New York University

New York University Introduction

If you stroll through Washington Square Park, the heart of Greenwich Village and unofficial quad of the New York University campus, on any weekday morning, it’s impossible to miss the hundreds of bright-eyed, energetic college students headed to their first class of the day. This image, coupled with a crisp chill in the air and a rustle of autumn leaves, evokes a purely collegiate feeling. If you squint just a little, it’s almost possible to imagine this busy, urban “quad” to be in some rural area surrounded by endless miles of cornfields. If you stand on the southeast corner of the park, in the shadow of NYU’s Bobst Library, you might just hear a century’s worth of academic ghosts whisper, “This is college.” For a moment, you think, “This is how I always dreamed college would be.”

But then reality sets in and you realize that the voices you hear do not belong to former NYU scholars, but to performance artists slamming poetry near the park’s fountain, and the imagined cornfields have dissolved into an unobstructed view of fabulous Fifth Avenue, with its impressive buildings and flurry of activity. NYU definitely offers a collegiate experience, but there is nothing typical about it. And NYU students don’t want it to be. They are happy to exchange cows and barns for Broadway and Wall Street. Wrought iron and ivy become much less significant when prospective students learn about all that NYU and New York City have to offer.

NYU is a large, private research university set in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of New York City. The school was founded in 1831 by a group of citizens attempting to fashion New York in the likeness of London, the proclaimed cultural epicenter of the time. They knew, even then, that the way to maintain a steadily evolving modern society was through higher education. NYU has kept that tradition alive by offering more than 160 innovative and unique programs of study at its eight different colleges, which include The College of Arts and Science, The Stern School of Business, The Steinhardt School of Education, The Tisch School of the Arts, The Gallatin School of Individualized Study, The College of Nursing, The School of Social Work, and The School of Continuing and Professional Studies. Each college offers major courses of study in distinctive subject areas. The benefit of having such a wide range of programs to choose from is that students are allowed and encouraged to pursue seemingly disparate interests across the seven colleges.

The strength of each program at NYU attracts very driven and ambitious students to each discipline, which makes for an interesting and diverse student body. For instance, a few years ago a business student at Stern and a drama student at Tisch got together and created the Stern Tisch Entertainment Business Association (STEBA), a thriving NYU club that wants its members to learn about and make contacts in the entertainment industry. As different as these two camps of students may appear, they are truly members of a unified, academic community. NYU students like to recognize the traits they share and are proud of these qualities. The caliber and the personality of each individual, in addition to the open-minded and proactive nature of fellow students, makes NYU the amazing place it is and will continue to be.

So the next time you find yourself in Washington Square Park, take a closer look at the students who are on their way to class. They’re probably a bit edgier and may walk with a bit more purpose than most college students. Just take a look around you to see why this is the case. These people have chosen to attend an institution in downtown Manhattan—they know what they want and know that NYU is the best place to find it. This time, don’t squint and try to make the school and its neighborhood look typical. Open your eyes and take in the reality of what NYU is: a fantastic school in a city often described as the center of the universe. If cows are what you’re looking for, you won’t find any here, unless there is a bovine exhibit at the Met.

NYU is a large, research university set in Greenwich Village, the heart of New York City. All its academic programs include a strong liberal arts foundation as well as many areas of preprofessional specialization. The academic, research, study abroad, and internship possibilities are endless. The social life is exciting and varied. NYU graduates are extremely successful. Taken alone, these facts somehow overlook the true essence of what NYU is really about. Is it important to know that you will receive a top-notch education? Yes. Should you be aware that your degree would land you a great job or acceptance into a graduate program? Yes. But there is so much more to NYU that can only be discovered once you set foot on campus. So I took my own advice and set foot on campus. I sat in the unofficial “quad” and tried to summarize NYU. But to harness all that NYU is and quantify it into something tangible is impossible, because NYU is not one thing. It’s not simple or usual, and defies definition, which is the allure of this university. The fact that NYU does not lend itself to categorization is the exact reason why people want to attend. Those who consider themselves unconventional refuse to be defined. They are searching for an institution of higher education as avant-garde and open-minded as they are. At NYU, people find their passion and their voice, and begin to carve out a unique space in this world.

