<p>Among high school students and officials from other colleges here in NYC, I get the impression that NYU is not regarded as a top-notch institution of higher learning. Columbia and Mt. Sinai School of Medicine (also in New York City), to name a few, is viewed above NYU, but it seems some college counselors just do not recommend NYU here in NYC, despite the school's current popularity among high school students from around the United States. This raises the question: is NYU overrated?</p>
<p>Any people who live in NYC are welcome to give feedback.</p>
<p>^ Yes, Stern is especially well regarded, but NYU itself still has good repute in NYC. It isn't as eminent as Harvard or the like, but nonetheless it is viewed with respect</p>
<p>The only reason I'm interested in NYU is as an alternative to go to college in NYC If I get rejected at Cooper Union and Columbia University ^_^</p>
<p>I know plenty of people from NYC and the surrounding area that have/had NYU as their dream school.</p>
<p>Personally I think it's overrated.
But that could be because they don't have engineering (besides the waste of time 3-2 bit) and because I think NYC is overrated itself.</p>
<p>I don't think Stern and Tisch are overrated, but living here in California, NYU overall is probably one of the top dream schools (besides Ivies and Stanford) for students at my high school. I used to want to go to Tisch for film, but after I heard about costs and no campus, I changed my mind. I've never understood how the relative lack of a centralized campus could be appealing; perhaps it IS just the location.</p>
<p>That may be true, sphere. However, one advantage of NYU over Hunter (for example) is greater ease of acquiring housing. This would be a major consideration when going to school in the City, esp. if one is not a "local."</p>
<p>I attended Long Island University, Brooklyn Campus for my first master's degree and some students there could not stop raving about NYU. I was also swept away by the hype and applied there late year for entry this year for my second master's and was accepted. However, after contemplation and research, I turned down their offer of admission. This decision was made because (1) I thought NYU's value for money was poor for what I wanted to study and (2) better options for the money existed. I ultimately applied late to Mt. Sinai and was accepted.</p>
<p>I do encounter people (young people mainly) who believe NYU is an elite school on par with Columbia and Yale, but I think this belief has to do with ignorance. Something being popular does not always equate to quality (Harvard being one of the few exceptions). The point of this thread is you (high schoolers) looking at colleges and universities should ensure you get the best education for your money. Do not apply to a school just because it is well-known and is "ideally" located.</p>
<p>As a 2007 NYU graduate... I'm going to say that the school is overrated by crazed high-schoolers. Everyone else who has their head screwed on straight isn't so crazy. Sure, it's a dream school for a bucketload of people and sometimes it seems like everyone and their mom applies, but the fact is that NYU is NOT for everyone. The university (and the city) demands a lot of maturity from its students, and not everyone can hack it.</p>
<p>NYU's actually thinking about remedying that lack of an engineering school - I think it was Sexton who sent out an email a few days ago letting us know that they were in talks to merge with Polytechnic.</p>
<p>As for NYU's status... NYU is definitely not Harvard or Yale, but the school is always trying to raise its profile. I think most of the changes benefit the students. (Disclaimer: I was an employee of NYU ResEd during my last year, so perhaps I'm biased.) I'm inclined to think sympathetically of the school - it's difficult to solve issues revolving around money when your endowment is small, and it's even harder to resolve space issues in the heart of the Village.</p>
<p>When we're talking bang for buck, let me just state that I don't think even Harvard is worth full-price. Seriously, just go to your state school and save that moolah for a down payment on a new house. NYU makes a lot of sense if you love it and can afford it - you yourself are going to have to define what makes sense for your financially. The only reason I could attend NYU was because of the big fat scholarship I got. Otherwise, I'd have stayed home to attend a local school or gone to UDelaware.</p>
<p>Regarding NYU's perception in the city, the education is no problem. What's an issue is NYU's perception as a big land-owning institution. If you go search the Washington Square News website, you should see what I mean. A lot of long-time Washington Square Park-area residents don't like NYU's buildings or their plans to improve/change the facilities, and that causes friction within the community. Again, I think NYU's in between the sword and the wall here - NYU must upgrade or lose students, but those upgrades often cause significant disruption to the Village, where NYU draws a lot of its vitality. It's a complicated issue.</p>
<p>I think I covered most of the issues I wanted to. If you still have questions, feel free to ask.</p>
<p>NYU routinely makes reference to their superiority to Columbia (or at least what they think is superiority in some ways) during tours and info sessions.</p>
<p>Columbia students mock NYU students and view them as being somehow innately inferior.</p>
<p>If that, answers any part of the OP's question.</p>
<p>NYU shouldn't even be considered a teir 1 school is USNWR. Its academics are below average at best, it doesn't even have real campus and being in the city is not an excuse for a lack of a campus look at Columbia, Uchicago with their gorgeous campuses. Columbia students do have a superioty complex when it comes to NYU students and I can totally understand why. Even Devry(ROTFLMAO) students should fell superior.</p>
<p>True, Epiphany, however if money isn't a problem, then neither is finding adequate housing. NYU's dorms are grossly overpriced. Your average New Yorker is innately aware that cheaper, more reasonably affordable housing is possible with a little research.</p>
<p>My personal opinion? If you're interested in UG business...take a look at Baruch </p>
<p>Law Enforcement? Try John Jay</p>
<p>Nursing, Social Work...perhaps Hunter</p>
<p>Policy/Politic/IR--perhaps City College</p>
<p>Pharmacy? Health Sciences? LIU, St Johns</p>
<p>Education? Queens</p>
<p>Is Columbia worth it? Absolutely (I speak from personal experience)</p>
<p>Overall, I think the concensus is that NYU is a fine institution--just not for the price tag</p>
<p>But Sphere, you and I know that some people here in NYC will never choose those schools (except Columbia) you mentioned over NYU because of the perceived "prestige" (read social status) that they believe the NYU degree will give them here, especially when they attend parties or other social gatherings in NYC. I was mature enough not to fall for this temptation. I conducted research and now know better educational monetary value exists.</p>
<p>But, sphere, the one area you did not mention is The Arts. Personally, I think that Hunter & some of the other CUNY's are great for The Arts, but there is a housing challenge for all of them. If you are not a New Yorker, you are at a disadvantage in terms of knowing the ropes (i.e., 'guerilla' strategies for finding housing), not only in terms of not having residential alternatives. I think that's one reason for NYU's "inflated" perception in CA, for example. Also, there are superior arts opportunities in NYC that are not as available in LA.</p>
<p>Stern is great. The rest of the school is good, but is by no means considered one of the top schools. I mean top 50 yes, but it is definitely no top 20.</p>