NYU LSP or Northeastern Psych... (please please help)

<p>Okay, it's kind of an odd question, but I can't decide.</p>

<p>My top schools - as in, the schools I like the most that I was accepted into - are NYU and Northeastern (which are kind of completely different schools, I know). At Northeastern, I would be at the College of Science for a BA in Psychology. However, NYU rejected me from CAS and admitted me into LSP. I think one reason why I was accepted was because I did say how much I liked small classes in a large university environment and I love being hands-on and interactive and stuff like that, but now that I'm offered LSP, I'm actually disappointed. I could though, have this wrong idea of LSP. I looked up some stuff, and I guess that means I'll be taking classes on philosophy, art, the natural sciences, creative writing, etc. I feel like that means it'll be high school all over again (or do I have this really wrong idea of college, and everyone has to take these sort of classes in college no matter what?) and for 2 years I'll be taking classes that aren't entirely related to my major. I do love love love NYU, I just am not too sure about the program. A friend of mine suggested that I go to Northeastern my first year, then transfer to NYU CAS (if I even get in) my second year. That way, I save a year AND I save like what? $15,000? The problem with that is that I have to make sure I even get in and it's just annoying I think, moving colleges after one year and saying good-bye to friends I made and all that. </p>

<p>But basically, my main questions are, is NYU LSP worth it? Someone said that it seemed like going to a community college for 2 years and then going to NYU, and I might be wrong, but it seems like that to me, too. My family can afford NYU, with or without financial aid, but I'm still not a money-waster and I hate knowing that I might waste $120,000 for 2 years. Is LSP difficult, as well? (I'm a full-IB Diploma candidate so I have a VERY heavy course load, even in senior year.) Should I go on with NYU LSP or should I go somewhere else the first year and transfer into NYU CAS? Is LSP like high school all over again?</p>

<p>LSP is a way to get an NYU degree with a good GPA. Most applicants are, at least on paper, less qualified that CAS admits. LSP is NOT difficult. Most people get good grades in the LSP classes and LSP unlike CAS allows students to take any foreign language (assuming you do not place out entirely) pass/fail. CAS does not. So LSP is a GPA booster. Your LSP grades will go into your NYU cumulative, and you are guaranteed admit to NYU if you have a C average. Virtually impossible not to have a C average at LSP. Thats the up side. </p>

<p>To me, there are two main downsides. The first downside is that as the LSP and GSP expand in number, more and more people are regarding a degree from NYU, other than Stern or Tisch, as a degree from a school with only moderately selective admissions. The second is that you will be spending much class time with the NYU LSP professors. These are people hired for their teaching ability, not known names in their fields. I don’t think that their recommendations will mean as much for grad school. That being said, in your junior and senior year, if you do well, you should be able to take classes with the regular NYU faculty.</p>

<p>Hi Kay, thanks for your reply! Did you personally go through LSP? If so, do you think it was worth it/ do you think it helped/ was it a waste of time?</p>

<p>So as a response to what you considered a downside… I’m sorry, do you mean that more and more people are getting degrees from NYU although they went through a program with a less selective admission? and that it’s not fair? </p>

<p>After reading a lot of negative reviews on NYU and how the social scene was just horrible, I thought that it might be a blessing that LSP has small classes. Would you say that it’s true? Because a lot of students said that the classes were so big and the professors didn’t even care about them at all that it was so hard to make friends and whatnot.</p>

<p>No, Kalif, I did not go through LSP, althought one of my Daughters’ friends did, and others were accepted. I think that people are questioning what the value of an NYU degree is, with a large number of kids coming through LSP. Not that it is not fair, just that it not the mark of a high quality institution. I do think that small classes in general are good. As to the social scene, you will meet kids in your dorm, in classes, etc.</p>