<p>With all the back doors to get into highly selective colleges, can someone give me the scoop on NYU School of Continuing and Professional Studies - SCPS Paul McGhee Division? I know this school is basically for older students but I’m thinking that it’s as prestigious 
as the University of Phoenix (no offense intended - but I don’t want my nephew to attend an online school.)</p>
<p>Your nephew can always internal transfer into another college at NYU. He h would have to keep his GPA really high… around 3.8 to 4.0. Also, it is unlikely he would get into the Stern School of Business (Regular NYU students have a hard enough time trying to transfer into Stern), but he should have a chance at Steinhardt or the College of Arts and Sciences.</p>
<p>I don’t know his stats, but your nephew should also consider some of the MANY excellent but not quite as highly selective schools which would be more than likely still be better than a fully online program. Continuing Ed type of programs are wise to the back-door and for the most part do not take students right out of HS/transfers etc. My S had a friend who tried that route at some prestigious colleges a few years back and was turned away from each school.</p>
<p>OP - Do you think the people who get in via the “backdoor” take watered down classes?</p>
<p>It depends on where the back door leads the student in terms of classes he can take. Many such entries restrict the courses that are available, and those courses are set up just for that entry point. Sometimes other courses are open subject to availability.</p>
<p>NYU seems to be a relatively easy transfer school if as student does well freshman year. There is a big spread of choices between U of Phoenix and that NYU program. I know a half dozen kids transferring in from NYU from all kinds of schools. The only advantage of taking that back door you are considering is that if your nephew does poorly, he can still continue in that program at NYU unless he flunks out.</p>
<p>For someone who wants to stay home and do school online, NYU is not the best choice to push on such a person, IMO. It’s also crazy expensive.</p>
<p>Why are those the only two choices? What about the CUNYs which are much less expensive?</p>
<p>University of Penn’s College of Liberal and Professional studies only limits one to majors/minors mainly within the college of arts and sciences. The classes are the same as students admitted the traditional way.</p>
<p>The NYU program and others like it are typically for working adults, people returning to school to change professions, etc. If your nephew doesn’t fit into those categories, he will likely not be admitted to these programs. They can’t be used as a back-door or an easier way to gain entrance into a prestigious school (admissions departments are too smart for that), but rather they are a way for some non-traditional students to have a chance at a quality education.</p>