<p>For those of you that are at NYU or were accepted and have chosen to attend the school, what attract[ed] you most? I’m getting mixed reviews about NYU’s academics: some people call them stellar, intense and difficult because of the MAP, but I’ve also read a few posts on CC saying that the academics at NYU seem to fall short of their expectations. What are the main differences between the GSP, regular, and Honors programs from a purely academic perspective? I love NYU, I spend my weekends in Greenwich, but I keep getting mixed feelings as to whether it will satiate my academic needs. This is partly because it’s a huge school and I come from a very small High School. I don’t know if I’d fit in, although, since I spend so much time there (and because most of my friends live within) I do know how to get around NYC. I was set on applying Early Decision, but now I just don’t know. Any thoughts?</p>
<p>I come from a rather large public suburban high school so I didn’t think it would be a big deal being part of a huge school. The apparent lack of community doesn’t bother me, nor does the lack of campus faze me. Would it be nice to have a more well-knit school? Yes, of course…but if it was truly important to me I would not have chosen NYU.</p>
<p>As for academics, I’m going to be honest and say that I’m not expecting spectacular professors in my first year. My classes are expected to be rather large and I’m forgoing an honors/collegiate seminar for another class, which I really would have liked.</p>
<p>Since you’re accustomed to NYC you won’t have a problem adjusting to the actual environment. You’ll hear negative reviews from people who have never had much experience with NYC and had an idealized view of what living in NYC is like. </p>
<p>But if you’re still having doubts on whether or not to apply ED, if you feel comfortable with RD you should do it. Explore other college environments (small LAC’s, mid-size universities, etc.). I realize NYU may be a dream school but that doesn’t mean that academics are responsible for that.</p>
<p>I’m an incoming freshman (class of 2012). I always wanted to go to a really large school, very diverse in terms of people/majors (don’t care about ethnic diversity), and that’s why I settled on NYU. I’m in the Liberal Studies Program (formerly GSP) and the class sizes are actually pretty small. From what I’ve heard, the LS classes aren’t that hard, but my major is pretty competitive so I’m hoping for really high grades freshman year.</p>
<p>Also, my 1st choice school was Cornell, and NYU was 2nd. I received a Guaranteed Transfer to Cornell which means that after a year at NYU, I can go to Cornell (no transfer applications needed). I decided that since I’ll be spending 3 years in beautiful, rural Ithaca amongst the gorges and lakes, it would be nice to have 1 year in the city.</p>
<p>D is an incoming freshman and will be a vocal performance major at Steinhardt. She was accepted into Steinhard’s scholars program which is a 2 year program. Student’s attend a special honor’s seminar that meets once a week. They are also involved in community service which includes in a trip each year during winter break. One year it is domestic: the next it is international. Most expenses are covered by NYU.</p>
<p>In addition, she had her choice of honors seminars in a wide range of courses. She will be taking a 4 credit literary analysis course taught to a small group by the former head of the English department.</p>
<p>D is hoping that NYU will provide her with a balance between her academic and talent pursuits.</p>
<p>I came from a small high school and was very surprised at how insignificant one can feel in NYU, even though people told me so beforehand. I am lucky because as a theater major I have several close knit communities by default, and also my floor freshman year was really close. But if I didn’t have that I’d definitely feel lonely. I still do sometimes anyway. (It’s worth it though, and I also feel independant and excited a lot of the time). Going to NYU is really like living in New York City where you happen to be attending classes, not much like going to “college” at all. I’d never experienced being just a number in a system and couldn’t really comprehend it, but that is DEFINITELY the case here. Of course you will hopefully have a few close relationships with teachers and as long as you know what you’re doing and stay ahead of or at least keep up with the system, it’s not a problem.
I love NYU for what I wanted from it - challenging studio classes (acting) and challenging academics. If I was taking academics alone I don’t think I’d feel it was sufficiently rigorous, but with studio in addition as well as extra curriculars it more than stretches me.
If you know the area then you already know how you feel about that, but I find it a great place to live - lively and peaceful at the same time and a home within the exciting metropolis of Manhattan. I thought that going there and it hasn’t changed.
Sorry I can’t tell you more about the academics you’re interested in in particular! The most difficult thing about NYU’s required classes for me was that they required me not to just work hard but think in an entirely new way. That was the biggest challenge. Whether I feel it was the most beneficial way to be challenged, I’m not sure, but I am happy with the education I’ve received there so far (I’m a Junior).</p>
<p>haha, thanks for the great replies everyone! All of you seem to be saying that while not necessarily horribly rigorous, NYU’s education (unlike other schools) is really all-encompassing in ways unrelated to academe. baobob, thanks for the suggestion! I’m sort of realizing now that I am suffering from a bit of indecision in terms of the kind of location I want from a school.</p>
<p>molly4190 can people who are deferred to the Liberal Studies program do honors once they matriculate into the normal NYU curriculum? Because of the difficult competition (although I am confident) one can never expect an NYU acceptance. If I were somehow deferred to LS I’d definitely want to make the most of it. I think it’s awesome how you’re going to take advantage of two very different (but equally interesting) environments. I’m having trouble settling on the kind that I want. </p>
<p>JennyD123, at my small school, I don’t have many close friends, so I’m already experienced to being a little lonely sometimes, and sort of have to call up and make lunch dates to hang out with my NYC friends. I’m also already pretty independent of my parents, and I love that NYU has this feeling of unconventionality. Thank you for your reply! ‘think in an entirely new way’ (and for better, it seems) </p>
<p>uskoolfish that feeling of (even though, as JennyD pointed out how one can feel insignificant) being a small part of something greater in a bigger world (and that community service, it’s even included in the supplement!) is also something that really attracts me to NYU. (hahah that was so cheesy, somebody shoot me ;))</p>
<p>Thank you all for the replies! You’ve given me something to think about, and keep them coming.</p>
<p>I am not an actual NYU student yet, but I live in a suburb of Los Angeles right now, so I think it would be really cool to live in both of the United State’s major epicenters, you know? Originally, the thought of not having a campus mortified me. I was/still am in love with UCLA, but there is only so much I can do there. Sure they have an amazing campus, but NYU has…such depth, and sheer numbers, and IMO more oppurtunities to be seized. The no-campus thing was really a turnoff for me when looking at Berkeley which was way more of a college town kind of deal. But I am so dazzled by NYU I would forego that draw back of the school and deal with it, besides, its NYC. Now as for being able to afford the school…</p>
<p>…</p>
<p>techy - yes, people in LS can definitely do honors, don’t worry! For example, I’m an International Relations major, which is an honors major at CAS. LS students can definitely take honors courses/majors, but as an IR major, I think one thing that makes it harder for us is class choices are more limited. Just as CAS has required MAP courses, we also have required classes, but we can only pick 1 elective, and the choices I got weren’t related to my major - for example, I chose Environmental Sci as my elective first semester, because none of the electives offered to me related to my major. We do get more choice later on, though. To be honest, I don’t care that much because I’ll be in Cornell after a year, unless I love NYU so much I choose to stay.</p>
<p><em>slow claps for Juliushark</em></p>