality of schools in New York City. According to Joe Fodor, senior writer at City University of New York- Brooklyn College, "The concentration of schools in the New York area tends to attract the best instructors in their fields. Schools have the luxury of selecting the best teachers from a large teaching pool. Those schools and quality instructors also make for an especially strong environment for professional study."

There are a multitude of factors to consider when choosing a college in New York City. The importance of those factors will of course vary from student to student. However, the curriculum is likely an incoming student's chief consideration. The courses and programs offered should support the field the student is most interested in.

"The number one consideration should definitely be the program," said Cyndy Marchese, Vice President, International, at Berkeley College. "The student should try to make sure their school offers all the courses within their interest."

Naturally, New York City's top schools offer quite a few options for students to explore, including:

Top NY Private Colleges & Universities

• Barnard College
• Berkeley College - New York City
• Columbia University
• Eugene Lang College
• Fordham University
• Marymount College of Fordham University - New York
• Metropolitan College of New York
• New York Academy of Art
• New York University
• Pace University - New York City Campus
• Sanford-Brown Institute
• Yeshiva University

Top NY Public Colleges & Universities

• City University of New York (CUNY)
• City University of New York (CUNY), City College of New York
• CUNY - Brooklyn College
• CUNY - Hunter College
• CUNY - Kingsborough Community College
• CUNY - Lehman College
• CUNY - New York City College of Technology
• CUNY - York College

Top NY Professional Schools

• Katharine Gibbs School - Long Island
• Katharine Gibbs School - New York
• The Art Institute of New York City
• DeVry University - New York

Degrees offered at schools in NYC are varied. A short list includes the following:

Liberal Arts, Applied Science, Commerce, Computer Science, Design, Information Technology, Medicine, Mathematics, Music, Economics, Pharmacy, Philosophy, Architecture, Business Administration, Surgery, Religious Education, Technology, Business, Electrical Engineering, Forestry, Education, Environmental Studies, Fine Arts, and Physical Education.

Robert McHugh, an associate in higher education at the New York State Office College and University Evaluation, says that the city's flexibility can be a great asset to an undeclared student. "One of the advantages of having so many schools is that it's easy to change fields without too many problems," said McHugh. "In general there are a lot of [credit] transfers, but students should definitely get prior approval when they can."

For those who are unsure, it is a good bet to err towards a school with a broad program in liberal arts, or any other area that the student can narrow his or her interests down to.