First and foremost, NYU is about discovery. As a new freshman, I felt like Christopher Columbus leading the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria through uncharted waters to America. There was a whole new world out there I had never seen before, and NYU introduced me to it. It’s here that you’ll find what you care about, you’ll find lifelong friends, you’ll find the city, and hopefully you’ll find yourself. And that’s what college is all about. — Jeremy Godfrey BFA, 2002

New York University Academics

At NYU, I have not learned all the answers. Instead, I have realized what an insurmountable task that is. Instead of learning answers, I have learned how to ask the right questions. And I think this is infinitely more important. A plus B equals C, simple enough. NYU has taught me to say A plus B equals C—or does it? Am I sure? Can I support what I think? I have learned how to think for myself here, a pretty monumental lesson. My education is not about regurgitating information; it’s about finding my own truth under the influence of some truly fantastic minds. — Mary Hershkowitz BFA, 2003

The academic environment varies widely depending on which school or college of the university students attend. While this is the case, all NYU students share one common experience—the work is intense. Whether a student is perfecting moves in a dance studio, teaching inner-city youth at a public school, or researching the genetic makeup of mutant worms, they are engaged in a rigorous learning environment for most of their waking hours. The amazing thing is that NYU students would not have it any other way. These fiercely independent students crave new ideas and constantly push themselves further. They want to learn in order to be successful, more informed people who are not afraid to put in the hard work it takes to achieve their goals.

Walk through the Tisch School of the Arts at night and find a surprisingly large number of students tucked away in studios, individually honing their craft. Stand in the atrium of Bobst Library and notice twelve stories of students studying. Because their education means so much more to them than a letter grade ascribed to their work, NYU students are ambitious scholars, scientists, teachers, and artists of their own accord.

Core Curriculum

Regardless of school affiliations, most students at the university participate in the core curriculum called the Morse Academic Plan (MAP). Each college within the university uses this core a bit differently, but the structure that it provides is universal. While the aim of MAP is to provide a strong, liberal arts foundation, it also allows students the freedom to tailor their program to their individual interests—to experiment with and investigate what truly fascinates them. Requirements for the MAP program are broken down into specific subject areas. To fulfill the Expressive Culture requirement, for instance, students may choose from a variety of classes ranging from courses that deal with anything from Jewish culture, to political culture, or artistic culture. At NYU, students are encouraged to explore many different academic pursuits while laying a foundation for more complicated and specific coursework that accompanies their chosen major.

Internships

Internships play a huge role in the life of an undergraduate at NYU. Although few programs at the university actually require an internship to graduate, all programs do encourage and recommend them as an excellent way to preview a variety of professions. Eighty percent of students hold at least three distinct internships by the time they graduate. The Office of Career Services (OCS) manages CareerNet, a database of more than 7,000 internships available exclusively to NYU students and alumni. These internships are quality positions that offer real-world work experience, not simply making copies and getting coffee. OCS has forged relationships with major businesses, theaters, schools, community organizations, museums, and hospitals in order to make these opportunities accessible to students. Many of these organizations have a long list of past interns from NYU and they keep coming back for more.

New York University Admissions

Applicants often seek definitive numbers and statistics to quantify an acceptable NYU student, but no such absolute profile exists. NYU aims to create a holistic application review process, learning as much as possible about a person from ten simple pieces of paper. That being said, NYU is still a highly competitive institution. Even well-rounded, three-dimensional students must be at the top of their high school class while enrolled in a challenging curriculum composed of honors, AP, and/or IB courses. Solid performance on the SAT or ACT is a must for all applicants, and two SAT Subject Tests are required except for applicants who must submit a portfolio or audition as part of their admissions requirements.

