NYU (GLS) vs. Tufts

Colleges and Universities A-Z New York University
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<p>Looking at old threads on this forum and elsewhere, this conflict seems to be a common one.</p>

<p>So I applied to and was accepted into the Global Liberal Studies program, and it appears to be a superb and exciting program (especially since I'm receiving $7500 a year as a merit scholarship... no need at all! I thought that was unheard of). I applied because the combination of liberal arts and concrete education in International Relations appeared to mirror my primary interests, and particularly my involvement in debate - not to mention the allure of getting primary access to study abroad opportunities. However, a few things are starting worry/confuse me: Global liberal studies is in the same direct department as Liberal Studies, and the person who called me introduced themselves as being with "Liberal Studies at New York University," and then welcomed me to Global Liberal Studies. So is GLS less rigorous/considered a step down from the college (I mean no offense to LS people, but I can't figure out a better way to explain my qualm)? I had never even realized LS existed before until I talked to an NYU student and friend of mine who was confused about my application.</p>

<p>OR</p>

<p>Is GLS simply a different focus on about the same level as the main college?</p>

<p>OR</p>

<p>Is GLS generally a more selective, rigorous, prestigious program? </p>

<p>On the other hand, I also have been admitted to Tufts, which is similarly exciting. So right now it seems the pros of each side are (bearing in mind that my main interest is International Relations and liberal arts):</p>

<p>NYU (GLS):</p>

<p>Virtually limitless/unrestricted international study opportunities
Internship/job opportunities in the city
More international city
Prefer New York City to Boston (Generally)
7500 Scholarship</p>

<p>Tufts:
Better reputation, particularly for IR (for Grad School, etc.)
Perhaps better academically? I need to know more about the standards of GLS
Boston is still pretty cool, but granted it's no New York.
Has a campus.</p>

<p>What is your input? Help me out! I'm sure you'd end up helping out others in a similar situation.</p>

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<p>50+ views and no input? C’mon guys, I really need some help with my future and I respect the opinion of the people on this forum.</p>

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<p>Is GLS generally a more selective, rigorous, prestigious program? No. It’s also a brand new program so there’s no data/stats to look at. </p>

<p>Tufts, hands down.</p>

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<p>Why Tufts?</p>

<p>As a side-note: GLS accepted 18% of it’s applicants, so it’s technically more selective… but it’s hard to say how that bodes for the program really.</p>

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<p>oh, brianna…</p>

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<p>Haha… what?</p>

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<p>NYU and Tufts are about the same in prestige in the US, but I think NYU is a lot more well known internationally. </p>

<p>Which points all the direction to picking NYU GLS. :)</p>

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<p>Yeah, I’m leaning in the direction of NYU. Here’s my thinking - tell me if it seems logical:</p>

<p>Both NYU and Tufts are fundamentally GOOD schools. Tufts probably has a slight edge academically. In the end though, if I work my ass off at either I’ll get into a good grad school. So the slight academic discrepancy isn’t that big a deal. So the question comes down to where I WANT to be, and where more opportunities that’ll change me in the long term are located. And that seems to be NYU.</p>

<p>My main, and virtually only qualm is with the GLS program. I think I’m going to inquire if I can move out of it pre-matriculation.</p>

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<p>Good luck with that… (move out of it pre-matriculation)</p>

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<p>You can mostly likely internally transfer into CAS if anything. They don’t tell you its guaranteed but transferring from any of the other schools into CAS is relatively easy due to CAS’s large size.</p>

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<p>So the NYU admitted students faq CLEARLY states that you can transfer majors/programs within your school with no problem, even before the year begins. GLS is in CAS… and a student ambassador confirmed I could transfer easily, so I had my heart set on NYU once I learned that and my main issue went away. But then I called back and one of the admissions officers for GLS contradicted the student ambassador. Lovely.</p>

<p>And then she got mad at me and was explaining that even liberal studies is a more rigorous program than CAS… is that really true?</p>

