So, I was just admitted to NYU Stern. Now, NYU’s got a ton of stuff that I really love! I live half an hour away from NYC (greatest city in the world in my book!), so it’s the closest school I applied to. Along with the facilities, the social life, the classes, the career opportunities… there’s just so much they have to offer that I love.
Now, I’m not an extreme conservative or anything. I personally don’t identify as a Republican (more Libertarian if anything). I’m mostly fiscally conservative, and flip-flop on social issues (I’d say ~65% socially conservative). However, many of the things I agree with conservatives about are the things that are most disputed between the two sides.
What are some of your thoughts on the matter? Honestly, I’m very tolerant of others’ ideas. I’m just worried about a majority of others not being tolerant of mine. Would a conservative student like myself have difficulty belonging at NYU, or are there enough students with different ideological backgrounds for me to fit in?
(Asian Male btw)
As long you’re tolerant of what people have to say, you’ll be fine. NYU is known as a pretty liberal school tho so I’m sure you’ll be some extremists.
Current Stern student here.
It shouldn’t be surprising that most Stern students are fiscally conservative (most people in other colleges seem to be extremely leftist economically, however). And your being on College Confidential probably means that you’ve been exposed to some anti-Stern culture that exists, albeit in extremely small amounts, around NYU. This really won’t make you feel unwelcomed by any means, however. Most people are just “anti-elitist” and just dislike business overall, not particularly the students.
As for social conservatism, some people are “intolerant for intolerance” if that makes any sense. Honestly a lot of people don’t even like to talk about social issues, especially after the election. You may get some odd glares from some people if you publicly talk about your political views, however. (Although honestly anyone who just openly talks about their political views no matter which way they lean in a social setting doesn’t seem like a very interesting person to befriend anyway)
I’m an NYU student (CAS) who is friends with people in Stern who (and I quote) “just want to make money” and are incredibly capitalist and financially conservative. I’m also friends with self-proclaimed communists who would die for Bernie Sanders. These people are also friends with each other.
If you’re socially conservative to the point of being intolerant or hating people–or, more importantly, you’re vocal about this–you’re gonna have a hard time. If you’re chill with everyone and let everyone just live their lives, they should let you live yours. I will say that 90% of my conversations are politically based, and most of my friends are also liberal, but that may be because I’m studying politics at a liberal university in a liberal city (because both NYU and NYC are pretty liberal, but since you love NYC I assume you’re already okay with that), and I’m involved in three political clubs, so ymmv. In Stern, which is arguably more conservative, you should be fine.