Ask a Current NYU Stern Freshman!

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<p>Hi, I'm a current freshman at NYU Stern. I'm an international student who will be majoring in Finance or Accounting. Its an amazing school and I completely love it here. I'm pretty sure that it would be a wonderful school for all of you if you decide to come. I know that high school app season can be a huge pain and I could provide answers to some of the questions that you have. I've been here long enough to help you significantly. So, go ahead, ask anything about the school, life there, academics, opportunities, student body, clubs, and even about the rest of NYU (of which I know slightly less though I did take some arts requirements there).</p>

<p>Kindly Note: I am in no way interested in revealing anything about my identity. As a result I will not tell where I come from, which dorm I live in, or anything that can reveal my identity. I will not tell you specifically where I applied to and got accepted last year. I did have a bunch of great schools and ivies but chose to come here and think its the best decision of my life. You can ask me my stats though. I will answer to your questions truthfully and help you to the best I can.</p>

<p>So go ahead, ASK!</p>

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<p>Do you plan on going into investment banking? CPA or general accounting? Why major in accounting? Are you planning to work at your home country after graduation? Which clubs are you involved with and which ones do you recommend for freshman?</p>

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<p>@scary - I’ll mostly do Finance and general Accounting if possible (in terms of work load and my level of preparedness). I made a mistake in my previous post (Saturday night partying can lead to brain not functioning at its best). Its pretty well known that Stern’s Finance department is among the best in the country. Accounting can complement finance and the converse is true as well. And by doing both, I can have a more flexible career. I’m keeping all my options open (I still have 3 years in college so its okay)(and by attending the big company info sessions at school, I know that there’s a lot out there), so I can’t say investment banking, though it is a wonderful field (there were critics due to the crisis, but it definitely sounds interesting). I’m not sure if I’ll go back to my country immediately after graduation though I do plan on going back after some experience. </p>

<p>In terms of clubs, as a freshman, I’ve just been mostly checking out different clubs by attending different combinations of meetings every week. There are a number of clubs here in almost all fields. I would recommend the Finance Society (they start with the very basic things like teaching options, futures, finance related stuff (top level executives from Credit Suisse, Bank of America, Goldman, JP, Morgan Stanley etc. come in to teach these things, do cool things like take us on tours of the NYSE, big companies, federal reserve etc.), Accounting Society (have networking events with Big 4 companies where they teach us basic accounting things and allow us to look into their company - bit like the finance society but slightly less intense) , Marketing Society (this depends on your interests - these guys do the basic stuff as well, have people from companies talking about why their marketing strategies clicked etc.) and Stern Cares (its community service but it can add a lot to you) as good starter clubs with clubs like the Investment Analysis Group, the Entrepreneurial Exchange Group and the Management Consulting Group as you go on to your sophomore/junior years. Clubs are great here - they help in reaching out to the upperclassmen. I can’t comment on the frat clubs, because I haven’t pledged into any yet. Hope that helped</p>

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<p>how does nyu stern compare to cornell/ dartmouth/ wharton in management/ business administration…</p>

<p>also whats the nyu stern Early Decision rate…i cant find it anywhere…please send me the official link</p>

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<p>I don’t think NYU gives out early decision numbers for each of its schools. I’ve heard that the final admissions rate for Stern (ED+RD) is somewhere like 15-18% (note that this is admitted not enrolled and different numbers were given by different people in that range). I heard the RD rate is somewhere around 12-15% or so. I don’t know if this is true. The ED rate must be higher than the overall rate. I wasn’t that concerned about the rate when I applied. I was more worried about getting in.</p>

<p>Comparing the four colleges that you asked here’s what I have to say: (this is totally my personal opinion)
Upenn Wharton: Undoubtedly the best of the four. Its the best undergrad business school, and definitely beats out Stern in almost all areas except finance. Finance is where there’s a lot of competition considering that Stern is in the heart of business (NYC) while Wharton is in Philly. Which means that Sternies get to do all those things around the year (like internships and all in top bulge bracket banks) that Whartonites can only do in summer. Academically, Wharton has a slight edge, but we have top professors as well. And Stern has gone through renovation and now looks absolutely wonderful with probably equal facilities. The Wharton name is too big, while the Stern name is growing rapidly. Talking with my friends at Wharton, I’ve heard that they do have a lot of respect for us.</p>

