Here To Help the Class of 2013 From: Class of 2012

SuperSpaceChik · 12-29-2008, 10:10 AM

Hey. I'm a current freshman at NYU (class of 2012!!) here to lend a helping hand to you guys currently applying and hoping to get in. Some things about myself:
>>I'm a music major at Steinhardt.
>>I have friends in/been to the dorms of Rubin, Brittany, Weinstein, Hayden, and 3rd N.
>>I'm a member of a couple Christian student groups on campus.

I can answer questions about general things, like dorms, finaid, food, etc. and whatever I don't know for myself I can ask my friends and R.A.

First though, there are some things that only us students know about the university and the city that you will discover.

>>There's a thing called Welcome Week for all the freshmen and new students. Do as many things as possible next fall in the booklet that they'll give you. The outings not only orientate you with the city but you'll know how to take the subway (which came in handy when a few days after my first ride I got lost in SoHo...long story), find some great cheap places to eat like Mamouns and Spice, and you'll meet a lot of people.

>>If you get a trdtn'l dorm; try to respect all the kids on your floor if nothing else, or you'll be in for a long year. However, don't fret if you hate every last person on that floor because floor changes are an option even after dorming assignments have been made, though you need a legit reason. If you live in an appt. style dorm, word is that people on the floors don't interact much. Oh, and your RA will be your best friend and every dorm has peer educators for different topics of interest/use.

>>I've always heard that some kids feel they are underqualified statistically for NYU (both this yr & last). I've seen the scores of these so-called "Underqualified" ppl and I envy you. I didn't even get a 2000 on my SAT, so stop freaking out. If you get in it means you're more than a test score; you have a quirk, talent, potential, or a personality that matches up w/ the school's vibe.

>>Sternies & Tischies are notorious rivals since the term was created , but I know some who get along.

>>When it comes to classes, take advantage of the P/F option. Talk to your guidance counselor about a wk or 2 into classes if you think one of your classes, you prob won't do so hot. However, you can only do this to 20% of your tot courses and they can't be classes towards your major (I'm not sure what that means for the undecided ppl out there tho).

You'll hear and learn alot of things during Welcome Week and the first couple weeks of classes that are essential to keeping you sanity. Any Queations? Ask and I'll Answer.

SuperSpaceChik

NyJeo · 12-29-2008, 10:17 AM

Hey!

-I want to major in politics, but I do currently play in my select orchestra at my school. I was wondering if I can join the NYU orchestra if I am not a music major?
-If so, How hard is it to get in?(auditions?)

Is 3rd North a nice dorm? I was interested in a apartment style dorm but U-Hall won't be a freshman dorm anymore - which I heard was the better of the 2 apartment style.

Have you seen the 12th street new dorm for freshman? If so:How does it look so far?

TY =]

SuperSpaceChik · 12-29-2008, 10:36 AM

At NYU there are three orchestras: Symphonic Orch., Repertory Orch., and Community Orch. The Community Orchestra is for anyone at NYU except for music majors. The Repertory Orchestra is primarily for music majors but there are some non majors who play in it, too; and the Symphonic Orchestra is for majors only.
They all require an audition. The dates are usually set up online. The Community Orchestra plays throughout the year, but the Rep. Orch. only plays in the fall, and it's harder to get into for non-majors since it's mixed. One of my friends who auditioned for the community orchestra played a piece she already knew. They never tell you specifically what to play just something that demonstrates your ability.

No. I haven't seen the 12th Street Dorm, which is pathetic since I'm in Rubin not too far from it. But I might make a trip back to NY during break just to see it.

SuperSpaceChik · 12-29-2008, 04:57 PM

Hayden is considered a party dorm (how much partying actually happens I'm not sure) but one of the times I visited a friend their his floor was kinda crazy. The food at Hayden's great and it's like a 5 min walk from everything but the dorms aren't the best. In my opinion Rubin's better. 3rd North's really nice (and they have a computer lab in the basement, the only one in all the freshmen dorms I think). The walks to and from campus aren't bad first year since freshmen dorms are some of the closest. The furthest away are 3rd N (15+ min walk) and U Hall (10-15 min walk). From my dorm I can make it to most classes in Silver, Bobst, and Kimmel in less than 10min.

Still haven't seen the 12th street dorm but I might go back to NYC during break & see it.

Fredeka · 12-29-2008, 08:29 PM

hi! i am applying to steinhardt for violin performance for 2013. and nyu is my top choice school actually. when i went to visit, they made it seem as though they are really big on music, but they also care about their students having a "strong liberal arts background".
i'm somewhat nervous about my audition, only because nyu is really my number one top choice school! was yours stressful?

also, having the curious mind that i do have, i was thinking that i could possibly double major in something else in CAS (journalism would be my number one choice, but i've heard from some reliable sources that you can't do both because journalism requires another double major in cas, and i've heard from some other reliable sources that there are students who are doing music performance at steinhardt and journalism at CAS...just wondering who's right?)

oh, and i was just wondering, did you get an academic person for your recommendation letter? or an artistic person?

thanks so much!

fredeka

Fredeka · 12-29-2008, 08:31 PM

hi! i am applying to steinhardt for violin performance for 2013. and nyu is my top choice school actually. when i went to visit, they made it seem as though they are really big on music, but they also care about their students having a "strong liberal arts background".
i'm somewhat nervous about my audition, only because nyu is really my number one top choice school! was yours stressful?

also, having the curious mind that i do have, i was thinking that i could possibly double major in something else in CAS (journalism would be my number one choice, but i've heard from some reliable sources that you can't do both because journalism requires another double major in cas, and i've heard from some other reliable sources that there are students who are doing music performance at steinhardt and journalism at CAS...just wondering who's right?)

oh, and i was just wondering, did you get an academic person for your recommendation letter? or an artistic person?

thanks so much!

fredeka

nosyrosie · 12-29-2008, 10:34 PM

I am trying to decide which dorm to request for my freshman year next fall. I have narrowed it down to Hayden and 12th Street. Do you have any pros/cons for either of these.

