i jus got into NYU Stern and the feeling is nothing but PURE ECSTACY! so all you anti-NYU people just bum off!

Wow, a debate about NYU's pros and cons. And to think, we almost missed it!

NYUview wrote up a little commentary about this, too, but it was mostly about how the aforementioned NYU Spokesman compared urban college life to the harshness of attending school in "the wilderness." Yikes.

it's called "the princeton review."

i'm a freshman at NYU willing to deal with all the shit (for now) in exchange for living in a dorm on washington square park.

As a senior on the outs of NYU, I can say from experience that it, like any large institution, has its finer points and its weaker points. The weakest point I'll get out of the way first: a bureaucracy so vast and deep it's awe-inspiring. But really it's just a pain in the ass. So many departments, so many levels and sublevels of hierarcy. Totally a mess, yet you learn to deal. More importantly, NYU doesn't seem to make nice with its neighbors. Many locals I've met and talked to have nothing but unkind words for the university's land ownership strategies. It can also be speculated that John Sexton, the president of the school, runs the ship more as a classic-style corporation than as a constantly improving learning environment. Sure, there is fine learning to be had... but there is also money to be made by opening up a new dorm in... Queens? Just in time for the Olympics? (stay tuned)

Still, if one works within the system, and keeps a balanced, realistic attitude about the experience, NYU can be appreciated for its excellent and unique acedemic resources. I was able to get a solid music education (I play cello) with excellent liberal arts courses thrown in for balance. Many of the professors are across-the-board great. Socially, it's not for the passive. One has to find their scene, it won't be handed to them on a plate. Also, while NYU takes responsibility for the recent and tragic student deaths, each incident was it's own thing and definately demands further scrutiny than it recieved in the press (although I remember the NY Times article on one of the deaths to be the least sensational and most objective).

As with this "Dream School" stuff, I do think high schoolers and the media are overglamorizing the school, but look who'se being polled. 16, 17 year olds from all over the country who may have never experienced the city like someone who actually lives here. And as far as turning out jaded seniors... well, everyone's got their own story. Of my friends who are graduating, 50% are leaving because they've had it and 50% are staying because they love this town and are willing to take the risk and live here post-grad. I myself fall in the latter category.

I'd say there's a solid discontent amongst the undergraduate student body in regards to the school's business policies, but NYU has its merits in terms of acedemic resources and locale.

These high school kids are probably ignorant of the term "NYU student."

Example usage:

"When did all of these NYU students show up?"

"Oh. She's an NYU student."

"This place is gonna be torn down to make room for dorms for NYU students."

(And of course, simply...) "NYU student."

I didn't make this up. I only speaketh the truth.

Hey grammar snob! Go back to Pepperdine where you belong.

This mainly has to do with the Big Screen University factor. That is, a school's popularity and regard is proportional to the frequency in which it is referenced in TV, movies, and books.

This is highly irrational, but most people think that if you went to a school that's mentioned in the movies all the time, you must be really really smart - smarter than someone who went to a school they've never heard of. Of course, this is frequently not the case, but it explains why some schools have mega popularity and why some equally good schools are not-so-hot. It explains why NYU is mega-popular when there are other similarly fine schools in nice campus settings are not as heavily desired.

(you have to admit, if you're a college student with little money and a lot of studying to do, NYC can be highly counterproductive to a pleasant college experience. Still, for most people that live here any amount of time for any reason, they love it regardless)

yaaaaay! another grammar call-out! yaaaay!

They obviously don't teach grammar at NYU!

NYU a dream? That funny. The marketing machine has done a great job pushing the image. But the cost of NYU is can be shocking. Being an alumnus it was not common place to see students drop out because of lack of funding. Also because of the vastness of the university its very difficult for some to establish a social circle of friends.

I knew one guy who was smart with his education. He went to community college in New Jersey for two years and than transferred to NYU for his last two years and ended up with an NYU dgree at half of the cost.

GSP aka General Studies Program aka Generally Stupid People is a two year boot cmap for people who could not qualify into getting into the other nyu schools. ITs annoying as hell and if you pick the easy teachers you should be alright. However the best thing about it is you are pretty much granted a spot in any nyu school as long as reach the basic requirements. What sucks though is that if you have a 4.0 its earsed when you go to the new school. The flipside is that if you really have a bad GPA its gone when you enter the new school.

I think it's just the latent effects of what is known as The Felicity Factor sinking in.