<p>Are there any rising CAS sophomores (i.e. you just finished your freshman year) here that applied to the CAS Presidential Honors Scholars Program? </p>
<p>If so, any idea when we get notified of the result? And how competitive is this sophomore application process? I personally don't know anyone else who applied. </p>
<p>Also, if there are any incoming freshmen with questions about NYU, I'd be more than willing to answer them. I'm likely double majoring in International Relations and History ("likely" because I haven't been accepted to the IR program yet), lived in Third North, had a few internships, and did reasonably well freshman year. Feel free to ask questions about anything!</p>
<p>I’m coming in as a freshman after a gap year and I’m planning on majoring in IR too (if I get accepted!). Do you know of anything they really like to see on an IR application, like language/internship/experience-wise? It’s really the only thing I’m interested in but I’m nervous because they only accept about 20 people a year :/</p>
<p>All the academic requirements (like what classes you need to take freshman year) are on their website. Beyond that, it’s unclear–online, they say they want to see some work experience related to the field, but on the application (also available for download) it doesn’t ask anything about that and doesn’t explicitly ask for a resume.</p>
<p>I will say this, though. I think freshmen, including me a year ago, overestimate just how competitive the IR program is. It is, no doubt, tough to get in. But, there are significantly fewer people who are still considering applying after freshman year. There are two reasons: either they lost interest over the course of the year and specifically after taking international politics (a huge amount of people, trust me–I think the game theory scared them off) or because they didn’t meet the 3.65 GPA requirement. I can’t emphasize the former enough. At CAS orientation (which they got rid of for some reason, and you’ll have yours during Welcome Week), I met SO many people who said they wanted to do IR. After this year, that number has really really dwindled. Additionally, my CAS adviser was telling me how much pressure the advising department has been putting on the politics department over the past years to expand the program. I’m not sure how factual this is, but he said they accept ~45-50 people now. For all these reasons, I wouldn’t worry too much. If you do well freshman year–and believe me, if you just put in the work and don’t get distracted too much by the amazing city around you, it’s not that hard–you shouldn’t have a problem. Just try to get above a 3.7 (many of my friends still wanted to apply have just around/below that, and having above it will set you apart).</p>
<p>Also, I am meeting with the IR program adviser this coming week. So I’ll definitely let you know what new info she gives me about the requirements. I’m sure she’ll be much more specific than the vague requirements given on the website. Feel free to ask if you want to know anything else! There was a serious lack of information out there about the IR program when I was an incoming freshman. </p>
<p>P.S. There is a information session in early/mid September. By then, you’ll be getting a million emails a day and be sick of all the Welcome Week info events. But, don’t miss it! There’s a mailing list you can sign up for somewhere on the IR website. Missing it is a huge regret of mine.</p>
<p>Oops, missed the language part of your question. CAS requires you to complete a foreign language through the intermediate level. With this requirement, if you start a new language, you need to take 4 semesters of it. The IR program requires you to take two classes beyond that. This means you have to take two advanced courses in the language. So, if you start a new language, do IR, don’t do summer classes, and separate your 2 advanced classes over the course of 2 semesters, it will take you three years to finish the CAS+IR requirements.</p>
<p>I took a placement test during orientation, which put me into Intermediate I. I finished Intermediate II this past semester. Now, if accepted, I’ll have to do 2 more classes. I’ll likely do these when I study abroad (since I’m leaning towards going to a country that speaks the language I took).</p>
<p>Beyond these classes, I don’t think the IR program requires any additional language experience/courses. But anything extra (like the ungraded immersion courses NYU offers) would definitely be a big plus.</p>
<p>Wow, thanks for all of the information! This helps so much. I’m actually starting out in Liberal Studies so I hope that doesn’t affect anything negatively, but I guess the GPA thing will be less of a reach then. I’m taking a Spanish and Portuguese placement test so hopefully I’d be able to do everything in two years after LS. Definitely let me know what you find out from the IR adviser! And good luck with IR and Presidential Scholars, hope you got into both :)</p>
<p>Nope, I know someone in LSP applying to IR. You’ll be fine. Just make sure you take International Politics and either Economics I (macro) or Economics II (micro). It doesn’t impact your application otherwise.</p>
<p>The main question I had for the adviser was if you had to take a language, regionally specialize, and study abroad in the same country/region. The answer is no. So, in your case, you can take Portuguese, study abroad in Florence, and regionally specialize in the Middle East. She also implicitly echoed what my CAS adviser had said: that the IR program is less difficult than it’s made out to be, and it’s relatively rare for them to reject someone who has passed the GPA requirement and did decent in the two required classes. Also, the work experience talked about the website is not really necessary. 90% of your application consists of your grades in IntPol, Econ, your GPA, and your essay. You can submit a resume if you’d like, but it’s not required.</p>
<p>Let me know if you want to know anything else!</p>
<p>Hey everyone! </p>
<p>I know this thread has been geared a little more towards the IR major, but I couldn’t help but notice the title of the thread. I am an incoming transfer student and I am applying to the presidential honors scholars program. Does anyone know how competitive it is if you meet the 3.65 requirement? Has anyone heard of a sophomore transfer getting in? Thanks in advance!</p>
<p>Hmm so you’ll be a sophomore this fall, right? From what I know, the application was only open to people who did their freshman year at NYU since you apply DURING your freshman year. The deadline was in early May, and I don’t believe students can apply as a sophomore. But, there might be another process for transfers to get in that I’m unaware of. I’m not sure, but talk to your CAS academic adviser!</p>
<p>In terms of how competitive it is, it’s really difficult to know for sure (which is why I made this thread, haha). But my adviser hinted that it wasn’t too difficult to get in if you meet the GPA requirement and have some extracurriculars on or off campus. Just like the IR program, I feel like it’s rare for them to reject anyone who meets the requirements. Don’t fret it too much.</p>
<p>Hope this helps!</p>
<p>Thanks!!! I actually spoke to someone earlier last month and apparently the deadline was extended to June 4th, which is why I was able to complete it before the deadline. Anyway, good luck, and let me know if you hear anything!</p>