<p>Addressed to anyone who has got into NYU.
What is you SAT score?
What major?
What major is the easiest to get into? ( I mainly want to go because i love the city)
Any advice other than the obvious?</p>
<p>The most important advice for NYU is making sure you can afford it. It is one of the most expensive colleges the US but does not offer most good aid. Too many kids waste lots of time dreaming about NYU and NYC only to discover it’s not a real option. If your family can pay over $55K each year, carry on.</p>
<p>Agree with Redroses. The miserly financial aid situation was one important reason why I turned down NYU’s offer. Nearly everyone I knew who attended with a few exceptions are still paying off their college loans even though they’ve been out of school for 10+ years. </p>
<p>Even if you/your parents can afford it, do run a cost-benefit analysis to see if it is worth it…especially if you’re an undecided major. </p>
<p>If you really want to live the NYC experience, you can always have it after college…whether by working in the city and/or applying to NYU for grad school.</p>
<p>pyan,</p>
<p>Sigh, I have to agree with the above two posters. Especially after a trip to University of Vermont today and speaking to two students, one from in state and one from out of state. Both said that UVM was extremely generous and basically covered ALL their expenses with scholarships, etc. No debt for these students when they graduate. And, boy, is the campus beautiful at this time of the year. They have a brand new Student Union that is gorgeous! And I am not sure NYU students have anything close to that.</p>
<p>I figure we are paying $45,000 to $50,000 this first year even with sonny’s scholarship money of $25,000/ year. This includes a new computer and dorm move in items, warm clothing, boots, etc. besides tuition and fees, dorming/ meal plan fees, books, and monthly budget for meals, entertainment, etc.</p>
<p>Fortunately, we have the means for sonny’s college costs. Most importantly, right now, sonny LOVES NYU. He has made many friends (and some closer ones with similar interests).
He is a city person and is capitalizing on musical events, concerts, shows, etc. in his free time. He is also studying hard and find his professors to be of high caliber. He was admitted into the Mock Trial group at NYU, which came forth with the National Champion Team in 2009-2010 (up against Harvard). Sonny feels challenged; he is working hard; he is also have great fun and experiencing wonderful socializing. He also loves the variety of food in NYC and even loves the food in the NYU dining halls! The bad thing is he does not seem to miss home! :(</p>
<p>Sonny did not have the highest SAT I scores (2090 - he chose not to focus on re-studying for them because of busy ECs), high 700s in the two SAT subject tests he provided and an ACT score of 32. However, I have to say he was a really well rounded candidate, with great leadership roles, a good number of awards, many service hours to the community (starting early in 8th grade and culminating in his starting a non-profit charity for children in need). He took 5 AP exams by Junior year and scored 5s in 4 exams and a 4 in one. This meant he was an AP Scholar with Distinction. He won a French Poetry recitation award, Journalism commentary award, Math award, Principal’s Leadership Award, The Presidential Gold Level Volunteer Award, etc.</p>
<p>Moreover, he got very strong recommendation letters from 2 teachers, the assistant principal, the principal, and his guidance counselor. Finally, his essay was well written with quite a few revisions (written summer after Junior year). It encapsulated his passion for social change. His short answers were also right on target. This resulted in his being chosen for the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. scholarship.</p>
<p>Sonny hopes to be a Political Science major (maybe with an Economics minor). I think he is headed for law school and politics though he loves the theatre (perfect at NYU to have the latter interest).</p>
<p>This is a long answer to the original query. It does not matter what your major is if you are applying to CAS. However, the admission criteria vary depending on the school within NYU you are interested in applying to.</p>
<p>Also, I forgot to mention that sonny’s weighted GPA was 4.4, putting him in the top 10% in a very competitive public high school.</p>
<p>He was also Senior Class President, putting in many hours to make the position a substantive one, by debating an galvanizing other students to debate student issues with the Board of Trustees and other school authorities. He also worked to build school spirit by planning and implementing school events for students and building rapport with local business people at the same time. He co-founded and directed the local school TV channel and the to top if off he got involved in major roles in the big school plays.</p>
<p>It was no wonder I hardly saw sonny his senior year!</p>
<p>Also, I forgot to mention that sonny’s weighted GPA was 4.4, putting him in the top 10% in a very competitive public high school.</p>
<p>He was also Senior Class President, putting in many hours to make the position a substantive one, by debating and galvanizing other students to debate student issues with the Board of Trustees and other school authorities. He also worked to build school spirit by planning and implementing school events for students and building rapport with local business people at the same time. He co-founded and directed the local school TV channel and then to top it off he got involved in major roles in the big school plays.</p>
<p>It was no wonder I hardly saw sonny his senior year!</p>
