<p>Can an informed person please give me some idea of the ambience of these two schools? I am not sure what I want to major in, so I want the opportunity to explore. Gallatin appeals to me because it is so individually directed, and it seems like it would be flexible, but CAS may have what I am looking for anyway... Which school is more selective and what is the environment like at Gallatin? Are courses challenging and engaging? Are the classics really nailed into you? In other words, how much of a "great books school" is it? How is the student body different between CAS and Gallatin? I know CAS is very large and many majors are offered, but what do most people tend to focus on at Gallatin? I want the chance to be very independent, but I do want to have options after college and a clearer idea of my career. Also, how is advising at each school?</p>
<p>Okay..
I'm a freshman at Gallatin, and I think it is an absolutely wonderful school. I almost applied to CAS but am very very happy I didn't. CAS is great, just not for me.</p>
<p>You will never ever get a clear cut answer as to which school is more selective simply because NYU does not release this information. I've heard many different answers to this question, but my advice would be to apply to the one you realy want to go to. I'm under the impression they're both relatively equally selective.
The classes are wonderful. Each freshman takes a first year writing seminar and an interdisciplinary seminar. You can pick from a bunch of different courses for each. I absolutely love mine. Both have about 20 kids in a class. I then take 2 CAS classes. I don't really have any complaints about any of my classes.
I don't know what I'm majoring in nor do a lot of freshman, but I do know that in my first year seminar there is a girl doing pre-med, one concentrating in photography, and a guy doing theatre. At gallatin you can pretty much major in anything you want, and you have more opportunities to take classes at all of the other schools. The student body at Gallatin tends to be slightly "stranger" and artsier than the CAS kids, but outside of first year classes there isn't much of a split between schools. Gallatin kids don't just hang out with other Gallatin kids, etc.
People in Gallatin tend to write more essays rather than take tests, and at CAS there tends to be more tests.<br>
My roommate is in CAS has been cramming for midterms for the past 2 weeks. I had to write one in class essay. My workload isn't any smaller just spread out differently.
There is way more discussion in Gallatin classes.
Also, Gallatin is no longer a school of the "great books."</p>
<p>My advisor at Gallatin only has 4 other advisees. I communicate with her directly. I have her cell phone number and her home phone number. My roommate has to call a secretary to make an appointment. You do the math.</p>
<p>It really only comes down to who you get as an advisor.</p>
<p>What's the social scene like?
I've heard of some kids attending and transferring to NYU and found it hard to fit in -- are people friendly? haha</p>
<p>of course they are friendly. everyone "fits in" with someone because there are so many different types of people. i have met some of the best people..ever, here</p>