With just under 35,000 applications for a recent academic year, there certainly wasn’t a shortage of qualified students. Many applicants are academically talented, so Admissions Officers must rely on personal characteristics to distinguish students within the applicant pool. They want to see hard evidence of leadership, commitment, and drive in how you choose to spend your free time. It does not matter if your preferred activity is ballet or baby-sitting, the committee would like to see applicants who have been seriously involved in extracurricular activities while in high school. Stellar letters of recommendation and a thoughtful, personal essay that showcases a meaningful aspect of the applicant will also help set you apart from the crowd.

Procedure

NYU offers two application processes for prospective students: Early Decision and Regular Decision. Students who know that NYU is their first choice school may want to consider Early Decision. It is a binding agreement, which means that if you are admitted to the university, you will withdraw all other applications and accept NYU’s offer of admission. Students interested in applying Early Decision must submit all necessary materials to the Undergraduate Admissions office by November 1 and can expect to hear of their decision by mid-December. Regular Decision requires applications to be submitted by January 15. Notification of acceptance will arrive near April 1.

Certain programs at the university have unique components to their admissions process that other programs may not. Some require the submission of supplementary information, a portfolio or even an audition, so please read through your application instructions carefully. The goal of the admission process is to succeed in choosing students who will thrive at NYU and in New York City. Obviously, the best students start with the best applicants; those who submit a complete, correct, and intelligent application on time will make a favorable impression where it counts the most.

New York University Financial Aid

No doubt everyone knows that NYU and New York City are expensive places to live and study. It should come as no surprise that tuition for one academic year (including room, board, fees, etc.) is around $45,000. Fortunately, the university understands that spending this amount of money on higher education is a major financial commitment. Therefore, NYU’s financial aid policy is quite simple: If students find that NYU is the best institution to meet their educational needs and interests, the NYU Office of Financial Aid will work with students and their families to help make NYU an affordable option. In fact, over seventy-two percent of full-time undergraduates receive some form of financial aid.

Students seeking financial aid from NYU should apply for assistance by submitting one form: the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Students are encouraged to fill out the FAFSA via the Internet, which is the fastest and easiest method of applying for financial aid. Around November 1, the FAFSA is also available in paper form at high school guidance offices. With the information you provide on the FAFSA, the U.S. Department of Education uses a federally mandated formula to assess a family’s financial status and determine the amount of money the government feels each can contribute to higher education. The NYU Office of Financial Aid then creates an individual financial aid package based upon the amount of financial need estimated by the government. Packages can include need- and/or merit-based scholarships, state and/or federal grants, work-study, and student loans.

NYU gives hundreds of millions of dollars in aid to undergraduates each year. A large percentage of this aid comes to students in the form of grants and scholarships. NYU scholarships range from $1,000 to $25,000 per year. All admitted students are automatically considered for every scholarship they qualify for—there is no separate application process. NYU also honors all independent scholarships or other money that students have acquired from outside the university. NYU participates in a variety of payment plans. They range from interest-free prepayment plans, to extensive loan programs that allow families the option to finance the cost of an NYU education over many years.

When it comes to financial aid, the bottom line is that NYU really makes a conscious effort to help individuals and families offset the cost of higher education in any way possible. The staff at the NYU Office Financial Aid is friendly, extremely knowledgeable, and always willing to provide sound financial options.

New York University Students

There is alwayssomething to do at NYU. This is not an overstatement in the least; in fact, it may be an understatement. NYU resides in and is part of Greenwich Village, the most hip, vibrant, young, eclectic, bohemian neighborhood in all of New York City. Being a college student in this creatively charged neighborhood, in the city that never sleeps, is a win-win situation. Students at NYU are never bored; they never grapple with the age-old question, “What should I do tonight?” Instead, they are faced with the challenge of juggling a social life with schoolwork. The catch phrase here is time management—NYU students choose and create a social hierarchy, attempting to fulfill their overwhelming number of commitments by the end of the night.

A Typical College Experience

Students who yearn for the typical college experience can still find it at NYU. There is an on-campus Greek system that, because of the high premium placed on real estate in the city, operates from designated floors in NYU residence halls. Greek letters adorn sheets hung from windows in otherwise innocuous-looking buildings as opposed to being firmly mounted on the front porch of an Animal House-style frat house.

