[danielamitay]

I understand the financial mistakes (underperforming investments). I understand the building mistakes (extravagance, over-spending). What I don't understand is this policy that will (in my opinion) destroy The Cooper Union's core asset: the student body. Having attended, I whole-heartedly believe that nearly all of Cooper Union's value-add is in being surrounded by incredibly intelligent peers. Peers who are now less likely to apply or attend.

Me: Spent two years at Cooper, currently graduating from NYU.

[Crake]

Why did you transfer? Just curious.

[danielamitay]

Basically, I derive a significant amount of esteem and happiness from making things that people use. It was this that lead myself and those around me to believe I should pursue Engineering. Unfortunately, I derived very little to no esteem from what I felt was merely "book learning" at Cooper. The school system I grew up in was extremely liberal and forward-thinking, so Cooper Union felt extremely rigid to me (although I acknowledge the possibility that all Engineering programs are like this). I simply couldn't survive four years like that.

Ultimately, I studied Economics at NYU, so I moved away from Engineering to allow myself to pursue development on my own. There are other reasons why I moved to Economics, but thats the gist of it.

[Crake]

I see. I almost thought about applying to transfer to CU, but didn't since I didn't know how their financial situation would work out. Non traditional students don't really get a lot of help with these things, and it's uncertain enough as a transfer already. Hopefully you were treated ok as a transfer at NYU!

It's really sad to see CU's free tuition gone. It was one of the few places that smart but poor people with no access to easy credit still had a fighting chance of attending. :(

[bkanber]

I'm a Cooper grad -- the first two years are book learning, the second two were hands on. I built lots of fun stuff; interactive art projects with the art school, lots of robots, and even a race car for my senior thesis.

[Crake]

Race cars sound quite exciting.