<p>Hello, I recently got into the General Studies Program at NYU. I was wondering if anyone knows how good this program is compared to the rest of College of Arts and Science? I know it is a two-degree program that will allow you to go into CAS officially after you finish, but I want to make sure that it's the real thing, as I've heard otherwise >.<.</p>
<p>It is the real thing. I got the same thing earlier this year. I heard the classes are easier. But, you're still paying the normal tuition despite not being in the college you should be in. I don't think it's worth it... Personally, I turned it down. Yeah.</p>
<p>It's the real thing. Though I was not in GSP, I had several friends that were. As they've explained it, you basically do your MAP courses (the general courses that you have to take anyway) all during the first year or two years and then go into Tisch, CAS, or whatever school you originally applied to. (Again only to the best of my understanding...) Most of the classes are smaller and you are in them with all or almost all freshmen in your same boat, unlike some of the CAS classes where you can be taking world cultures with a senior who is majoring in the study of that geographic region. After that, you take CAS courses in your majors and minors, so there is no difference whatsoever in the classes that 'really matter'. Plus, unless you become friends with some real creeps, there is no ostracism or difference in the non academic life of GSP students versus CAS. </p>
<p>One word of caution, though: I don't know if you know what major you are planning on completing, but if you are going to be a math/science/computer major of any sort or are in another major that requires courses which build upon one another(ie have to be taken in a certain linear sequence), know that some of my GSP friends have had difficulty with this. This is only because you do not have the flexibility of schelduling courses that you do in CAS. You may have to take the introductory level courses in your major that some people take as freshmen as a junior (though you can take some courses at CAS while at GSP and some GSP courses count for requirements for CAS majors- it's really complicated ;) ). This could leave you completing the bulk of the major during your senior years and make it especially hard to do research/honors thesis/independent studies when you are struggling to get the major itself completed.</p>
<p>I recently took a tour of NYU and the young woman who conducted it had entered through GSP and had nothing but great things to say about it. She is now a history major in the CAS and is doing very well, and raved about the GSP. She urged kids who are accepted into it to accept that acceptance and come to NYU. One advantage of being in GSP seems to be the smaller class sizes.</p>