Although Greek life does not dominate at NYU, university clubs and organizations are hugely popular. The NYU Office of Student Activities boasts a roster of over 300 student-run clubs ranging from the more serious breed, such as community service organizations, religious clubs, and political activism communities, to the light-hearted and fun, including the yo-yo club, and the soap opera watchers club.

NYU also has sports. In fact, it has twenty-four intercollegiate teams that compete in the NCAA Division III. Throughout the year, the NYU Violets compete against other private, research universities such as Brandeis, Carnegie Mellon, and Emory. Students interested in sports may join the competitive level for maximum commitment or can choose from more than 165 recreational, intramural, and club sports for some exercise and fun. For a good workout, NYU students can take advantage of their membership to the Coles Sports Center and the brand-new Paladium Fitness complex, premier NYU recreation centers.

As well, many students at NYU, not just drama majors at Tisch, are interested in the performing arts. There are literally hundreds of opportunities for non-drama majors to be involved in theatrical productions. The College of Arts and Science has CAST, a theater group that is open to talented students within the college who, in addition to their studies, want to perform in a production. The Steinhardt School of Education invites students to join their a capella groups and jazz bands, and there is an all-university gospel choir. If you want to be involved in something extracurricular, and most NYU students are, there are plenty of outlets to do so.

An Atypical College Experience

At NYU, you will find many students who enjoy the traditional college experience. They love to curl up on a couch in the student lounge of their residence hall with a bunch of other pajama-wearing eighteen- to twenty-two-year olds, order pizza, and watch a bad movie. But at the same time, there is an entire world outside just waiting to be explored. The NYU neighborhood alone reveals countless treasures: art galleries and cafes, ethnic restaurants and gourmet food shops, secondhand bookstores and antique shops, specialty music stores, and art movies houses. Beyond the Village there are new neighborhoods to discover, each offering their own cultural surprises. You can shop on Fifth Avenue, catch a Broadway show in Times Square, attend an art gallery opening in SoHo, and see the latest exhibit at the Guggenheim in the same day. At NYU, all of New York City is at your doorstep; you just have to walk outside to experience it.

From the very first day of orientation, NYU encourages new students to venture out into New York City and conquer their fears of the great unknown. Students attend events and outings that make them feel comfortable in their new home away from home. The university does everything in its power to ensure that you are safe in your travels on and off campus. If the city ever seems too big, or feels unmanageable, students can always rest assured that there will be friends hanging out in lounges, eating cold pizza and watching bad movies. You are always welcome, and that is the beauty of student life at NYU.

New York University Alumni

NYU graduates are doing some great things out there in the real world. The university’s Office of Career Services reports that typically over ninety percent of the class are employed in full-time positions or enrolled in graduate programs upon graduation—a statistic that speaks volumes about the type of preparation NYU provides to its students.

A large percentage of NYU grads enter medical, law, or dental school, and with acceptance rates of eighty percent (twice the national average), they are obviously ready to attend some of the top schools in the country. Stern School of Business students often work on Wall Street and Madison Avenue for companies such as Citibank, JP Morgan Chase, and Goldman Sachs. Tisch School of the Arts is stocking Broadway with many recent grads and current students who perform in major roles on the stage. Every year Los Angeles receives a high influx of film grads working on major motion pictures or television shows. The Steinhardt School of Education stocks New York schools with accomplished grammar, high school, and special education teachers. Hospitals, nationwide, are staffed by graduates of the Nursing Program. These are just some examples of the kinds of futures NYU graduates are pursuing when they leave the university. No matter what your specific interest is, at NYU you’ll learn what you want and how to get it.

Attaining these desirable positions and acceptances to top graduate programs are not simple tasks. For example, the preprofessional advising center in the College of Arts and Science helps to prepare future lawyers and doctors. Advisors meet with students throughout their four years at NYU, in order to help them secure positions in their graduate program of choice.

