The learning portion is inevitable, isn’t it? NYU has various schools underneath its purple umbrella – College of Arts and Science, Tisch School of the Arts, Stern School of Business, Steinhardt School of Culture/Education/Human Development, College of Nursing, Silver School of Social Work, Preston Robert Tisch Center for Hospitality/Tourism/Sports Management, the new Global Liberal Studies Program, and the Liberal Studies Program. No matter what your interests or professional aspirations are, there is a school for you. If none of them quite fit the bill, there’s the Gallatin School of Individualized Study where you can design your own program of study. NYU, with its rigorous curriculum, will give you a well-rounded education. You will be well-versed in the ways of the world – through the courses for your major and the core curriculum: The Morse Academic Plan. My course load this past year consisted of various classes in different areas – Art History, Music Business, Game Theory, Anthropology. They were taught by some of the most experienced and expert faculty. Although I’m not a hugely Science-oriented person and I didn’t find my Natural Science course interesting at all times, the course definitely heightened my knowledge in the area. Overall, my courses were stimulating, challenging, and interesting.
Do you enjoy the experience at your school?
Blair Waldorf may refer to NYU as a “glorified state school” filled with students with ironic facial hair – but NYU is rightfully called a dream school and deserves the prestigious tag. Freshmen year was truly one of the greatest years of my life and I couldn’t imagine being anywhere else. This is the University where the meaning of communal bathrooms is lost; where you will wake up in the morning and revel in the fact that you attend NYU; where an acceptable “Welcome Week” activity is “Guess the Straight Person”; where going out at midnight is completely acceptable; where Thursday is the new Friday (unless you’re Pre-Health, sorry); where drawing a fellow student naked or tap-dancing (or both at the same time) are typical forms of homework; where an exciting non-traditional college experience awaits you; where adventures are in reach and in front of you (unless you stumble upon a film set, in which case you need to go around); where the grid of Manhattan is your campus; where the campus never sleeps; and where summer is truly the worst part of the year.
Do you feel you’re getting value for the money you’re spending on college?
Unless you’re blessed with scholarships, born incredibly wealthy, or fortunate enough to be Alexis Bledel or James Franco—you’ll probably cringe (at least a little) at the fact that NYU comes with a minimum price tag of $50,000. Gandalf the Grey is still falling down my hole of debt. Is it very expensive? Yes. But is it worth it? I think so. It’s an insurmountable burden on my parents, so I’m making the most of my education – and if you do too, the entire experience will truly be worth every cent. You live in Manhattan, you get some of the best residence/dining halls, you have access to an exponential amount of part-time jobs and internships, you have an expansive array of classes and extra-curricular activities to choose from, and some of the best faculty and experts heading it up. And you’ll have the time of your life. Like the commercials say—priceless.
Do you have any tips for prospective students?
If you are in the midst of your high school career, keep your grades up and stay involved. NYU generally doesn’t conduct individual interviews, so you need your application to shine among the tens of thousands that flood the Admissions Office. Apply to the NYU school that you want to apply to – i.e. don’t go to College of Arts and Science if you fully intend to transfer to Stern. Internal transfers are not necessarily easier. Carpe diem, baby – just follow your passions. If the college application process has finished (congratulations, hope it didn’t drive you too mad), then it must be decision time. This may seem obvious, but if you do not like the city, NYU is probably not for you. I’ve met several first-years who chose NYU despite their dislike for the city, and then ended up hating their entire experience. You have to understand that the closest thing to a quad you will get is Washington Square Park: a former burial ground. Take the time to visit NYU, make sure you can see yourself living there for four years. Talk to current students, stay overnight, sit in on a class, talk to faculty, do your research, get all of your questions answered. Every school within NYU has its own specialization/field. Whether you are dead set on what you want to study or you have no idea – there truly is a place for everyone. Keep your passions within reach, allow your education to serve as cornerstones for your career path, but look into the arrays of classes and leave some room for exploration.
Which types of students will excel at your college?
I transitioned easily, but prior to my arrival, I was told that it was easy to feel isolated at NYU—that it was necessary to put yourself out there and to actively make friendships. For those who do not find that fact daunting, NYU will probably be a great place for you. However, even if you are more reserved, there are plenty of opportunities to meet people (orientation, extra-curricular activities, residence halls, classes) and there truly is a niche for everyone. As long as you are open to new relationships (friends, professors, etc.), perspectives, and environments, you will most likely thrive at NYU. Living in one of the world’s greatest cities is not without its temptations, so make sure you can keep a realistic balance between the social and academic aspects of college. NYU is perfect for those who want an exciting/non-traditional college experience, who don’t mind being obstructed from class because Robert Pattinson is filming, who love bustling cities and cultural experiences, who are open-minded and independent, who want to carve out their own opportunities, who revel in the fact that NYU’s football team is undefeated and the mascot is a violet/the library card catalog, who want to explore, grow, and challenge themselves, in addition to those who are looking to have the time of their lives.