<p>Sorry for the double post. Clicked twice since I thought the first time did not go thru. :)</p>
<p>Also, I forgot to mention that sonny’s weighted GPA was 4.4, putting him in the top 10% in a very competitive public high school.</p>
<p>He was also Senior Class President, putting in many hours to make the position a substantive one, by debating an galvanizing other students to debate student issues with the Board of Trustees and other school authorities. He also worked to build school spirit by planning and implementing school events for students and building rapport with local business people at the same time. He co-founded and directed the local school TV channel and the to top if off he got involved in major roles in the big school plays.</p>
<p>It was no wonder I hardly saw sonny his senior year!</p>
<p>Its worth looking into the CUNY schools (City University of New York) which are public schools with public tuition. </p>
<p>Hunter College is on the East Side around 68th Street in a very safe, quiet neighborhood. Its a subway ride away from the village on the 4 or 6 trains.</p>
<p>Baruch College is also on the East Side, but closer to the village at 23rd Street in a safe, more urban neighborhood a few stops on the 4/6 trains from the village and within walking distance. Baruch offers the Zicklin School of Business which is highly regarded. I took a summer class there and was happy with it.</p>
<p>Both have dorms. I don’t know if the dorms are on either campus or set away from the schools based on what buildings they are able to rent. Both are also urban campuses, like NYU without any campus green space. Though, parks are near both. Both are good schools academically too. They are commuter schools so the social life may be different than NYU, but worth considering.</p>
<p>The City College of New York (CCNY) is a few blocks north of Columbia and also has dorms, but safety may be an issue.</p>
<p>evolving,</p>
<p>Sounds like you have a son who is an independent self-starter type who can and has thrived on NYU’s environment and offerings. One issue I kept hearing from classmates and friends…even recent graduates is that NYU’s bureaucracy and advising can be spotty and can cause students who don’t keep on top of their graduation requirements/needs to fall through the cracks. </p>
<p>As that was already the case when I received my admissions offer as I heard it from several high school classmates who were attending NYU, that was another reason why I decided to turn it down. </p>
<p>“Both have dorms. I don’t know if the dorms are on either campus or set away from the schools based on what buildings they are able to rent. Both are also urban campuses, like NYU without any campus green space. Though, parks are near both. Both are good schools academically too. They are commuter schools so the social life may be different than NYU, but worth considering.”</p>
<p>I find this quite amusing considering NYU was still considered a big commuter school when I was in high school and is still one to many students today.</p>
<p>cobrat,</p>
<p>I agree with what you said about possible problems in maneuvering NYU’s bureaucracy. I was not too happy with sonny’s advisement experience during the summer orientation for new students. I had to file a complaint and a request on behalf of sonny.</p>
<p>Fortunately, in sonny’s case, it turned out his participation in the MLK Scholarship program means his permanent advisor is on top of things and has proven to be very helpful (going the extra mile). Sonny is also very responsible. He makes sure to contact him asap when advisement scheduling/ issues come up.</p>
<p>NYU students at large should take the initiative in making sure they have an advisor who works with them and then they need to keep up with their own research on deadlines, requirements, etc… Just in case an advisor in misinformed or not on top of things. (That was sonny’s experience with his temporary stand-in in the summer). You have to expect this in a big university like NYU. You may very well have to fight for what you need.</p>
<p>Any advice on how to get in?</p>
<p>pyan,</p>
<p>My son’s specific high school achievements I recounted should have given you quite a few indicators of what NYU looks for. There were lessons in my son’s example to show you what NYU CAS, specifically, considers an attractive candidate. </p>
<p>Also, look at some of the chance threads with responses from the readers and you will see what are the important elements of a strong application to NYU.</p>
<p>Other than that, you need to be more clear about what you are looking for specifically.</p>
<p>I’d say unless you are reasonably certain of what direction you want to take your direction and it happens to coincide with one of NYU’s strengths, I’d seriously reconsider NYU as a possible choice. </p>
<p>NYU is the type of school which benefits those who are independent, initiative-taking, self-reliant, and reasonably certain about the direction of their studies the most. Those who aren’t sure of what they really want to study/do in school and who need to rely on their parents/adviser a lot to navigate their away around college tend to flounder aimlessly and/or do poorly at NYU…not good considering the high costs and miserly state of financial aid.</p>
<p>Moreover, you need a more compelling reason to attend NYU beyond wanting to be in NYC if you want to convince NYU admissions that you have good reasons for desiring to study there. If NYC is the main/sole reason for going to NYU, what about the CUNYs, Pace, Fordham, or Columbia? That would certainly be a question NYU adcoms will be wondering about if your essay/application gives them the impression that NYC is your main/sole reason for wanting NYU.</p>