<p>Cornell : Great school, but I would say Stern would beat it out. There are many kids here who turned down Cornell for that reason. I would rather learn business in the heart of new york city than in Ithaca. They do get comparable jobs, but they are a smaller program with lesser opportunities. However, it depends on you, whether you want the traditional college experience or the city experience. Stern gives you the total city experience. Here, you can go to class with a person like Roubini in the morning, listen to top executives from Goldman Sachs teach you in class or a club meeting, attend a seminar at the NYSE, tour the Federal Reserve, intern at a huge bank, do community service with a non profit and party at night all in one day. I don’t think I would get so many opportunities in Ithaca. </p>

<p>Dartmouth - Again, pretty much the same with Cornell. Less focus towards finance or the like. More liberal arts based. Stern would give you more opportunity. Again, its important whether you want the college experience in a college town atmosphere or a urban city atmosphere with no campus. And your interests matter as well. For me, I wouldn’t be able to learn econ at Dartmouth or AEM things at Cornell and do so much liberal arts studying, I want more core oriented stuff (being an international student, liberal arts are something I haven’t had many experiences with and don’t want to have). You need to love business, finance or the like to love Stern otherwise you would hate it here.
However one place where attending Cornell or Dartmouth would be a huge plus - the liberal arts part of your degree. As much amazing as Stern is, the rest of NYU isn’t up there with Cornell or Dartmouth. Kids here reject Cornell or Dartmouth for Stern but the rest of NYU doesn’t complement as well as UPENN does to Wharton or Cornell does to AEM or Dartmouth. </p>

<p>In the end, here is how I would rate it for business as a whole with the core and all (For me)</p>

<p>Wharton, then Stern, then Dartmouth, then Cornell</p>

<p>The average Stern student would agree with me (except those prestige whores, who can be real pains). Many here are Wharton rejects and many here have turned down Dartmouth, Cornell and some of the other ivies
Though stern is great for finance, big companies also actively recruit other Stern majors as well. All these colleges would give you comparable jobs, but it all depends on how you want to spend your four years.</p>

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<p>In your opinion, is it more difficult for a stern international student to get internships at bulge bracket firms than locals?</p>

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<p>what were u stats, gpa sats, subject tests any hooks?</p>

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<p>@stern2014 : I hope you are coming here, which is why your username is what it is. It’s a great school. From my experience and talking to upperclassmen, the only disadvantage that internationals have is in their first year. In the first year, we can’t work off campus for money (thats the law now, we can only get authorization after an academic year of study), and on campus jobs are not easily available because many of the local students get work study while other jobs simple won’t employ us on campus. However, once the authorization is got, its a level playing field. There is also the advantage of NYC and the Stern name - many many opportunities. Any company takes you if you’re really really good and I don’t see why bulge brackets should be an exception. At least thats what some upperclassmen said. I would ask you to try for an unpaid job (you can do that as an international) and then get an internship second year since that unpaid can add vital experience, especially if you’re competing with international students from Asia who are very very good (there are a lot of them from India and China here).</p>

<p>@ronak : My stats were SAT 2240. SAT subjects Math2 800. Literature 680. no Gpa in my school. grading system in percentages. Salutatorian. Hooks - don’t think I had any. had a good essay about this business that I was involved in as one of the main men, and my view for its future and its role in society, particularly in my home country and how a Stern education could help me achieve what i wanted. Can’t give more details on that for confidential reasons. It was a big thing for me, having taken up a lot of my high school life. Had some internships at securities firms and some big private investors. Good track of academic success (which many at Stern have). Maybe a few other bits and pieces. Don’t worry too much about stats. If you’re unique and can contribute to the development of Stern in some way and they feel they want you so badly, you’ll get in. There are kids with 1900 SATs here and I know two friends, the valedictorian with a 2380 and another kid top5%, 2300, lot of experience who got rejected.</p>

