Ask a Current NYU Stern Freshman!

<p>Okay, since some of you are asking similar questions, I might not answer you directly but might cover it in another answer.</p>

<p>@dudemancool123 - Stern classes fit three size categories (at least thats what I’ve seen so far). The first ones are the types most common (including most of your basic core classes) have around 60 kids in one class in a decently sized lecture room - my Microeconomics, Statistics classes are like that. The second type is more participation type classes with around 20 kids in a smaller discussion room - like Business and Its Publics (you know everybody there and it is a nice environment). The third type includes the ones that take place in Stern’s Auditorium (business and Its publics plenary, some liberal arts requirement classes - my friend has world cultures there, fall microeconomics, economics of global business etc.) These classes have anywhere between 200 and 400 kids on average. They are so big only because there are many students wanting that particular class or particular professor at that time. You will have a mix of all kinds of classes here and each of them have pros and cons. You will also have to take requirement classes in CAS which are larger (my conwest class had 106 kids, nat sci had 112). You also have separate discussions for many of the CAS classes and Microeconomics which are around 20 kids each. Writing the essay has around 15 kids. Some say there are rooms in the MBA building which have undergraduate classes with 30-40 kids but I don’t know for sure because I haven’t been to them.</p>

<p>Student- professor interaction is obviously inversely proportional to size. The smaller classes have you talking with him/her everytime and emailing. In the larger ones, you might never talk to the professor directly at all over the semester. However, except in the smallest classes, interaction isn’t that important (that is you might never feel the need for it). However if you do, all professors have office hours once or twice a week for a couple of hours in which you can drop in and talk to them about any doubts or problems (this applies to all class sizes). There are also Teaching Fellows at Stern who are upperclassmen who can help you if you can’t reach the professor. Its a pretty comfortable setup and you won’t have to worry about anything.</p>

<p>Between the Stern econ and finance programs, the difference lies only in certain courses (specifically the four major courses). Many get similar job opportunities. You take the same core and enjoy same access to resources, jobs and clubs. Almost every internship that I’ve seen posted doesn’t discriminate between the two and always has a line like “Majors in Finance or Economics considered.” It basically boils down to what you want to do and how you want to spend your college tuition. I can’t say for sure about which is more preferable to investment banking because I don’t know much but I would say Finance because you learn things before and might find it easier to apply. However, investment banking isn’t limited to one major and needs a lot of on-the-job learning as well.</p>

<p>[NYU</a> > Office of the Bursar > Tuition/Fees > Fall and Spring > Leonard N. Stern School of Business (Undergraduate)](<a href=“Tuition”>Tuition)</p>

<p>That was the link to Stern tuition for this year. You have the breakup there. Note that you’d have to pay both the 12-18 credit tuition + the nonreturnable flat rate that is just below that. It sucks but thats how it works.</p>

<p>I can’t answer about financial aid because I never received any (I face the same problem every international student attending NYU faces)</p>

<p>Commuting Students have no problem integrating into Stern. They are spread across the cohorts and manage to meet friends and spend a lot of quality time together. There is hardly any difference (even had you lived in a residence hall, there is no chance of you living with all your Stern friends). Nobody is treated any different. However, you would miss the chance to meet amazing kids from other schools.</p>

<p>Yeah you can change your major from the one you listed on the application and can add, drop majors and minors. No problem at all</p>

<p>You won’t have much of a choice anyway freshman year because of the requirements and credit limits. Mostly, you’ll take 4 classes each term. You can’t take more than 18 credits unless you want to pay extra tuition. 4 classes is a good courseload and keeps you engaged in academics and gives you lot of free time. Mostly you’ll take Conwest, Calc, Nat Sci, World Cultures, WTE/C&C/elective, Microeconomics, Statistics and BIP first year.</p>

<p>I told you that the $50-100 included nothing but food/movies. I go to about one movie a month ($12-17) and watch a lot on roommate’s bootlegs. Dining Dollars can get you coffees at Starbucks (so no spending there). Meal plans can buy you stuff at Dunkin Donuts (so nothing there as well - I’m quite fond of their Grilled Cheese Flatbread). Only spending is on occasional other cuisine dinners (indian, chinese, mexican etc.), gum, snack stuff, meal bars and other basic eatables. I even get milk/ Tropicana/Gatorade from the cooler at Dunkin as part of the meal plan (since its pretty near to my dorm, I don’t mind walking 5mins to get there and buy from there rather than elsewhere). NYU dining gives you a lot - from fruits and veggies to ice cream to pizza to pasta and burgers. Though it might not be that great/healthy, its sufficient. I might spend on the occasional Broadway show or sporting event, but not too much in excess of the limit (I don’t go to Broadway shows every month too). A night of partying is around $10-15 and I don’t party at clubs too much (maybe once/twice a month). Other times are in friends houses in other boroughs. Basic toiletries like shower gel or shampoo are $5 or so and last for more than a month. I didn’t count Stationery, clothes, or medicines or books or any other supplies that I had in the beginning (those were a lot). I didn’t buy clothes over the year (i had however gone on a massive shopping spree before coming to the US). I don’t spend on bottled water because I drink tap water. But I’m an exception because I don’t spend a lot at all (Its not in my nature at all to do so). There are many others who do so $100 may or may not be enough for you. </p>

<p>Since there are quite a few I’ll answer the rest of the questions gradually</p>

