Inside Colleges: New York University (New York, N.Y.)

NYU is a “hot” school. If you are looking for a big, private college in the Village, maybe NYU is for you. You can join about 20,000 undergrads studying over 230 majors, in classes averaging fewer than 30 students. About 10,000 of these students live in the residence halls, and housing is guaranteed for all four years. In addition to the campus in NYC, there is a 2-year-old campus in Abu Dhabi, and a campus is scheduled to open in two years in Shanghai.

NYU also owns and operates 12 other physical sites in Accra, Florence, Paris, Tel Aviv, Berlin, London, Prague, Sydney, Buenos Aires, Madrid, Shanghai, and Washington, D.C. You can attend classes taught by NYU professors in English at these sights for the same price as classes in New York. A lot of students (42 percent) take advantage of studying abroad.

NYU has both research opportunities and 22,000 internship opportunities for undergraduates.

What NYU doesn’t have is a campus. On the other hand, most of the undergraduate buildings are a short walk from Washington Square Park.

Most financial aid at NYU is need-based. The school does give merit aid, which ranges from $1,000 to full tuition. Students need to submit both the FAFSA and CSS/PROFILE.

There is Early Decision I, Early Decision II and Regular Decision. Students can apply to a first- and second-choice college, within the university.

There are nine undergraduate schools, colleges and programs:

• College of Arts and Sciences (1,443 freshmen)
• College of Nursing (63 freshmen)
• Gallatin School of Individualized Study (253 freshmen)
• Stern School of Business (552 freshmen)
• Liberal Studies (1,125 freshmen)
• Silver School of Social Work (26 freshmen)
• Tisch Center for Hospitality, Tourism, and Sports Management (100 freshmen)
• Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development (567 freshmen)
• Tisch School of the Arts (776 freshmen)

NYU Poly, also known as the Polytechnic Institute of New York University, in downtown Brooklyn is transitioning to become the 10th school within NYU. At this time, it has it’s own application.

There are a lot of testing choices at NYU. You can submit any of the following:

• SAT 
• ACT with writing
• Three SAT subject tests
• Three AP tests 
• IB scores 

Students in the arts have to audition or submit a portfolio. In addition to being talented they also need to have strong academics.

Students interested in the business school need to know calculus.

The Gallatin School is made up of students who create their own majors from classes that cross other major boundaries.

There is plenty to do at NYU because of the city location. In addition, NYU has over 400 student organizations, two athletic centers, a gym on 14th Street, 21 Division III varsity teams, and the largest theatre south of 42nd Street.

If you are looking for a big school with dorms in the big city, and don’t mind not having a campus, NYU might be for you.

If you are a student or alum, do you have any comments to add about NYU?