New York University

“Location, location, location” in “the most amazing city on Earth,” along with “great facilities” and “top-notch faculty,” makes New York University an excellent choice for those seeking “an untraditional college experience” in “a paradise for the independent and motivated.” With more than 20,000 students and ten distinct schools offering more than 230 areas of study, NYU “is about diversity. Students are from all over the world; they come from different cultures, and they have different talents and interests. Similarly, NYU offers endless opportunities for students, no matter what their interests or ambitions are.” The school offers huge opportunities to participate in research, pursue an internship, or begin a career in the arts (although “you have to be active and willing to find these opportunities”). Given the school’s size, many students are “actually quite surprised by the accessibility of both the faculty and administration.” Although “this is not the kind of school where students really get to know all of their teachers, as it is unlikely that a student will have a professor more than once,” those who make the effort report that “it is so easy to meet with [professors] outside of class, and I still get e-mails from professors about internships, jobs, and scholarship recommendations.” Many here also tout the “great study abroad programs.”

“There is no typical student at NYU,” where an undergraduate student body of more than 20,000 and a broad range of academic interests ensure a broad demographic. “Each school at NYU attracts a different group,” students tell us. “The Tisch School of the Arts attracts a very out-there group of actors and the like.” “Hipsters are pretty pervasive throughout all schools except Stern”; although “every school has people who break those stereotypes. [Even so,] few students can find ways to not fit in because of the huge number of students” at the university. Throughout NYU, “students tend to be incredibly motivated and ambitious.” Students insist that “it is also important to note that NYU students are very accepting of each other’s differences,” an important factor at a school that brings together “students of all different backgrounds, ethnicities, and gender identities and makes them coexist within the university.”

“Living in New York City is the biggest part of going to school at New York University,” NYU students agree. The school’s New York City campus is located in the heart of Greenwich Village, one of the city’s major nightlife destinations, so “there is always something to do at any hour of the day,” usually within walking distance of the school. One student reports, “Every weekend there are tons of things to do, both at NYU and in New York City. NYU really takes advantage of its location, so a lot of the programming provided by residence life or the student resource center is engaging you in the city that has become your new home.” Living in the Big Apple means that “on any given day you can go to a museum, concert, sporting event, or theater performance...and a lot of the times, NYU will foot the bill if you go to an event in the city with your RA or with a club.” The location also provides plenty of internship opportunities, which is good because “the vast majority of students at NYU are interested in interning and finding jobs through that gateway.” The school has an atypical campus; it surrounds Washington Square Park, a busy public square where students love to relax when the weather is accommodating.