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<p>Hi I got in to NYU GLS from South Korea, and your concerns are pretty similar to those of mine.</p>

<p>I am also confused about wheather liberal arts program (or GLS itself) is a rigorous and “highly selective” program (cuz I heard from a lot of people that they got in to GLS when they did not even applied for it.! Among them, there are some people who MUST spend one or two years abroad before they can choose which campus they want to study.</p>

<p>What confuses me most is that, I read from another post that someone got in to GLS when she applied for CAS initially… so…I had to doubt the competitiveness about the program…;;
I don;t want to be in the program where NYU just put all the people they consider as "Not good enough for CAS but good enough for our new EXPERIMENTAL / innovative program " …
)…</p>

<p>But I can clearly answer one thing : GLS is not in CAS. It is in School of Liberal Arts.
… So I am just planning on calling US after 3 hours and ask if I can transfer to CAS International Relations ->(but see, this is another confusing part! … In the website, the IR program is said to be a honors major, where onyl students who obtained certain GPA in their freshmen year can apply. But a girl I know got in to the program. …My head is totally cracking up!!)</p>

<p>Anyway, I look forword to hear from you here if you have any news about GLS.</p>

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<p>No, people who initially apply to CAS get placed in LSP, Liberal Studies Program which is different from GLS, Global Liberal Studies. It’s two similar, but different things. GLS is nobody’s second choice.</p>

<p>My friend applied to CAS for International Relations, and he got in. But his major is still pending until sophomore even though he’s on that track.</p>

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<p>I thik that GLS and LSP are both great programs and yes they are just as selective as CAS for that matter. I mean the way I see it if it was a place for kids they considered less qualified for CAS then why would kids with 2200+ stats be flat out rejected from CAS and not be selected for LSP or GSP. I really think that people who were put in this program were put in it for a reason and it is a very intense liberal arts curriculum so I’m not at all concered about it.</p>

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<p>I’m a freshman in GLS right now so I think I may be able to reply to some of your concerns…</p>

<p>GLS does not equal International Relations.It’s liberal studies with a more global focus than other liberal studies programs. The texts we read are from the entire world not just Europe which most schools focus on in such a program. A lot of people coming into the program wanted it to be more politics based and were frustrated. But you can always transfer to CAS if you find out its not for you. Plus it does give you a solid background if you’re already planning on going to grad school it would prepare you for that definitely.</p>

<p>The difference between GLS and LSP is that people apply to GLS whereas people get put into LSP which is a 2 year program - when you’re done with the 2 years you transfer to the school where you originally applied. But GLS is a four year MAJOR. That is your major, you don’t get to pick another one and double majoring is hard. Though you can double minor if one is a language (language study is a very big part of it). GLS AND LSP take the same classes (though not together) for the first year and then it branches off. </p>

<p>While the first year is pretty structured with required courses that’s true anywhere and once you decide your study abroad site you start specializing. It’s really open ended and they really want you to make what you want out of it…especially with studying abroad for a whole year as opposed to a semester which most people do. The classes are small (like 15-19 people) which is great and the program is pretty small (now though I guess it will probably grow since this is the first year) so everyone pretty much knows each other but not in a bad way.</p>

<p>Anyway seems like I’m saying mostly good things - this is coming from someone who isn’t transferring out like some people I know who want more of a recognized major. Since this is so new people get uneasy about it. Things are still getting worked out by the department since this has just been launched. But they ask for a lot of student input with it. But I mean definitely choose NYU I would say (haha obviously). Its really a great school and you’re not gonna find a better place to spend your college years than New York.</p>

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<p>I’m a sophomore in the GLS program and I’m transferring out. Basically, the first two years are the same as the Liberal Studies curriculum, the program for those who didn’t get into one of NYU’s four year programs. I like many of the teachers, though many seem angry and depressed about things. No one seems to know what coarses will be taught when we go abroad or when we return home our senior year. My boyfriend transferred out last year because he thought it was going to be an international studies type degree, but it’s not. He teases me for staying this year and likes calling it Global Lame Studies. </p>