The NYU Office of Career Services (OCS) lends a helping hand to students interested in pursuing a career upon graduation. OCS believes that preparation for a career or an advanced degree does not begin during spring semester senior year, but starts as early as freshman year. Students get a taste of their field and how it functions in the real world through internships, which also allows them to network and make important connections with potential employers. Often, these internships lead to full-time positions after graduation. OCS also offers résumé building and interviewing workshops and hosts massive recruitment fairs on campus twice a year. They also maintain CareerNet, a database of more than 10,000 available on- and off-campus jobs. OCS really does as much as it can to prepare students for whatever path they may choose after graduation. It is common for NYU students to drop by the Office of Career Services and ask a counselor for help to secure a political position in Washington D.C. or a seat in the entering class of NYU School of Law. Without hesitation, students always receive valuable words of advice and a “let’s do it” attitude.

Prominent Grads

• Jill Bargonetti, Prominent scientist and professor
• Carol Bellamy, Executive director, UNICEF vClive Davis, Founder and director, Arista Records vHon. Betty Weinberg Ellerin, Justice, Appellate Division—First Department, Supreme Court of the State of New York vRudolph Giuliani, Former mayor of the city of New York
• Alan Greenspan, Chairman of the Federal Reserve Board
• Rita Hauser, Appointee to Intelligence Board by President Bush
• Ang Lee, Oscar-winning filmmaker
• Spike Lee, Filmmaker
• Dr. Jonas E. Salk, Late scientist, discoverer of the polio vaccine; AIDS researcher

New York University Faculty

Primarily a research university, NYU attracts many prominent scholars and researchers in any given academic pursuit. Among them you’ll find CEOs and Fulbright Scholars, as well as Nobel and Pulitzer Prize recipients and Oscar and Emmy Award winners. They are revolutionary scholars, experts, and working professionals who are very much immersed in their fields. These are the leaders who teach NYU’s undergraduates. All faculty members teach at least one undergraduate course per year—even the current NYU president and former dean of the NYU School of Law John Sexton teaches a Freshman Honors Seminar. The NYU faculty enjoys and takes pride in teaching and advising its undergraduate students.

In the classroom, it’s easy to recognize the faculty’s commitment to their individual fields. They are enthusiastic while introducing new material and show a genuine interest in engaging class dialogue. They want to learn from their undergraduates and will often cite their students as a source of inspiration for a new article or project. It is not uncommon to hear a professor say, “I had never thought of it that way” during a round-table discussion with his students. Together, students and professors engage the material very seriously, which always makes class a worthwhile, and sometimes breathtaking, experience. While there may be lectures that students must take at the introductory level, the preferred method of instruction at NYU is the seminar, where a small group of students and a faculty member exchange thoughtful discourse.

Undergraduate Research

NYU has so many faculty members doing post-graduate research right on campus that undergraduates wanted in on the action. For example, the College of Arts and Science created the Dean’s Undergraduate Research Fund (DURF), a program that lets undergraduates pitch research ideas to the DURF committee, and if the proposal is considered worthwhile, receive funding for the project. Research projects may be individual or done in conjunction with a faculty member. CAS students’ research projects really run the gamut—they range from studying Irish Literature in Belfast or tracing neurons of rat amygdala, to an analysis of the stained glass art of John La Farge or the development of contour detection and how it affects our visual world. Students who are granted funding must write a paper on their findings, present it at the annual research symposium held on campus each spring, and publish their abstracts in Inquiry, the NYU research journal.

Study Abroad

In addition to the New York City campus, students can study at eight NYU campuses throughout the world in:

• Accra (Ghana)
• Berlin
• Florence
• London
• Madrid
• Paris
• Prague
• Shanghai

NYU also offers Global Exchange Programs with selected urban research universities across the globe.

Carnegie Foundation Classification

Research Universities (very high research activity)

General Characteristics

Highest offering	Doctoral degree
Calendar System	Semester
Years of college work required	N/A
Variable Tuition

Special Learning Opportunities

Distance Learning
ROTC — Army / Navy / Airforce	— / /
Study Abroad
Weekend College
Teacher Certification