<p>This may have already been asked, but exactly how hard and how heavy is the workload for Stern? How much freetime would I have? And what major at Stern would you consider the easiest?</p>

<p>Hi!
I will be a Stern freshman next fall and I am having trouble deciding which dorm I want to live in.</p>

<p>I’m really interested in Founder’s Hall but since its brand new, no one knows much about it. Do you perhaps know how close it is to the freshmen stern classes? And are the freshmen stern classes by Washington Square?</p>

<p>Also, i know Goddard is closer to Washington Square than Hayden is but which one do you think is more comfortable and better to live in? (appearance, spacious room, sanitation, good dining hall, SAFETY)</p>

<p>Hi england2010! Thanks for taking your time to answer questions for us, it’s been really helpful! :D</p>

<p>I was wondering if any other incoming Sternies are going to try to graduate in just 3 years, or if you know anyone who is trying to do that right now? Are there any pros to graduating earlier (but losing the chance to say, double major), and how difficult would that be to accomplish if I have a lot of AP credits I can apply? It’s just an idea my parents have been throwing at me, so I’d love to know if it’s a common route students try to take and how many are successful?</p>

<p>Thanks! :]</p>

<p>If I retook the SAT in say…June, would that score be eligible to place me out of WTE?</p>

<p>Actually, I’ve pretty much decided on Hayden Hall but I would still appreciate it if you could tell me what you know (pros and cons) about Hayden, Goddard and Founders! :D</p>

<p>I also have a few new questions, please bare with me lol</p>

<p>1) So a 730 could get me out of the WTE class and I can take Commerce & Culture instead? On registration day, will they have records of SAT scores so I can exempt WTE when I sign up for classes? Also, around what time is Registration Day? early August?</p>

<p>2) If the limit is 16 credits for freshmen, then would I be able to take 4 core classes and an elective? I was hoping to take a dance class for electives but if those are only offered to Tisch students, what other artsy classes would you recommend? Is there a vocal/singing class a Stern freshman could take for elective credit? </p>

<p>3) In an earlier post you said something about how most classes for Stern freshmen are CAS. So would I be able to take like Finance, Economics, Commerce & Culture, Calculus and an elective freshmen year? Also, what are the science requirements for stern students? I am not very strong at science and it’s not particularly interesting to me so I wouldn’t want to spend too much time on that subject.</p>

<p>4) Last Question! I signed up for the AP Calculus AB test but would you recommend using advanced placement credit to skip ahead in math? I heard Stern’s math courses are some of the toughest in the nation. If I don’t use any AP credit, which class would I take? Calculus I? What have you heard about that class?</p>

<p>Whew okay I’m done blabbering. Thanks for taking the time to help us out!!!</p>

<p>@ agentxx: regarding your last question, I’m pretty sure we can’t use AP credit to skip required courses i.e microeconomics, calc. I think they only use it for placement purposes? I’m not a current student so I’m not entirely sure, but maybe someone could confirm/clarify this?</p>

<p>At agentxx: I’m not a student there but online it said no credits are given for ap calculus, stats, or economics. Those are used for placement only</p>

<p>@hellocolorclear no it would not help you place out of WTE.</p>

<p>@ xkaeze & pwnzal:</p>

<p>thanks for the info guys! okay so basically if credit will not be given, there will be no point in trying to get a higher placement right? it would make everything tougher.</p>

<p>hello! im deciding between washU olin and NYU stern… i’ll probably major in economics. i know that stern has one of the top finance programs in USA, but what about economics? </p>

<p>how is the college experience like in stern? i am worried if it is too “business” (i heard people go to school in suits!) i heard nyu lacks a sense of community… i kind of like to have a traditional college experience but i am also very concerned about job recruiting… thats why im torn between the 2…</p>

<p>and how much is the tuition+room and board fees for fall 2010?</p>

<p>So with a 750 on the SAT writing section, I am exempt from WTE? What other class do I have to take? Any elective?</p>

<p>another question, I’ve heard the term “stern scholar” floating around a lot… what is that exactly?
How do we know if we are one or not?</p>

<p>stern scholars does not exist for any incoming class anymore. our class (2013) does not have it either. </p>

<p>long story why we dont have it…</p>

<p>hi mitssu87,</p>

<p>earlier on in this thread you said, “you can always take BS electives at CAS to bump up your gpa) many pple do finance + econ double major and take all the econ classes in CAS, which are known to be easy.”</p>

<p>which “BS” electives would you recommend? really gotta boost my gpa, haha. thanks =)</p>

<p>Hey england2010 - amazing thread!! You are so nice and informative!! I’m currently deciding btwn NYU Stern, Brown, Cornell, and Caltech - I am very committed to finance and definitely want to find a good spot on Wall Street (M&A, trading, i-banking) after undergrad, and I think Stern might be the absolute BEST place for me to do that. Unfortunately, my parents are very prestige-driven haha so we’re still deciding.</p>

<p>Could you tell me about the Stern Scholars Program? Do you have to apply? If not, how do you know if you’re invited into the program? </p>

<p>Thanks so much for being so helpful and nice!</p>

<p>I’ve seen this asked several times but never answered: Can a high ACT English sore place a Sternie out of WTE and into Commerce and Culture? If so, how high does the score have to be?</p>

<p>Does Stern accept AP credits?
If so, which ones and will a 4 or 5 just advance me or will Stern give me credit for a 4 or 5?</p>