<p>My S is considering Lang - I am skeptical because of the high attrition rate and extremely low graduation rate. I am also concerned that there is no community focal point at Lang and he could easily get lost between the cracks. ANy thoughts/experiences?</p>
<p>The New School (any of them) isn't for everyone. It's a specialized environment where I believe one really fits, or really doesn't fit. I don't see much gray matter.</p>
<p>Free thinking, high-intellectual, self-motivated, artsy, a bit of a rebel (not a "bad" kid, but colors outside of the lines)...does that sound like your S? </p>
<p>I wouldn't focus on those stats you mentioned; IF the school is right for him, and he is right for it, he'll succeed. The worst that might happen if he applied, was accepted, enrolled, is that he might transfer out. It happens at every school.</p>
<p>I happen to be a fan of EU & The NS in general.</p>
<p>How about this...my kid's thinking about transfering IN. (Really) My aunt studied Chinese there in the early 1960s. </p>
<p>EU & The New School is definitely an animal of a different color.</p>
<p>Don't listen to people like "just a mom". Listen to ME because I am a freshman at Eugene Lang College. I listened to stuff people said like "just a mom" and was attracted to the "artsy" atmosphere and the projected image of the school. huge mistake. I am miserable here and ironically only came upon your thread because I was looking for something on transferring OUT. Here are some important factors that your son won't be faced with until he gets here (because no one talks about them) that he should be aware of:
1. The huge emphasis on "class discussion" can be a VERY BAD THING. Many of the kids can be/are often very obnoxious. You are paying an insane amount of money to go to school, not to listen to a bunch of kids talk for the sake of hearing their own voices.
2. The school has absolutely NO resources. I have friends who pay 1/2 what I pay at state schools and have access to gyms, a real meal plan, etc.
3. Carrying over from 2, the meal plan is nothing short of HIGHWAY ROBBERY. There is no real cafeteria. There are however 3 poor excuses for cafeterias but you will not be eating 3 (or even 1) regular meals a day there. You will be forced to fend for yourself on the streets. THis may not sound so bad, but when you're busy with schoolwork this is one of the last things you want to do.
4. No campus. No community. The school will try to fool you on accepted students day (as they did to me), but this is reality. It's very difficult to find friends here.
5. The city is one of the school's major selling points. It shouldn't be. The lack of campus and community is very depressing once you're here and it's certainly not a tradeoff.<br>
6. THE KIDS are very rich hipsters. They are extremely fashion conscious and snobby.
7. The SCHOOL is one of the LEAST ORGANIZED places on the face of the planet. It will enroll you in classes that don't exist and you won't know untill the first day of school! </p>
<p>OH and don't forget that a degree from here is totally worthless! My seminar fellow actually told me this.</p>
<p>THe school tries to tell you that if you are a foward thinking person you belong here. The truth of the matter is, if you're intellectual you'll do well anywhere. You don't NEED to pay 40thou+ a year to come here. You can do whatever you want.</p>
<p>I hope this was helpful. If it was, I'd be more than happy to email you or your son and answer any questions. Just give me the adress.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>wow. CelineA I've just started my eugene lang application and now I'm feeling a bit hesitant to finish after reading your synopsis. however, where are you from and where do you plan to transfer?</p>
<p>mentalmystic, my D is now in her 2nd year at EL (after spending a year in a different college, and transferring IN to EL). She also just began the dual degree program with Parsons. She adores both schools, and especially being in NYC. She lives off "campus"(ie, not in a dorm), which she shares with one other person (an NYU student, thru a craigslist ad), works p/t swirling yogurt, and is really glad she transferred in.</p>
<p>She is NOT a "rich hipster" nor "extremely fashion conscious and snobby". In fact she's the opposite. She's quite shy, a bit of a nerd, doesn't smoke (there ARE a lot of smokers there), nor does she care to party. She is a reader, loves art, music and film. She says she's getting an amazing art education at Parsons (having done a 4 year art track in HS), and cannot believe she's there.</p>
<p>It's not for everyone, but guess what...no school is. I hope that CelineA has started her transfer applications.</p>