The learning portion is inevitable, isn’t it? NYU has various schools underneath its purple umbrella – College of Arts and Science, Tisch School of the Arts, Stern School of Business, Steinhardt School of Culture/Education/Human Development, College of Nursing, Silver School of Social Work, Preston Robert Tisch Center for Hospitality/Tourism/Sports Management, the new Global Liberal Studies Program, and the Liberal Studies Program. No matter what your interests or professional aspirations are, there is a school for you. If none of them quite fit the bill, there’s the Gallatin School of Individualized Study where you can design your own program of study. NYU, with its rigorous curriculum, will give you a well-rounded education. You will be well-versed in the ways of the world – through the courses for your major and the core curriculum: The Morse Academic Plan. My course load this past year consisted of various classes in different areas – Art History, Music Business, Game Theory, Anthropology. They were taught by some of the most experienced and expert faculty. Although I’m not a hugely Science-oriented person and I didn’t find my Natural Science course interesting at all times, the course definitely heightened my knowledge in the area. Overall, my courses were stimulating, challenging, and interesting.
Blair Waldorf may refer to NYU as a “glorified state school” filled with students with ironic facial hair – but NYU is rightfully called a dream school and deserves the prestigious tag. Freshmen year was truly one of the greatest years of my life and I couldn’t imagine being anywhere else. This is the University where the meaning of communal bathrooms is lost; where you will wake up in the morning and revel in the fact that you attend NYU; where an acceptable “Welcome Week” activity is “Guess the Straight Person”; where going out at midnight is completely acceptable; where Thursday is the new Friday (unless you’re Pre-Health, sorry); where drawing a fellow student naked or tap-dancing (or both at the same time) are typical forms of homework; where an exciting non-traditional college experience awaits you; where adventures are in reach and in front of you (unless you stumble upon a film set, in which case you need to go around); where the grid of Manhattan is your campus; where the campus never sleeps; and where summer is truly the worst part of the year.
Unless you’re blessed with scholarships, born incredibly wealthy, or fortunate enough to be Alexis Bledel or James Franco—you’ll probably cringe (at least a little) at the fact that NYU comes with a minimum price tag of $50,000. Gandalf the Grey is still falling down my hole of debt. Is it very expensive? Yes. But is it worth it? I think so. It’s an insurmountable burden on my parents, so I’m making the most of my education – and if you do too, the entire experience will truly be worth every cent. You live in Manhattan, you get some of the best residence/dining halls, you have access to an exponential amount of part-time jobs and internships, you have an expansive array of classes and extra-curricular activities to choose from, and some of the best faculty and experts heading it up. And you’ll have the time of your life. Like the commercials say—priceless.
If you are in the midst of your high school career, keep your grades up and stay involved. NYU generally doesn’t conduct individual interviews, so you need your application to shine among the tens of thousands that flood the Admissions Office. Apply to the NYU school that you want to apply to – i.e. don’t go to College of Arts and Science if you fully intend to transfer to Stern. Internal transfers are not necessarily easier. Carpe diem, baby – just follow your passions. If the college application process has finished (congratulations, hope it didn’t drive you too mad), then it must be decision time. This may seem obvious, but if you do not like the city, NYU is probably not for you. I’ve met several first-years who chose NYU despite their dislike for the city, and then ended up hating their entire experience. You have to understand that the closest thing to a quad you will get is Washington Square Park: a former burial ground. Take the time to visit NYU, make sure you can see yourself living there for four years. Talk to current students, stay overnight, sit in on a class, talk to faculty, do your research, get all of your questions answered. Every school within NYU has its own specialization/field. Whether you are dead set on what you want to study or you have no idea – there truly is a place for everyone. Keep your passions within reach, allow your education to serve as cornerstones for your career path, but look into the arrays of classes and leave some room for exploration.
I transitioned easily, but prior to my arrival, I was told that it was easy to feel isolated at NYU—that it was necessary to put yourself out there and to actively make friendships. For those who do not find that fact daunting, NYU will probably be a great place for you. However, even if you are more reserved, there are plenty of opportunities to meet people (orientation, extra-curricular activities, residence halls, classes) and there truly is a niche for everyone. As long as you are open to new relationships (friends, professors, etc.), perspectives, and environments, you will most likely thrive at NYU. Living in one of the world’s greatest cities is not without its temptations, so make sure you can keep a realistic balance between the social and academic aspects of college. NYU is perfect for those who want an exciting/non-traditional college experience, who don’t mind being obstructed from class because Robert Pattinson is filming, who love bustling cities and cultural experiences, who are open-minded and independent, who want to carve out their own opportunities, who revel in the fact that NYU’s football team is undefeated and the mascot is a violet/the library card catalog, who want to explore, grow, and challenge themselves, in addition to those who are looking to have the time of their lives.