<p>My friends in the program like calling it Global Leisure Studies. It’s basically a program for rich kids who like to travel but don’t want to work THAT HARD by having to do a major. No major makes many of us worry that graduate schools will want us to do make-up coarses. Basically, IMO, it’s like a four year junior college degree. IMO the administrators don’t really care and talk about silly celebratory sightings at the local Starbucks. One head administrator always wears miniskirts and likes making fun of the teachers, calling them old and stupid. I was shocked by this because the old teachers are really kind and taught me alot and have supported me in my decision to leave. (funny: the miniskirt-administrator runs the blog that no one uses because it’s stupid—and she’s a big phony). </p>

<p>Save your $$$$$ and go to a state school or one that gives financial aid</p>

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<p>Go to Tufts. No question about it! Tufts offers majors that grad schools recognize. GLS offers no major and who knows how grad schools will respond to that. </p>

<p>NOT TRUE: “Virtually limitless/unrestricted international study opportunities”</p>

<p>You have to go abroad to one of NYU’s sites and pay full tuition and live in a bubble with other students from the program.</p>

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<p>This is a 2 year old thread. I think OP has long since left CC.</p>

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<p>Despite the OP, I feel like I have to clarify everything LucyTechtalk says because she seems to have signed up for CC just to bash on GLS.</p>

<p>I disagree with LucyTechtalk (who’s been reposting her comments everywhere) for numerous reasons,</p>

<p>1.) You can double major (I’m double majoring in GLS + East Asian Studies w/ a minor in Public Policy and Management) all you have to do is understand what is going on in the world? Read the website, talk to the advisers with a cohesive plan?</p>

<p>2.) The Junior year abroad courses are outlined on gls.nyu.edu and the respective abroad location’s page (ie: NYU Shanghai) and the classes offered there even have syllabi! Whoa!</p>

<p>3.) I know who LucyTechtalk is talking about, just ignore the one administrator that seems odd, the rest are awesome people especially the advisers who are really helpful.</p>

<p>4.) Most graduate schools are going to look at your GRE scores, your application essays, what you’ve done with your major, etc. It’s not like someone goes “THIS PERSON DID GLS THROW THEIR APPLICATION AWAY!!” If anything, the relative novelty of it would create a space for potential re-read or being added to the “good” stack of applications lol.</p>

<p>5.) LucyTechtalk said the professors are awesome, which the are.</p>

<p>6.) “The students who are happy like the idea of having an easy junior year of traveling, without having to work that hard on any one thing.” <—Gross generalization especially when you look into what you can do in addition to the major. </p>

<p>7.) “My boyfriend transferred out last year because he thought the GLS program would be like an IR degree. It isn’t. Most of the classes are humanities-type classes.” <---- He could have minored in politics or a specific study of a region. IR has become the new “business” degree so I don’t know if you’d want it anyways. Especially since it somehow adds quantitative elements to decision making. Like game theory is interesting in a vacuum, but does it really account for the multitude of actors involved in international politics? I digress…</p>

<p>8.) Small classes anyone? Does anyone think that is valuable in and of itself? My friends at BU, Harvard, MIT, NYU CAS/Stern, all have huge classes of 50+. My biggest class maybe has 20ish kids in it? That’s the exception since the others have 15-17.</p>

<p>9.) You can do a 5 year BA/MA program through NYU with the GLS program. Meaning, you can get into NYU GSAS for a masters in Global affairs. Boom, problem solved.</p>

<p>Regardless of what you are looking for in a school, you should always do your own research and really think hard about what you want to do. That is common sense really (no offense to those who didn’t expect what GLS is, better luck next time?)</p>

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<p>Thank you yoyoma999 for your post!!! I really loved all that you had to say and I didn’t know about the 5 year BA/MA program! It sounds great and would it be possible to double major in International Relations and GLS AND do the masters in Global affairs? Or is that too much? Maybe I should talk to an advisor, haha. But thanks so much for your post!</p>