Admitted to Liberal Studies Core 2023 - questions about LSC and NYU in general

Colleges & Universities A-Z New York University
1

Hey guys :slight_smile: this is my first time creating a new discussion so bear with me!
I was (still am) so overjoyed to be admitted into NYU 23, but when I saw my letter I wasn’t sure what LSC was at all. There weren’t many CC posts about it, so I have some questions about LSC and NYU in general too.

-What exactly is the difference/selling point between LSC and NYU (CAS, which I applied to)?

-Any idea why I was put in LSC and not CAS? Was I below the mark for CAS? (34 ACT, 3.85 UW, 4.32 W, IB 3HL 3SL, self-reported 6-7 AP’s, National Merit finalist, strong community service in a program for 3 years, however I was rejected from Barnard and USC, waitlisted at Wellesley, Tulane, Vandy.)

-I know LSC students can opt to spend their freshman year abroad in London, Florence, etc. My letter says that I was accepted with the expectation that I will spend my first year in Florence (guess it’s because I put art history + classics as intended major). Does anyone know if I have to go there, or can I stay in NY or go somewhere else?

-First year abroad: worth it? How are the classes? Will I be able to fit into “regular” NYU junior year after LSC ends?

and some general NYU questions:

-How are the dorms? Food? …and dorm rules, etc.? Safety on campus?

-General cost of living, I didn’t get much aid but I plan on negotiating, will I go broke anyways?

Thanks so much if you even read to here. Sorry about the wall of text. I’m just in a place of like, extreme happiness and also anxiety. (But congrats to everyone in my boat. So excited to meet you guys!!)

2

I’d suggest you read the LS pages on the NYU website including the first year abroad ones, but to answer some of your questions:

The distinction is between LSP and CAS, not LSP and NYU. Both CAS and liberal studies are departments within NYU.

You will be able to transfer to CAS after sophomore year and major in what you wanted to major. Ensure that you are speaking with course advisors about course selection with your major in mind.

All first year LS core students complete the same coursework, albeit in different locations. So everyone enters sophomore year from the same starting point.

The “expected in” is kind of a condition, but you can submit a request (talk to admissions) if you want to change it. Florence sounds ideal for what you are interested in, though. I believe they really do try to take your interest into account - my daughter wants to major in politics/international relations and they gave her Washington DC.

3

Thank you so much! So I guess we are in the same boat. Do you know if there are “interest-specific” courses in the different locations? Because honestly I don’t know if I’ll end up majoring in art history.

4

Again, I encourage you to read the LS core webpages on the NYU website. As I said above, the first year curriculum is the same across all campuses. There may be different options at some of them, I suggest you read the main website which explains the curriculum, and then the website for first year in Florence to see if there is anything specific anoint what is offered there.

5

My son was admitted to NYU for the Liberal Studies Core program. He applied to Tisch, but was placed in LSC for two years and then apparently he can declare a major. Is two years the standard? If he were to attend NYU, he would want to apply to Steinhardt for music composition (wishes he did this in the first place, now). I know he wouldn’t want to wait until year three to start taking music classes in his area of study, working with private teacher, etc. Just unclear about what this LSC program is. Sounds like a couple years of Gen Eds.

6

@CompMom21 here is an article I found explaining LSC. It’s from quite a while ago so I don’t know how much of it still applies but it did give some context, etc. for me: https://nyulocal.com/the-liberal-studies-program-explained-a3391d57abf9

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@CompMom21 I think 2 years of LS would work fine with many intended CAS majors but don’t see at first glance how easily it would segue into Tisch or Steinhardt. I think this would depend on how well the electives can integrate the progression form one to the other. If you have specific questions about courses like music that are not addressed in the online pages then I’d suggest you contact someone in the LS school to confirm how it might work.

Your son must have specified LS as an alternative to have been offered the place. It seems many do this without reading up on it.

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@SJ2727 Thanks for the response. I plan to contact NYU today. My son put LSC and one other program as alternatives should he not be admitted to Tisch (there were only the two alternative options). NYU is a top choice school for him, so he probably check any box allowing him options for acceptance. If he can do LSC and still get into Steinhardt, then great.

@arizona726 Thanks for the link!!

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A lot of students end up in LS that way–by checking it as an option and not really knowing what it is. But it’s really kind of an underappreciated gem. All classes are small and seminar style, so instead of having intro classes that are big lectures and also having a weekly discussion section with a TA, students are getting more interaction with full-time profs and other students. My kid’s experience with the LS/GLS profs has been excellent–these are people who really care about teaching undergrads.

10

Hi, I was in the LSC program (technically, I still am, finishing the fourth semester right now) and have internally transferred to the CAS program and declared my environmental studies and journalism major. My strongest advice is to avoid on campus housing at all costs: they say it’s obligatory the first year, but you can totally get out of it. Or, if you go for a semester abroad, when you return you’re not even “required” to live in the dorms. I know plenty of people who did the first year abroad and they absolutely loved it. No problems making friends once you get here because you already have a tight knit group from studying abroad. When you first end up in LSC, no one in the program knows why they were put in it and no one really understands what it is, and there seems to be a consensus that there’s an undertone of failure in it? Anyhow, after two years I can say there’s definitely no failure in getting accepted to LSC, most people are happy about it once they’re here, and many people are able to transfer to their desired programs regardless of if it’s CAS or not. By the way, my guess as to why they put you in the program, is that they feel you are unsure about where you’re going - and from the students I’ve met, NYU is usually right, and by the end of LSC students do know what they’re doing (myself included). The pros:

  • You skip some of the most boring required classes for general NYU students (like writing the essay).
  • The classes are very critical thought and communication intensive, with small classes, and I feel like LSC students have a stronger base than the general NYU community.
  • It’s easy to bop around the worldwide NYU campuses.
  • You have time to grow, learn more about the university and talk to the Professors you know (and your advisor) about where you’re going.

Cons:

  • The required classes can be a bit extensive - by Social Foundations III I couldn’t take it anymore (take George Baroud if he’s still around)
  • Because of this, you have less room to experiment with random credits (you still have a little wiggle room, especially if you don’t choose to double major like I did)
  • You really have to go after advisors, professors and any help you can find to make the most of it - I didn’t necessarily feel support came to me, more so that I had to find it. But I suppose that can be said generally of NYU

You can probably come to New York if you want, just have to talk to the right people and make your case.

Good luck with aid - NYU sucks for that :confused: it’s expensive af, and I dislike it as an institution. BUT, I have yet to meet a professor who isn’t amazing (I do my RateMyProfessor homework) and they’re all engaged, inspiring people who really do their best to help you succeed. I’m terrified of my student debt, but loving being here so much (more so now then first year - prepare for a tough first year - NYC is tough) that I have no regrets.

Best of luck, hope this helped.