rossji, it's possible that the girl had a low gpa and that might have been what hurt her. NYU looks at gpa above test scores, and you're more likely to get in with slightly lower SAT than a slightly lower gpa. If her SAT was actually in the 1500's then there's obviously something else there that is keeping them from accepting her. I have heard anecdotally of people being told the reasons that they weren't accepted, but nothing from anyone whom I actually know and trust so I'm not sure that it really happens.
As far as it being impossible to get into Steinhardt with a score of less than 1400, I do know that that is not true because a friend of my D did it two years ago.
mommd, you're right. You may only apply to one college at NYU.