<p>My S has been accepted at NYU Abu Dhabi starting this fall. Are there any other parents or students who want to compare notes?</p>
<p>I’m a parent of son accepted – not sure what you mean by “notes” ?</p>
<p>I’m curious how other kids and parents leaned of the program, what their majors are, did they apply to just to abu dhabi or also to NYU
what was the deciding factor to go there (aside from the money) - </p>
<p>which of the four disciplines are they most attracted to
Pathways of World Literature<br>
Art, Technology, and Invention
The Ancient World
The Arab Crossroads </p>
<p>what do their friends, relatives, school mates think of all of this, etc</p>
<p>Did he apply ED or Regular?</p>
<p>Having lived in the Middle East/Central Asia for several years - I would also be curious as to why students chose this? As a study abroad option - no question- but why as a first choice??</p>
<p>Oh - I love the region - so no criticisms, just interest.</p>
<p>In his ED application to NYU Tisch school for drama, he indicated he was interested in Abu Dhabi as well. He auditioned beginning November and he got early admission to Tisch December 15. After that they invited him to go on a candidate weekend and check out their upcoming theater program. Instead of going there for a semester abroad, he will go to NY for two semesters abroad, and perhaps a third in London.
Aside from the enormous excitement to be part of this opening group of students, you can’t beat their financial aid.</p>
<p>You are getting some superb leaders. Al Bloom had 18 very successful years at Swarthmore and will make sure that the academic rigor of NYU-Abu Dabi is first class. I believe that he was hired, in large part, to give the start-up instant academic credibility and to give a statement of academic freedom.</p>
<p>He poached Swarthmore’s Dean, Jim Larrimore who had come to Swarthmore from Dartmouth. Larrimore in turn poached two assistant deans, both who had been at Swarthmore for years and were very well liked, but lacked a path of upward mobility. I would recommend that your kids view the dean’s office there as a strong, supportive resource. That’s the way all of those people will view their roles. I’d encourage them to go out of their way to get to know them early on.</p>
<p>What kind of plays will they be putting on at Abu Dabi? Hair? Chicago? Jesus Christ Superstar? Equus?<br>
Will people be able to show PDA on campus? Will people be able to have “visitors” for the night?</p>
<p>Aiii! Futureholds - none of these plays are allowed anywhere close to my son’s high school in their specialized theater program. Isn’t that something?
In the meanwhile, Anna Daevere Smith is lecturing at NYU Abu Dhabi and the Theater Department Chairman will be Rub</p>
<p>And these visitors? There are rules like that all over - sure, consequences might be much more drastic and radical in the Middle East. Maybe less so that in Amish Counties or mormon boys pursuing mormon little girls already coveted by mormon senior men.
The politics of it all means that you have to respect the society around you - but you do not have to agree with it.</p>
<p>^Um. Amish != Mormon.</p>
<p>I have a friend accepted (RD) to NYUAD. The conservative environment is definitely worth noting, but nor is it necessarily a deal-breaker… for conservative students, it might even be a plus.</p>
<p>Well no, being amish is not the same as being a mormon - google it. My s. is far from a conservative, called a commie at his school, and is confident he can be himself while there or anywhere. Alcohol, drugs and before marriage sex are not necessarily full time occupations and can be done where appropriate allowed during breaks and who knows where.</p>
<p>Reading your post, I see now that your incorrect use of the word “that” (possibly a typo) tripped me up. This sentence:</p>
<p>
is poorly worded. Anyway, what exactly are NYUAD’s social conduct expectations? For instance:</p>
<p>
As a liberal/socialist soon-to-be-college student who has no desire to drink alcohol (even socially), use drugs, or have sex with someone I wouldn’t move in with, I would nonetheless like to be allowed PDA and overnight guests (of either sex, though limiting to same-sex visitors would be an understandable rule). I have no personal interest whatsoever in NYUAD, but I’m curious about exactly how “conservative” it is.</p>
<p>ah yes, incorrect word use and poorly worded messages will be the death of me.
I have heard nothing on overnight guests yet, and I’m wondering if with PDA you mean a personal digital device or personal displays of affection. The student campus though is culturally divers - sleeping quarters are one gender per floor, and there are spaces for ‘mixed use’ - is that what you were looking for?</p>
<p>PDA = public display of affection, for me. For example, would kissing in public (not “making out”) be tolerated?</p>
<p>Having spent time in the region I would be sure that your son understands the culture and appropriate behavior. The consequences for disregarding or forgetting what is appropriate can be harsh.</p>
<p>double posted</p>
<p>I see there’s a lot of stereotyping going on in this thread, the UAE is one of the most liberal muslim countries, there are certainly laws that are limiting certain behaviors, but these laws shouldn’t be at all a matter of concern, they’re not as harsh as you may think. If one doesn’t behave in an overly provocative and disrespectful way, one shouldn’t have problems.
@AbuDhabimama: Congrats on your son’s acceptance, I’m sure he’ll spend there the best and most exceptional 4 years of his life!</p>
<p>if i wasnt going into a science field… NYU Abu Dhabi would have been up there in my list… i have lived in ME for many years and trust me… you can do everything you want from drugs to sex as long as you are not overt about it… and having been to UAE i know for a fact they want people to come and as a result they will be more liberal and more tolerant of " wayward " students… aka. they will turn a blind eye if possible and if it isnt possible… they will make sure the consequences are lenient… and of course dont even worry abt the legal part of it unless you host a rave party and or kill someone :P</p>
<p>It is an amazing place to study science too, the NYU Abu Dhabi institute just granted 3 research awards of 20 million $ each, one of these special grants was awarded to a research in the neurosciences. They also hired top professors for their engineering and sciences programs.
And yes, Abu Dhabi is not at all what you guys think; just as any other modern country, as long as you are not unacceptably disrespectful to the local laws, you’re free to do whatever you’d want.</p>