I go to NYU right now. I’m taking the maximum amount of federal loans (so the 5500 a year, then the increase) and no parent plus loans, and CAS gave me a scholarship big enough that my family can make up the rest. While I know kids in my situation, and I have friends who have full rides…they’re vastly outnumbered by my friends staring at 100k of debt after graduation in unsubsidized and plus loans (which isn’t ideal obviously). Sometimes, NYU comes through and gives great aid for those who are high need and high merit, but stating that NYU is known for being stingy with aid isn’t false because…it is. A lot of the people who post on CC are high merit, so there seems to be a lot of us on CC getting a ton of aid from NYU, but that’s just misleading data.
That being said, if OP is even still following this, apply anyway (especially if you can get an application fee waived). I thought I’d never be able to afford it, and they surprised me. Who knows, you might be one of the lucky few, and if it’s your dream you should at least take the chance.