ALSO, since 12th Street is a 10-15 minute walk from the main campus, is the walk something that will get annoying after a while or does it not really matter?

SuperSpaceChik · 12-30-2008, 04:45 PM

To Fredeka:

I actually play violin here. So I can say first hand the music program is pretty solid. Being a music major has been a weird lifestyle to adjust to. I practice about four hours a day (2 in the morning 2 in the evening), which is required/expected of us. It seems like a lot but trust with all the music you'll be given it will sometimes seem like too lil. Music major have required courses called MAP, which included english, language, math, and sciences. This semester I took Writing the Essay (mandatory of all freshmen) and a World Cultures class.

The thing I like about NYU is that the liberal arts classes aren't watered down. I'm in classes with people in other majors as well. Don't be nervous about your audition. Mine w/ NYU was actually last so by then I was already used to standing in front of judges. You could try that. My audition wasn't so stressful because the panel came back from lunch happy (lol). But seriously, they asked me to play my pieces and I did then they asked some questions about my academics in high school like if i took any AP courses and my gpa. Just smile and remember to breathe while playing.

You can do a double major in journalism at CAS and be a music major. I know a girl who's doing just that.

For my recommendations I asked three people: my french teacher, my sophomore english teacher, and my violin teacher. Pick teachers who know you in and out of the classroom. My english teacher was also the advisor for a club for which I was an officer. I say do both. My violin teacher did know me best as a musician. Ask yours, I'm sure (s)he'll be glad to.

Good Luck

MTgrlsmom · 12-30-2008, 05:25 PM

nosyrosie - here is a link to housing info I just posted on a different thread that you might find useful as well

WSN HOUSING GUIDE - SPRING 2008

Fredeka · 12-30-2008, 05:58 PM

thanks sososoo much!
i actually only got a recommendation from my violin teacher because thats what my guidance counselor told me would be best but now i'm starting to think otherwise. i know the app deadline is the first of january, but i know i have some teachers that would write recs for me. maybe i could call the admissions office and tell them whats going on? then like fedex the additional letter to them?

i'm just so excited/scared/nervous!

also, another HUGE issue is financial aid, i don't know if you would personally know this, but do you know if nyu gives out a lot of finaid/scholarships and stuff like that? or is it just richer kids that can afford it? my parents know that nyu is my top choice, but i can't go there if they don't give me enough money/i don't get enough scholarships so i'm also pretty worried about that too since nyu is one of the more expensive schools on my list.

plus, i'm sure housing makes a difference right? the apartment style freshman dorm ($$$) vs the regular one ($) right?

thanks so much! you're really a big bigg help!

SuperSpaceChik · 01-01-2009, 01:21 PM

The admissions office was incredibly helpful with me when it came to mailing in forms. Calling them is a vrey good idea and I'm sure they'll be willing to help.

As far as financial aid goes, one of NYU's policy's is to offer some form of aid to as many people as possible. I'm not one of the "richer kids" that goes to there but they gave me something like 60% of the cost in scholarships. Plus I called in after receiving my financial aid info for an appeal since some unexpected events happened between the time of submitting my FAFSA and getting accepted. Trying that has helped a lot of people but there's a certain time frame (funds are limited ) so the sooner the better. Apartment style dorms generally cost more. I live in Rubin, which is one of the cheapest of the freshmen dorms. It's not a bad dorm at all and it's close to everything. I say go for traditional since you'll always have 3 other years to live in an apartment style dorm and you'll be so busy studying and exploring the city you'll hardly have time/want to cook. plus most of the upperclassmen I'm friends with live in apartments off campus anyway.

A note on financial aid: the work study given is additional money that doesn't go towards your housing, tuition or anything. It's just extra cash in your pocket. However, workstudy is extremely hard to get, especially as a freshmen. So even though NYU's work study rate is something like 80%, most of those students aren't freshmen. On my floor of 30+ people maybe 3 or 4 actually have a job on campus.

AbbyP · 01-01-2009, 08:30 PM

If work-study is listed on the financial aid estimate I got, does that mean I definitely get work-study or is it still unsure?

NyJeo · 01-01-2009, 08:48 PM

Would you recommend a work study job or an outside job?

My manager at my job said he can transfer me to a store in the city if I wanted to but people told me to do work study cause it is better - or something. I visited the actual store in the city and it is like a 5 min walk from 3rd north(where I am looking to dorm).

Fredeka · 01-02-2009, 11:07 AM

thanks! also, when did you find out that you were accepted? before april 1st? or on april 1st? (unless you did ED)

SuperSpaceChik · 01-03-2009, 09:35 AM

To Abby: The work-study isn't guaranteed. There's a building called the Wasserman Center. That's where students go to set up an account to apply for work-study. Getting work-study models the real world job hunt in that you're not guaranteed a position even though you apply for it, and you have to do your best to stand out from the other numerous applicants who are applying too. Although I applied for (20+) positions I didn't land any this past fall. but then again my schedule was pretty demanding, so I decided to concentrate simply on academics.

To NyJeo: You can get a job off campus. The only disadvantage is that since you'll have to report income earned from it on your 2009 taxes, what you earn is taken into account for your sophomore year, but I highly doubt it will change anything drastically since as a rule of thumb schools look primarily at parents' income and assets. I'd say go for it, since getting work-study as a freshman is a game of chance.

To Fredeka: I applied RD. I got my letter the second week of April. The order that acceptance letters are handed out seems random (i.e. not alphabetical or wholly regional).