<p>Joycell, you make valid points, and I mostly agree, but a couple things.</p>
<p>For example, you ask:
“Is the quality the same if you are one of 200 in a class or one of 20?”</p>
<p>The average class size at NYU is not anywhere near 200 (it is in fact under 30). The overwhelming majority (close to 90%) of classes at NYU are under 50. The classes of 200 can be counted with fingers on a hand…some MAP requirements, some pre-med classes and possibly intro. econ. which will have students from both CAS and Stern. </p>
<p>As for the undergrad. v. grad. issue which was mentioned earlier, its the same profs. teaching both levels at NYU. Undergrads at NYU can also enroll in graduate classes with an advisor’s permission.</p>
<p>Obviously Barnard classes are still smaller, but NYU has more distingiushed profs. and superior deparments, some of which even give students the chance to earn graduate degrees in less time, at less cost, and without ever taking the GRE. </p>
<p><a href=“http://www.nyu.edu/cas/Academic/Programs/bama_brochure.pdf[/url]”>http://www.nyu.edu/cas/Academic/Programs/bama_brochure.pdf</a></p>
<p>“NYU is a great school (my younger D would love to apply there next year!) but it’s no Columbia or Barnard.”</p>
<p>Neither is Barnard a Columbia. Of course Columbia is above NYU as an overall university, but the gap is narrower and narrower every year. There are also some areas where NYU is either better (eg. philosophy, applied math, film, near/mid eastern studies) or as good (eg. economics, law) as Columbia. At the end of the day, both NYU and Columbia are large research universities, while Barnard is a small LAC…so yes, it is subjective and depends on a student’s priorities. </p>
<p>“And whether that’s good or bad, is in the eye of the beholder.”</p>
<p>-100% agreed.</p>