The Pros and Cons of NYU

What is NYU’s reputation?

“a huge private university” “New York City is your campus” “incredibly diverse student body” “tons of international students” “open campus means you step right out into Washington Square Park” “prime access to the best internships and jobs in the world” “Top 5 business program” “Top 3 film school” “easy to get anywhere on the subway” “incredible array of museums, bars, and restaurants to choose from” “super expensive” “not a lot of school spirit” “easy to feel disconnected” “NYC can be gritty, dangerous, and wildly expensive” “lots of artists and activists” “endless international opportunities” “zero sports culture” “there’s an additional fee for everything”

New York University (NYU) is the largest private university in America with 30,000 undergraduates and an additional 25,000 graduate students. NYU is famous for its open campus, which means it’s located right in the heart of Lower Manhattan in Greenwich Village, and when you step out of your dorm room, you step right into the city; there’s no clear division where NYU starts and the city ends. In fact, you’ll have to walk all over Greenwich Village to get to your different classrooms.

When you apply to NYU, you apply directly to 1 of 10 different undergraduate colleges, including: College of Arts and Sciences (CAS); Tandon Engineering; Stern Business; Tisch Arts; Gallatin Individualized Study; Liberal Studies; Education; Social Work, etc. Theoretically, NYU students can cross-register for classes in the other colleges, but there are quite a few restrictions. Students who want to transfer from one college to another also face challenges if they’re trying to switch to a highly-competitive school like Stern Business, Tisch Arts, or Tandon Engineering.

A global experience.

NYU is ideal for anyone seeking a truly global education. Not only is New York City itself a melting pot for global influences, but NYU is particularly strong in international fields. It has the largest percentage of international students (26%) of any leading university. It has degree-granting campuses in Shanghai and Abu Dhabi, plus more than a dozen global academic centers including London, Paris, Florence, Madrid, Prague, Tel Aviv, DC, and LA. Its business program is ranked Top 5 in the nation for international business. There’s a dedicated Global Liberal Studies college that’s focused on international relations. And premed students can co-major in Global Public Health. If you’re interested in studying almost any field from a global perspective, it’s hard to beat the quality and reach of NYU.

The Pros of NYU…

#1: New York City — At NYU, New York City is your classroom. Due to NYU’s prime location, it’s incredibly easy to immerse yourself in museums, Broadway shows, music events, guest lectures, research opportunities, and internships. Plus, you can plant roots and network in a city that can become your home immediately after graduation.

#2: Stern Business — In addition to its legendary film school, NYU is perhaps best known for its undergraduate business program, which is ranked Top 5 in the nation (including #2 in Finance). Admissions is highly selective (5%), but the program offers unparalleled access to major financial institutions, corporations, nonprofits, and startups. Plus the International Business Exchange (IBEX) program lets students study at 1 of 17 partner business schools around the world, from Australia to Amsterdam to Thailand.

#3: Diversity — NYU has perhaps the most diverse student body of any Top 30 ranked university. For starters, it attracts a ton of international students, who make up the largest portion of students (26% at NYU compared to about 12% at the Ivies). In addition, it has a strong mix of students who are Asian (21%), White (21%), Hispanic (16%), and Black (8%).

#4: Gallatin School of Individualized Study — NYU has an entire undergraduate college that’s devoted to students who don’t fit the traditional mold. At Gallatin, students enjoy the freedom and flexibility to create their own interdisciplinary concentration out of thin air — say, “Game Design for Social Impact” or “Entrepreneurship for Marginalized Communities” — and then pick and choose courses from all of the different colleges to support that major.

#5: Global Liberal Studies — For students passionate about international relations. NYU offers an immersive four year program that combines small discussion-based seminars, extensive international travel (students typically spend 1-2 years abroad), global internships, independent research, and frequent field trips to museums, theaters, and cultural landmarks.

#6: International Campuses — If you’re looking for a truly international education, with a much smaller student body (fewer than 2,000 students), you can earn your NYU degree at one of two international campuses, either Shanghai, China (particularly strong in STEM and business) or Abu Dhabi, UAE. All of your courses are taught in English, but you’re surrounded by bright and ambitious students from all over the world, with endless opportunities for global internships and immersive cross-cultural learning experiences.

The Cons of NYU…

#1: No Campus — While New York City provides extensive benefits, many students wish they had a centralized campus to call home. Without a clear central hub, or even a central dining hall, students say it can be hard to connect with classmates and feel part of the college community.

#2: Cost — NYU is one of the most expensive universities in the world, and the all-in sticker price is almost $100,000/year. Even with student discounts on museums, movies and Broadway shows, students complain that “there’s an additional fee for everything” and that living in New York adds enormous daily expenses (the subway card alone costs $130/month). But according to “The NYU Promise,” starting Fall 2024 the school will provide free tuition to all four-year students whose families (domestic or international) earn less than $100,000/year.

#3: Lack of School Spirit — NYU does not have a big sports culture, or a centralized social scene, or a strong sense of community. There is Greek life, and freshmen in the College of Arts and Science are assigned to 30-person cohorts to help them make friends and adjust to college life, but many students complain about feeling disconnected from their community. In addition, engineering students take classes (and typically live) on the Brooklyn campus which is a 20 minute shuttle from main campus.

#4: Homelessness and Crime — While many regard New York as the “greatest city in the world,” it has its fair share of problems. Compared to many other great cities around the world, New York can feel dirty, gritty, and dangerous. This is not a city for the faint of heart. You need to keep your wits about you at all times and exercise good judgment.

If you like NYU, you might also like…

If you’re looking for a 1) prestigious private university with an 2) open campus in a 3) vibrant city with 4) great public transportation, and 5) endless entertainment and career options, you might also consider Boston University (BU) in Massachusetts. Like NYU, BU is a very large school with 19,000 undergraduates, features a very large portion of international students (22%), and is located just steps away from everything that Boston has to offer. BU also has a strong business program (#36 national ranking) and film school (#18 national ranking).

How to get into NYU…

#1: Apply ED — NYU provides an enormous admissions advantage to students who apply Early Decision (38% ED vs. 8% Regular Decision). They also have an ED II option in January that probably has about a 20% acceptance rate, though precise figures are not available. It’s worth noting that some colleges at NYU are more selective than others: for example, Stern Business School has about a 5% acceptance rate.

#2: Transfer - If you didn’t get accepted to NYU as a first-year student, don’t despair. NYU has a sky-high transfer acceptance rate of 37%, which means you can complete one or two years of college somewhere else (even at a community college), and then apply in March to transfer into NYU as a sophomore or junior. This can be an excellent way to save a lot of money on your education and still earn a four-year NYU degree.