<p>I don't know if this question has been asked before, but I looked through the forum and really didn't find a straight answer. </p>
<p>So after being rejected to nearly every school I applied to, I just got accepted into NYU Gallatin, which was great news for me. However, that was quickly changed when some people talked about its "Individualized Major" and how it had a bad reputation. At the time, I chose the major because I had no idea what I was going to do so I figured it would be helpful just to take something that was flexible. Right now, I'm heavily leaning towards business and finance and realized that I should have applied for Stern also.</p>
<p>So all in all, my real questions are "Is it true that Gallatin's Individualized major has a bad reputation?" and if so "Does that make it hard for me to get a job after i graduate, especially now that I am leaning towards business?"</p>
<p>I’m a current Gallatin freshman so I have some insight on this.</p>
<p>Gallatin really is unique on it’s own. Why? Because there are several unique students who are currently enrolled. I must say Gallatin is not for everyone. People do look down at Gallatin because they think that Gallatin student get no jobs after college. Do you want to know why they think that? Gallatin has A LOT of students who are creative and innovative who start their own businesses and projects. If you’re not a student with your own business or project, then you are most likely a student who is working on to a higher education after college. So that pretty much answers why Gallatin students “don’t get jobs”-because they’re either doing their own business or project (such as writing a book, etc) or studying to go to law school or grad school in general. It really isn’t because of our individualized major. </p>
<p>Do you want to know how a Gallatin education works? I’ll tell you a bit about my first year…</p>
<p>First semester I took classes that I wanted to take and two Gallatin courses (a freshman seminar and a writing seminar). My other two classes were Fundamentals of Social Entrepreneurship and Global Economic Crisis (both Wagner courses)-Really, these courses set up my future. I knew I wanted to do something with business, but I didn’t know what. My Social Entrepreneurship class really did the most for me-I realized the business I wanted to own. </p>
<p>Second Semester (Now)- I’m taking three courses of my choice and one Gallatin research class. 2/3 courses are based on Advertising and one is Advance Social Entrepreneurship. With these classes I was able to add to what I learned my first semester.</p>
<p>So far because of my individualized major I have created a business idea (which is now my concentration) and have started it with a blog and a social media campaign.-This has all started because of my interdisciplinary studies. </p>
<p>So what am I doing now? I’m starting my own business, I’m interning for a startup, working at my job, and going to class. And do you want to know something else? I’m not the only one juggling different things-there are SEVERAL Gallatin students that are doing A LOT. </p>
<p>And oh, one more thing…when I was going on job interviews I realized that many employers love the idea of a Gallatin interdisciplinary education. When I told them my approach to my education they praised it, and they even said they wished they knew about it when they were going to college. Guess what? 3 employers offered me a job. So, who says Gallatin students don’t work?</p>
<p>Wow, that was an awesome reply! Thank you so much for giving me that information and insight! I feel a lot better about Gallatin, i was interested in business too, but just so unsure as to what field, and i was worried that I should’ve applied for Stern, but I think I can put my worries aside for now [: Gallatin sounds great for someone like me lol
I hope your job kick starts your future!
Thanks again!</p>
<p>HeyleyC
I second the thanks. My son was just accepted and your description will be very helpful for him as he makes his decision. He is looking at art schools as well and it won’t be easy for him to decide.
Isn’t it awesome that Gallatin is a place where an arts person and a business person can study side by side and learn from one another?</p>
<p>Yes I believe it is awesome that both can study side-by-side. In high school I use to be an art student as I took several art courses and and science student as I was part of a 3 year science research program. Aside from being into art and science, I had several classes in between that were all different from each other. My advisor question what I wanted to study, he thought I was just indecisive, but that wasn’t the case. I just felt the need to be well rounded and not be stuck in following in your typical curriculum. I didn’t want to be one kind of student. That’s why I chose Gallatin, because I already followed the interdisciplinary education. I’m putting together a concentration that has to do with business, gender studies, women studies, african studies, middle eastern/islamic studies, advertising and marketing, and I also hope to add art to the mix-specifically photography and film. You see, this may seem like a lot, but I already know the direction I’m going in.</p>
<p>@Daniellee7211 You can actually take courses in Stern while you’re in Gallatin. (You must have 32 credits in order to take Stern courses, so you can start your sophomore year) If you do not enjoy Gallatin your freshman year and you figure out you only want to focus on business and strictly business then you can always apply to be an internal transfer.</p>
<p>@HeleyC
Would you be able to tell us something abut the sense of community at Gallatin? Do you have a place to gather with and meet other students or is it more of a dispersed experience? Basically…have you experienced loneliness or isolation being there? Do you live on campus or off? If on, do you think you will move off campus at some point? Do you think that will make it harder to feel a part of things? That is my main concern with NYU in general.</p>
<p>Unfortunately I am not the best person to ask. I am from NYC and was a part of summer program last summer right before my freshman year where I got to meet most of my close friends. Because I already made these friends during the summer, once the Fall came I didn’t really go to events and such. Although I didn’t do the typical incoming freshman things, there are people out there who do. Freshman arrive during welcome week where there can meet a ton of people. You can attend Gallatin events or university events. Some are educational, but most are just fun activities such as the reality show, queer salsa dancing, tours around the city, etc. There are tons of opportunity to meet people during that week. What happens after welcome week? You can continue to hang out with the people you met during welcome week, or you can go ahead and meet people in your residence hall, classes, and clubs. People say that there is no community, but honestly if you want to have friends you have to create your own community. There are people here with similar interests, you just have to find them and say Hi!. I would saying that living in a residence hall will definitely create friendships also being a part of clubs and speaking up in class. I do not think I will move off of campus because of certain reasons, but I do find it a little scary moving to an upperclassman dorm. I plan on living at the Broome street residence hall with my current roommates next year (yes, surprisingly my roommates and I created a friendship/bond) but lots of my friends are looking into other halls. Even if my friends and I don’t all live in the same building next year, I still believe we can all remain friends for the fact that we don’t mind walking to other buildings and visiting each other. </p>
<p>If your child is worried about making friends, just give him/her the encouragement to get outside of his/her comfort zone. College is about exploring and meeting new people-it really is a beautiful thing.</p>
<p>So please do not be afraid of of the “lack of community” because we don’t have a “traditional campus”. A community still exists, it’s just not your average community.</p>
<p>Thanks again…it’s not so much that he is worried about making friends. He is actually very social. It’s more a question about Gallatin itself. Is it a cohesive “place”? Does it have an identity to itself? Do Gallatin students join Gallatin clubs/Student Govt etc. or is there a sense of apathy when it comes to those things? Is it more of a “program” or more of a school unto itself within NYU that you feel you are a part of?</p>