<p>Since freshman year, I thought NYU was for me. I had never been to New York, but the thought of going to college in one of the world's capitals intrigued me. I knew NYU didn't have a campus, and I didn't really mind that. I'd heard it all about NYU.</p>
<p>I just visited this past week, and I discovered NYU really wasn't for me. I know some people on here are considering NYU and have never visited NYC. To this I say, be sure to visit before you confirm your decision to attend. </p>
<p>No American city can prepare you for New York... not Boston, Chicago, San Francisco, none. </p>
<p>You really won't feel that there is a campus... it literally is in downtown Manhattan. The tour guides, and even the president, have said that NYU isn't for everyone... it attracts a certain kind of student. You may have to work harder just to do simple things at NYU, and my tour guide testified to this.</p>
<p>For all of you who know that NYU is THE school, congratulations. For all of you considering it without having visited a) NYC b) NYU, please visit before confirming your decision. Many students told me that the unhappy students at NYU were the ones who really didn't know what they were getting into (a non-traditional college experience) and are struggling with it. The ones who love it are the ones who considered it, its location, and all it had to offer.</p>
<p>You cannot consider NYU without lovingor being able to standNYC. I'm not writing this to convince you not to go to NYU, but rather to encourage you to make sure to visit before attending.While you should visit every school before you attend, it is ESPECIALLY true of NYU.</p>
<p>Good luck in your decision</p>
<p>Good advice. A visit to NYU only confirmed what I already knew - it was the school for me, campus or not. I’m not in LOVE with NYC but I do like it quite a bit and enjoyed the neighborhood that NYU’s in. </p>
<p>Contrary to your experience, I actually got a bigger idea of a “campus” than I thought I would, campus not necessarily meaning tons of green space but all the students walking around in the area gave it the campus feel i wanted. I did get a community feel out of the tour and visit (the program I’m in is fairly small so tighter-knit group), albeit not one you’d get at a traditional college. I remember one of the things they emphasized on the visit was you HAVE to be able to self-advocate to get what you want, but I think this inecessary life skill and why not learn it sooner rather than later?</p>
<p>When I think of all the things I’m giving up from a traditional college (rolling hills and trees, school spirit, football games, frats) I like to remember all the great things I get in return (unparalleled opportunities to advance my career, global exposure to culture, the chance to grow up and be an adult able to function in the real world) and it makes it worth it. But I didn’t know that it’d be worth it until I visited.</p>
<p>This is an issue I really struggled with before choosing this school and I did wish there was more on this site and others addressing it so I’m glad there’s a discussion here. Visit and keep an open mind. I’m so in love with and excited for NYU after my visit last week. I guess I want to play devil’s advocate; OP didn’t like it after visiting, I fell in love after visiting – but don’t read either of our posts and make your mind up because you never know until you go see it and experience it for yourself.</p>
<p>Agreed. I think this is a large reason why such a high percentage of the NYU student body (relatively speaking, of course) is from the tri-state area. It’s not necessarily personality type, introverts and extroverts fare just as well. But some people get overwhelmed with the independence NYC demands to be truly happy here.</p>
<p>HA! As an alum from the 1980’s I guess nothing has changed! Back then almost 90% of the university was from the tri- state area and the public thought NYU was part of the city university system. (CUNY). For those that can cope with NYC and all it offers NYU is an expensive, excellent choice. I have watched my kids and friend’s children go to many colleges and in all cases it is truly up to the student. What you put into college you will get back exponentially! If you sit and wait for the college or university to hold your hand they will not do it! (not implying that collegerm was saying that). Also when I attended NYU the transfer rate out was very high- maybe close to 40%? Does anyone know what the stat is now? Or do you have to dig deep to find out?</p>
<p>NYU’s freshman retention rate is 92% which is very good. Not as high as the ivies, but higher than most schools including popular ones like BU, Syracuse and Binghamton.</p>
<p>You make a very good point. Just gonna throw this out there: f anyone has questions about NYC, the NYU campus, or the surrounding area, feel free to ask or PM me. I have lived around NYC for my whole life, and if you can’t visit the campus I’m happy to answer any questions you may have.</p>
<p>Good advice, but I would suggest not completely ruling it out just because you’ve never been to NYC. My brother is at NYU right now and he didn’t visit before attending. He just made sure he understood that the city is bigger than anywhere he’s ever been, and knew that there was no campus. I visited the campus this April, and the lack of campus is the exact reason I LOVE it, and know that it’s for me. My second choice is UCF and the only reason it isn’t number one is because it has a gated campus and isn’t in the middle of manhattan.</p>
<p>Oh, and I’ll make the same offer–
if anyone wants to ask any questions about the city or the campus, feel free to message me. I’ve only been to the city once for a week, but I took the campus tour, plus my brother is there now.</p>
<p>There is a lot of gay people there too. So ladies consider your love life hell, unless you want a geek from Columbia, or a ghetto student from St. Johns :)</p>
<p>umm… GEEK FROM COLUMBIA, YES!!!</p>