Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art

Date: Mar 22 2011
Major: Architecture (This Major's Salary over time)
Firstly, YES IF YOU GET INTO COOPER UNION YOU GET A FULL-TUITION SCHOLARSHIP. You do have to pay for room/board, but many people also get assistance for those, CU actually pays for my NYC apartment (need-based aid). Cooper Union is a great place for someone who is dedicated to their field in either Architecture, Engineering, or Art. Everyone in the school is there to learn and get a good education, so there aren't any rich kids who get in because of parental connections. Cooper is not for anyone who isn't ready for a lot of work and not much of a social life. Be prepared to sit in school until 2am every night (including Saturday and Sunday), working on projects or studying with your classmates. The 3 schools don't mix much, and the clubs/sports are almost entirely made up of Engineers. Because it is a small school and students spend so much time there, be prepared to know everyone and know that everyone knows everything about you all the time. That being said, your friends become your family and you learn to work together, in good times and bad. Classes are anytime from 9am-9pm, so don't expect to have nights off. The professors are all very smart, but some are self-absorbed. The students are from all different cultures and countries, and therefore there's a lot of interesting people around. People at Cooper end up thinking that they are elite, and maybe we are, but be ready for some snobs who think they are the best thing since sliced bread. There are plenty of down-to-earth people as well, but with an acceptance rate of 7%, some people let their admission go to their head.