NYU Liberal Studies Program vs Boston University Journalism vs Syracuse Newhou

hannahabbe
Wed, 03 Apr 2013 17:48:06 +0000

I have the same choices! I’m choosing between NYU LSP and BU for journalism. At first, I was really apprehensive about NYU, but then I did some research. LSP just allows you to get your core classes out of the way in smaller classes. You still take major/minor related classes both freshman and sophomore year. Read this post. It helps a lot!

"What is NYU’S LSP Program?

The LSP Program is a two-year program that forces you into completing your general requirements during those two years, rather than spread out over your four years. After your two years in the LSP Program, you will be transferred into your school of choice (as long as you have a certain GPA). At that point as well you can declare your major.

The LSP general requirements are comparable (and almost exact) to the other general requirements that you would complete in the other NYU schools: Gallatin, CAS, Steinhardt, etc. So no, you are not receiving a different education. You will still graduate on-time within four years and if you want to double major, you can! Double minor, you can! There is no limitations that LSP really puts on you, unless you wanted to be in Stern. In that case, you would have to apply for an internal transfer from LSP to Stern, rather than having that guaranteed transfer to your school of choice as described above.



What Makes the LSP Program Different from CAS MAP Requirements, Etc.?

The LSP Program places students in classes with less than 25 students and the classes are very discussion, literature, and writing based. So, liberal arts focus basically like any other general course you would take in college.

You are not receiving an inferior education, like some think. In fact, you might as well consider yourself receiving a better one! LSP classes again have less than 25 students, making it easier to participate and pay attention compared to some CAS MAP courses which have upwards of 100+ students.

A lot of LSP students, when finally transferring into your school of choice, have a higher GPA than students that have been at that school of choice since freshman year because of these smaller classes. It makes it easier to pay attention, understand the material, and get individual help.



Am I still allowed to do courses towards my major/area of interest in LSP?

Yes, you are capable of having two courses your freshman year for your major/area of interest (under the traditional 4 classes per semester load). Your sophomore year you will have a lot more freedom allowing more courses (since a lot of your general requirements were completed freshman year) towards your major/area of interest.



Am I secluded from the rest of the NYU community?

No, you are an NYU student. You will house with other students at NYU, from many different schools; dine with them; participate in activities with them. You are a FULL NYU student.



Now the big question… Why was I placed in LSP?

A lot of people ask this question and I sure did ask a lot once I was accepted into the program, rather than into my college of choice. Many assume automatically that it is because of a low GPA, SAT/ACT, or little to no extracurriculars. I can attest that this is not true, although this could be one factor for some students as to why they were placed in LSP. I know I had comparable/higher grades than most students at my school of choice, so for me, this wasn’t it and led me into finding the factors that can get you placed into LSP.

So, I talked to an admissions counselor one-on-one and this is what they said. Any one of these factors could contribute to you being placed in LSP:


Being from a small school/graduating class - They believe that you would have trouble acclimating to the large CAS classes for example; therefore, they place some students that come from a smaller school in the LSP program because of the small classrooms (less than 25 students in a class). Also, because you are normally adjusted probably to getting to know your teacher. In this case, you will easily be in contact/know your professor in this small classroom environment. This is not the case for everyone, just students they feel come from a smaller school and would succeed in this environment.
Expressing a desire to study abroad - Since this is the only program at NYU that allows you to student abroad your freshman year, they place a lot of students who express a desire to student abroad in the LSP program. Remember, LSP can place you at New York, London, Florence, or Paris your freshman year before transferring to New York your sophomore year.
Undecided about what you want to study/broad interests - If you select, for example a double major on your application that has the complete opposite to do with another, this tells the admissions department that you have broad interests or may be not sure what to major in. If you’re undecided, the LSP program is the perfect chance to get a liberal arts feel, or a feel for everything, before selecting a major. Same if you have broad interests. It gives you a feel for everything so you can zone in on your major.
Of course, a oddity on your application contributes as well (Low GPA or ACT/SAT score) - This shows the admissions department that you have the potential to be at NYU, but may have messed up in a certain area. LSP gives you the chance to thrive in a smaller classroom environment for your own success. Their view is that if you had a bad senior year due to a death or some tragic event for example, it is best to ease into things in college in a smaller classroom environment rather than a 100+ person class where you might get lost.


Again, these factors don’t apply to every applicant. It just gives you a general idea as to why you might have been placed into LSP. Not everyone from a small school will get placed here, not everyone who is undecided will be placed here, etc."