I think the geography factor is a major one and often gets overlooked. My sister went to NYU then stayed in NYC after. She ended up with tons of lasting friends

I think the geography factor is a major one and often gets overlooked. My sister went to NYU then stayed in NYC after. She ended up with tons of lasting friendships and a huge network, since a high % of NYU grads do the same. It seems far superior to going to university in some college town where everyone scatters to the four winds after graduating.