NYU Gallatin?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hello all,</p>

<p>A friend of mine inquires about NYU's Gallatin School of Individualized Study. She's very enthusiastic about the idea of individualized study, choosing your own courses, etc.</p>

<p>However, she's (and especially I am) worried that the whole "individualized study" thing sounds too much like a (to put it bluntly) hippy, laid back thing where she will not have a rigorous education. More importantly, that she will not get an education that will be REGARDED as rigorous enough by potential employers/grad schools. </p>

<p>The website is not very reassuring in that regard, staying vague about objective academic standards, grad school acceptance, employment stats, etc.</p>

<p>Does anyone have objective, RELIABLE info on the reputation (academic, but also otherwise) of NYU Gallatin?</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

2

<p>Bump bumpitty bump!</p>

3

<p>NYU Gallatin was one of the places I applied. I personally love the idea of individualized study. It gives you independence, freedom, and flexibility in choosing classes only you want to concentrate in, rather than wasting time with other classes you have no need for. If you're the English type, you don't have to take math classes - and vice versa.</p>

<p>I've heard that there isn't really much trouble at all when it comes to grad schools and employers. All you have to do is explain; but, if your school is well-known - such as NYU - then it's pretty reliable, I think.</p>

<p>If you're interested in open curriculums like that, though, I don't think NYU would be the BEST option. There are plenty others I suggest you and your friend look into:</p>

<ol>
<li>The New School (Eugene Lang)</li>
<li>Sarah Lawrence College</li>
<li>Hampshire College</li>
<li>Brown University</li>
<li>New College of Florida</li>
<li>Wesleyan</li>
<li>Bard</li>
</ol>

<p>I'm sure there are many more, but this list is the one I'm most familiar with. Good luck!</p>

4

<p>
[quote]
However, she's (and especially I am) worried that the whole "individualized study" thing sounds too much like a (to put it bluntly) hippy, laid back thing where she will not have a rigorous education. More importantly, that she will not get an education that will be REGARDED as rigorous enough by potential employers/grad schools.

[/quote]

There are many programs like that. Duke's Program II and UT Austin's Plan II come to mind. I can assure you that these students have absolutely NO problem finding a job. In fact, employers often look favorably on such programs:
<a href="http://www.aas.duke.edu/program2/faq.html#grad1%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.aas.duke.edu/program2/faq.html#grad1&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>The College of the Atlantic and Amherst should be added to Kheryn's list.</p>

5

<p>Thanks for the link about Program II, I didn't know that existed! I'll look it up.</p>

6

<p>Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think that Bard has an open curriculum...</p>

7

<p>I think Smith has an open curriculum.</p>

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<p>My question isn't so much about which school have open curricula, but how those, esp. the one at NYU Gallatin, is REGARDED by employers and grad schools.</p>

<p>I've had some good info on Duke, but I'm still unconvinced.</p>