<p>I'm currently working on my NYU application, and while I was going through the humdrum routine of checking off boxes on the supplement, I noticed a brief paragraph about the liberal studies programs. I was planning on applying to Gallatin beforehand to create an individualized major mixing creative writing, linguistics, and anthropology, but both the liberal studies program and the core program really appeal to me. The opportunity to take smaller classes and go abroad are two things that I'd want anyway in my college experience. However, there are a couple things that seem off about the liberal studies schools. First, it seems as though they have a bit of a bum rap...students who don't get into their first choice schools appear to get offered positions in LSP (does that include the core LSP, by the way?). Although I think I would enjoy LSP a lot, I don't want to take classes with a group of students who would rather be somewhere else. Also, I don't know how I feel about taking such a rigid curriculum. Although the classes seem very tailored to my interests, I originally wanted more freedom in regards to my schedule. Do the curricula for both the LSP and core LSP allow you to have some choice about classes?</p>
<p>Can anyone offer some advice for me? Should I apply to LSP or the core LSP and have the opportunity to go abroad? Or should I pick Gallatin and try to engineer a curriculum that allows me to go abroad as often as possible? (Also, how often and for how long can you go abroad at Gallatin? Could I spend an entire year abroad?)</p>
<p>I know that's a lot of questions, and I would be very happy if some current students (or anyone else, for that matter) could answer a couple of them.</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>