Saturday in the square/university day

College Majors Musical Theater Major
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<p>Soozie,</p>

<p>Do you have some sense of why NYU holds these two events at this point in time and clearly uses it to distinguish between the "outstanding" members of its accepted class and the rest of the class? Because I have to tell you, if I was a student who had worked very hard to gain acceptance to a University with the stature of NYU, and I didn't get an invitation to one of these events, my acceptance might feel a bit tarnished. Who wants to feel like a second class citizen before they even start the program? Do you think they do this in attempt to secure these "outstanding" students' acceptances? I'd be interested in your take on this.</p>

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<p>theatermom, the question you ask at the end of your post is exactly the reason behind these events. NYU holds several of these on-campus events for students who have been admitted but who have not decided where they are going to college. In fact, while these are definitely 'outstanding' students, they are not even the 'most outstanding' ;). Those students are the ones who are the recipients of the largest scholarships and they are typically flown in for a weekend. </p>

<p>I don't think there's any reason for anyone to feel like a second-class citizen. I think everyone is realistic enough to understand that the university wants the top applicants to attend the school and this is one way that they try to accomplish that. I don't think it's much different than what is done at many other colleges with likely letters and special visits. I'm guessing that the kids who receive their letters of acceptance in a couple of weeks will be pretty happy and not worrying as to whether or not they get to spend a day listening to presentations and touring the campus.</p>

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<p>Theatermom, this is a good question to ask an official at NYU. There is someone from NYU's admissions office who is now a poster on CC's forums and you might want to ask her over on the NYU forum. I don't have that answer. I don't know what percentage of those who are accepted to NYU, get invited to the Saturday or Sunday in the Square events for accepted students. I don't know if it is a numbers issue as far as how many accepted students would then descend on the university on the accepted student event day or if it is an effort by NYU to encourage and entice those in their acceptance pool that they most would like to attract to enroll. Many colleges have events for accepted students to either Honors programs, or events for accepted minority students and other "select" groups of students to attract them to matriculate. These two NYU events are for selected applicants whom they have termed "outstanding" on the invitations. My D did get invited but for instance, ED students aren't invited as they have already committed to enrolling. My D also had an invitation to a luncheon for Tisch Scholars, to which she was selected and that was also on that same day as Saturday in the Square. </p>

<p>I would think that NYU wants ANY students that they admit to also enroll. Their acceptance is just as worthy. While I don't know which percentage of admitted students get invited to this special event, that is all that this is....an event that is meant to attract some students that are outstanding in their applicant pool, trying to get them to enroll. I hardly think other accepted students are "second class citizens." </p>

<p>Have you ever heard of "likely letters" from colleges? The invitation/event at NYU is akin to the concept of likely letters that other colleges send out. It is a very common practice at selective colleges. You may ask, "what is a Likely Letter?" A Likely Letter is an early indication from a college (usually a very selective college) that is sent typically in February or March (thus prior to the April 1 notification date) that a candidate is going to be admitted. Many admitted applicants do not receive Likely Letters due to the random timing of the evaluation of their materials (not talking NYU in that instance). Likely letters are not clear-cut offers of admission but candidates can read between the lines. Colleges often send such likely letters to those at the "top" of their pile and want to kind of "snag" these students' attention before they hear from their other colleges on April 1. Likely letters are sent out by some colleges based on something that the school is looking for to fill out their classes, academics and sometimes "hooked' candidates. Many colleges are wooing their top choices with notes of praise and hints of acceptance letters and scholarship money to come. The idea is to win their affections by getting them some good news before the competition does. MANY elite colleges do this.....examples: Dartmouth, Williams, Bucknell, Lehigh (my older D got one of these), Smith sends acceptance as a Stride Scholar before general offer of admission comes out, thus an early likely (D got this), UVA, Duke, Yale, Cornell, Stanford, Washington U of St. Louis, Barnard, and Colorado College. That list is not exhaustive by any means but simply examples of this concept. </p>

<p>Susan</p>

<p>edit....I did not see AlwaysAMom's post when I posted but her take is the same on this concept of wooing top candidates from the acceptance pool and is common practice at many selective schools.</p>