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<p>Thanks for taking the time to answer these questions. Are stern students required to take foreign language as part of the MAP core? Also do you see some people trying to transfer out of Stern and what do you think their reasons might be? Are the laptop specs that they want really that necessary, or is it generally fine to just stick with base software such as Microsoft Office? How is the Stern curve, is it a killer to GPA or is it manageable? Are other Stern students mostly hyper-competitive, back-stabbing types or do people work together in study groups, etc? Also how many Stuyvesant kids are there from what you know? Thanks for the help bro, just want to know what to expect since I did ED and am already accepted for Stern.</p>

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<p>I heard the toughest class Freshman year is Writing the Essay. How tough is it to get an exemption from the class? I’ve heard different things from different sources, but is it possible to receive exemption from the class based on your AP scores or SAT Writing scores?</p>

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<p>You can read about MAP course exemption here: [New</a> York University > College of Arts and Science > MAP](<a href=“NYU”>NYU)</p>

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<p>if you are a sternie a 700 on SAT writing will place you into commerce and culture, 750+ exemption from first writing course. you still need to take BiP spring freshman year…</p>

<p>to the op what cohort are you in? im in east village</p>

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<p>@nytimes92 : You’ll definitely enjoy your time here at Stern. No, Stern students aren’t required to take foreign language as part of the MAP courses at least not now. You can refer to this page </p>

<p><a href=“http://w4.stern.nyu.edu/emplibrary/cr%20wksht%20class%20of%202013.pdf[/url]”>http://w4.stern.nyu.edu/emplibrary/cr%20wksht%20class%20of%202013.pdf&lt;/a&gt; </p>

<p>Thats the basic framework for the class for 2013 with all the required classes. I’m not sure for 2014 but expect it to be pretty similar.
According to me, there are two reasons for people trying to transfer out. The first is because they don’t fit in here. People just accepted their stern offers because of the name and didn’t have a proper interest for the field.These kids would hate it here. Also, the kids who don’t like the urban experience. The second are the prestige whores (excuse my use of the term but everybody hates those kids). They are in many schools and are there here at stern. They applied to a lot of top schools last year, got rejected at all of them but Stern for some dumb reason (they think they’re good but in fact they’re hardly anything - I sincerely wish Stern rejected them as well). Now, they consider Stern to be under their level and want to try transferring to an Ivy or something like that simply because it was their family dream or something like that. Again, these kids hardly have an interest for the field. I know a kid (my suitemate) who got rejected from all the ivies, and keeps saying Stern is his last choice and wants to go out. The guy has hardly anything spectacular in him but wants to go out. Nobody goes out because Stern is bad (which it isn’t) but because they don’t fit in because their thoughts on the school and about themselves are very very different. Many don’t realize that getting into Stern itself is tough (though not as the others), and don’t appreciate. However, these kids are very few. Appreciate Stern and the college will give you everything. It’s a very very kind school. I hope that was kind of clear. I hate these kids and my anger might have botched things up.</p>

<p>As for the laptop specs, from my experience and advice from upperclassmen, its really not all that important. A lot of people use macs here (me included) even though Mac doesn’t support some applications. Stern will give you access to all applications, and have loads of computers for public use should you have a problem. They even have loaner laptops if you use Dell, or you could just borrow a friends. </p>

<p>The Stern curve is definitely part of the Stern legend. Nobody knows if it is universal. Depends on your professor. Half of them never follow it from what I’ve heard. But I haven’t taken many Stern classes so I can’t comment too much. (first semester was full of MAP courses, now only business). However, it can help you at times. Nobody is going to be great in everything. People will get helped by the curve at times and hurt by it at other times. Its totally manageable. Professors tell that they need it because at Stern all of us are very good, and something has to be done to distinguish the best. However, if the whole class is perfect, everybody gets A’s. Thats what they say. Companies know all about it, and will make considerations based on it. Its Stern after all, not some so-so liberal arts school. A B here would be worth an A+ (don’t think they have such a grade but you should get my point) elsewhere. Don’t expect to get 4.0s every semester - you won’t get it, but then you won’t get a bad GPA as well.</p>

