Hello! I’ve visited NYC a LOT because I have family up there and I would love to attend college in the city, but the likelihood of getting into Columbia is slim, so I’ve been researching NYU. Although I feel like NYU is a school designated to people with interests in the arts, it still is better ranked than any schools in my state, and living in a one of the largest cities in the U.S., I feel like there would be a lot of great opportunities–even if not NYU related–for a person interested in medicine/science. I want to major in chemistry with pre-med, which also means I will be taking physics and math courses for the pre-med requirements as well. It’s been difficult to find any recent student opinions on science at NYU so I was wondering if anybody had any insight?? Thank you! 
While you were on the dot about NYU being most well-known for the arts and business, that alone did not make it as highly ranked nationally as it is. The science programs here are as rigorous and academically challenging as any other top university. Attending here over another school that is similarly ranked or even ranked a bit higher won’t lower your opportunities to be admitted into a top medical program as long as you put in the amount of work required to get in.
@fedorable Yes, you’re most likely correct. Do you go to NYU? And if so do you know anyone and their opinion on the science and math department?
I also go to NYU, and while I’m not pre-med, I know a lot of people here who are and are happy with our science/pre-med programs. I’ve heard math is really good, but also pretty competitive, but that’s the case for any good math program.
@AcademiaSavvy Yes I attend NYU, but I go for business. Everyone acknowledges Courant to be extremely rigorous and a top math program. As for science, there’s mixed reviews, as it is also difficult (pretty much as difficult as any other university) but not nearly as highly sought after compared to math.
I’m currently on the Pre-Med track at NYU. General Chemistry and Principles of Biology are both very informative classes at NYU, and they’re both very manageable to get a good grade. Professor Halpin, the Gen Chem Professor, is great and you will definitely learn a lot if you pay attention. Principles of Biology was also a great, but I thought it was a little lacking in detail and complexity. However, you learn a lot and it really is a great introduction to Biology. I just finished my second year, so I took Organic Chemistry I/II. Organic Chemistry I, I took with Maitland Jones. Professor Jones is a renowned chemist. However, his teaching skills are subpar, and he can very unfair. I think during my year, half of the class failed (below a C) or withdrew, thus you are going to really have to work for it. During the final, he put a mandatory question on the exam which tested something which we never went over (Orbital Symmetry - Chapter 23… the test was supposed to be only on the first 12 chapters). However, if you really like Chemistry, you will probably do well in Jones’s class. I think 2% received an A, while 10-12% received an A- in Jones, so if you’re on the top tier, you can do well. For Orgo II, I took Professor Mahal. Professor Mahal was very fair, no complaints at all. If you have the chance take her. She will teach you very well, and she will stress important mechanisms and synthesis.
If you ever decide to change your major to Biology, the second year Bio course, Molecular and Cellular Biology, is also a very good course. It is hard and does weed a good portion of the Biology Major out of Bio, but it is a rewarding class and will teach you Biology at a very great level. It’s complexity more than made up for the lack of complexity I felt while taking Principles of Biology.
Research is also moderately easy to come by. NYU posts a newsletter each week, and you can apply to any of the positions you see fit.