Daughter is devastated - grad school program "paused admissions" after her acceptance

Parents Forum
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I’ll finish your sentence- or education, or social sciences (including economics) …

edited by moderator to comply with forum rules

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Reminder to please keep politics out of the replies. There are threads in the political forum to discuss politics in higher education. TIA!

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But it is not federal. It is Master’s not Phd. It usually does not have full scholarship etc.

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What’s your theory for the last minute change?

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There are plenty of programs that rely on federal money that don’t offer fully paid stipends, not just PhD’s. And many humanities programs (history, sociology, education) have already run afoul of whatever doctrines are being preached.

Read about the books that the Naval Academy was forced to remove from its library…

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I heard something about the federal loan program being reworked and degrees that are not deemed substantial being removed from eligibility. AND the University/Colleges having to fund part of the loan if they continue to offer certain degrees.
So sorry for your daughter. My D is in grad school and several colleagues have had their funding stopping. It has been difficult for many.

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I do not believe it is federal loans issue either. It sounds more like NYU internal issue. They (like many colleges around the country) suddenly decided to tream some of their I guess less popular Masters’ programs. But to do it so late (after admission cycle) is absolute shame on NYU. It is obviously decision high up in administration, who absolute do not care about students and their lives. I would stay far away from NYU.

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Could have something to do with this: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/03/arts/national-endowment-for-the-arts-grants.html?unlocked_article_code=1.E08.cQ3t.UH9n-RTjp35t&smid=url-share It might help to explain the terrible timing.

In any event, it is sad and frustrating. I fear for that the arts and sciences in this country will suffer long term damage.

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I agree. But NYU is not Naval Academy and it is private school. Plus this is not some kind of debatable major. This is on NYU. No excuses. Shame on it.

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Do you know what the degree involves? Anything Ed related is under attack. Add the community engagement piece- and you’re under the microscope.

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In my opinion, school with reputation of NYU should honor offers and let students who were committed finish their degrees. Period end of statement. They are not Philadelphia Art College that run out of money (mishandled it too). They do have money for another year, and I bet a student was expected to pay some tuition for Master’s.

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Reputation and endowment.

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I am sorry, but not everything can be blamed on waterver is going on now in DC. It is an easy excuse, but does not work for me.

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IMO, the cuts in federal funding is a much more likely explanation. A cut in federal funds doesn’t have to be the department that is eliminated to have been a factor. Cuts have ripple effects and lead to a reevaluation of many cost centers.
To suggest that this was the result of internal decision making at NYU to suggest that their administration is beyond irresponsible and is completely outrageous. It is much more likely due to factors beyond their control.

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Beyond their control? Let me respectfully disagree… I am so sorry for NYU. They are going to be totally broke.

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This is a straw man argument since no one has said that “everything can be blamed on whatever is going on now in DC.”

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Your alternative theory has been to suggest that they acted completely irresponsibly . . . without any evidence to support that theory.

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NYU has money. (I have not heard that they are going bankrupt. Just look at waitlist thread with many students willing to pay full tuition for undegrad.) It is possible that they have less money now. But for NYU to behave like that is irresponsible and disgusting.

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I totally agree.

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I’m agreeing with you. I think there is no reason for a school with this kind of endowment to rescind acceptances after the May 1st deadline. Put a freeze on transfers or for next year’s class. NYU has left these students without any options by communicating so late in the game.

Other schools put a pause on acceptances and filled less of their graduate class but didn’t rescind acceptances that had already gone out.

Yes, there could be some short term pain for NYU but they need to honor their commitments. There is no excuse for this.

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