<p>As for the types of people, there are both types. Kids who think they’re the best on the planet and will never help because they’re too arrogant and helping others is below their prestige level. These kids tend to stick to small groups of like minded people so they won’t bother you. Since there’s hardly a feel of community (since its very urban and limites), you need to work hard on making good friends who will help you at all times. Mostly, people will never hesitate to help but you need to reach out. Personally I’ve had friends who have helped me on Stats and Calc homework and helped me get a better grade and I’ve helped people in Microeconomics homework. One of my friends always had a group of people to fall back on with her very very tough homework. Group based learning has a major role to play from sophomore year I heard, so I’d advise you to help as much as you can. It’ll help you later on. It totally depends on how you approach it.</p>

<p>As for the Stuyvesant kids, I’m sorry I can’t help you there. I’m not from this area and won’t remember particular people. I’m pretty sure I’ve heard the area and high school name a couple of times but can’t remember more than that. There are people but how much or who I can’t tell.
As for the help, least I can do to showcase this lovely school which has given me so much in so less time. And doing this, helps me remember my amazing year so far.</p>

<p>@alnico - WTE is a pain unless you really love writing (note this doesn’t mean any writing but in their style). Too much assignments and paperwork. I had to take it since I had a 690 on SAT writing, and I got a B+ which is what you get if you’re a good writer. A/A-s go to the very very best (unfortunately I’m not there even though I thought I did some of my life’s best writing in that class) Many of the Stern kids don’t do that well in that class from what I’ve heard. However, if you have a 700 or above on your SAT writing, you can choose to not take it. From 700-740, you get to take Commerce and Culture, a writing and discussion class at Stern which my friends said was way easier. If you have a 750 or above, you’re totally exempted. You can use the credits for electives. However, you have to take the other writing course, Business and its publics irrespective of your score in spring freshman year. AP scores don’t count to the best of my knowledge.Hope that helped.</p>

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<p>@sansri88
Just wondering, is this policy regarding WTE outdated then? <a href=“http://w4.stern.nyu.edu/emplibrary/APstanding-Fall2006v9.20.06pdf.pdf[/url]”>http://w4.stern.nyu.edu/emplibrary/APstanding-Fall2006v9.20.06pdf.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>Actually, I see something about it on here (in red):
[url=<a href=“http://w4.stern.nyu.edu/uc/newstudent/freshmen.cfm?doc_id=7289]Freshmen[/url”>http://w4.stern.nyu.edu/uc/newstudent/freshmen.cfm?doc_id=7289]Freshmen[/url</a>]
Do you know if there is an ACT equivalence? I got a 35 on the English portion, so I’m hoping I would be able to avoid WTE if I get in.</p>

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<p>@england2010, I’m a prospective NYU College of Arts and Sciences Major–but I’ve been thinking lately of considering Stern. How is the transfer process, going from CAS to Stern? Is it very difficult and unlikely? Or is transferring easy?</p>

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<p>As a transfer student, I can answer this one. </p>

<p>It’s difficult but not entirely out of the question. Don’t assume you will transfer, but it CAN be done. Stern makes students jump through hoops to transfer, because they KNOW it is easier to get into CAS as a freshman than it is to get into Stern.</p>

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<p>I’m only a freshman but I’ve been here long enough to see some transfers. Having talked to a senior who transferred from CAS after his first year and now has a good banking job and a big bank, I heard that it wasn’t tough, but the problem is adjusting to Stern after you get in. You’ll probably have no time for study abroad because you’ll be finishing your basic stern requirements before your major unlike the non-transferred stern kids who had already finished them. So, be prepared for anything. The CAS freshman year schedule has some big differences to the Stern schedule (though MAP courses can be the same) because we finish pre reqs like Micro, Stats and the like which gives us clearance to take higher courses. If you have AP credit in Stats, and can pass a placement test, that can help. Don’t worry about it now. Get in and meet with an adviser. But follow your interests, you’ll hate Stern if you don’t love the course areas. It’s that challenging so you need love to overcome that.</p>

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<p>hey, great advice guys, thanx! any others?</p>

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<p>I am bumping this for all those prospective future leaders and successful change makers out there who would be interested in one of the best undergrad b-schools (definitely the one with the best location)</p>