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<p>My s would have LOVED to have received such an invite, but only to end the suspence. I guess he's so used to not taking awards or lack thereof very personally. It would never occur to him to feel like a second class citizen. I know he's never felt treated like one.</p>

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<p>wait are these invites usually given to people who are getting scholarships???</p>

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<p>No, this invitation is NO indication of a scholarship. FAR FAR more students get the invitation than get a scholarship. My D did get a scholarship but that was not related to Saturday in the Square. </p>

<p>When I mentioned that a likely letter could be an indication of a scholarship (as it was at Smith and Lehigh for one of my kids), I was talking of the many ways Likely Letters are used at various colleges, NOT NYU. </p>

<p>I CAN say that if someone is selected as a Tisch Scholar (this is an honors sort of program, not a scholarship), they will be invited to a reception for that that also takes place on Saturday in the Square day with deans and current scholars to learn more about being a Tisch Scholar and what that entails. Again, this is separate/unrelated from any scholarships she received.</p>

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<p>Thanks to all for your explanations. Much appreciated!</p>

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<p>do they send them all out at one time?</p>

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<p>I just got an invitation today for Saturday in the Square... I am guessing this is a good thing??? I don't know if this means I def. got in (Soozievt wrote that it is) but I hope - a friend of mine got onde for the Sunday, and he called NYU - they said that it was not def. but that good news should come in the mail soon!!!</p>

<p>FINGERS CROSSED</p>

<p>Does anyone know how they inform you about your studio, with ED they informed them after they got their letter - is it the same for Reg. admission students???</p>

<p>-Zal</p>

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<p>Zal, I am SO happy for you! :) I will tell my D when I speak to her. The invitation does mean you can expect a letter of admission on April 1. I know this to be true. But did you notice how the letter is worded that it is for outstanding students in the entering class? So, uh, you are in the entering class...hint, hint. As well, who would attend an event AFTER April 1 (that's when the event is) for accepted students who was not accepted on April 1, right? You've got it, right? wink :) </p>

<p>The next thing to come will be the acceptance letter. That is around April 1. The studio assignment comes several days after that. I recall calling Tisch a few days after April 1 or there abouts, after the letter of acceptance was received, and inquired when the studio assignments would go out and they were about to be mailed but then the person surprisingly looked it up and told me CAP21 while on the phone though I was only calling to ask when we'd find out. I can't recall that exact day but it was BEFORE Sat. in the Square event and my memory was of my D in a hospital bed in our living room and a friend was visiting her when I made that call and I know she was confined to that bed until April 7 so we learned the studio placement in that first week. She left for NYU's event her second day out of the bed (this is how I recall the events!). Letters regarding Tisch Scholars and regarding Scholarships and aid all came during that first week in April because I just know she was in that bed when we were opening it all. So, expect to get admitted on April 1, and get the studio assignment about a week later which is right around Sat. in the Square. Also at Sat. in the Square, people from Tisch had a master list of studio assignments and if yours is not received by then, ask them at the reception in the Tisch building as it was SET by then for sure. </p>

<p>Congrats to you!</p>

<p>Susan</p>

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<p>I know this is kind of corny, but PRFRMR20 (ps congratulations I'm so jealous), can u post where you live so we can figure out when they sent them. Like if you live in New England, then I know to look in my mailbox like next week, however if you live in California or close to it, I know to keep an eye out for any time now.</p>

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<p>I live in NJ, so I was probably one of the earlier people to receive it!</p>

<p>GOOD LUCK! but, if you don't get it, that doesn't mean you didn't get in, so don't lose hope!</p>

<p>Hope everything goes well!</p>

<p>-Zal</p>

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<p>YESS!! I GOT IT!!!</p>

<p>4.0+
2260 SAT
salutatorian
went to dramatic writing program during the summer</p>

<p>YESSSS!!!!!!!!</p>

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<p>iced... where do you live? anywhere near NYC???</p>

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<p>yeah on LI--you?</p>

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<p>Western PA... just curious to see if everyone got their invitations this weekend or only those who live near New York</p>

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<p>ok so tisch scholars come in april.</p>

<p>do the ed kids get them as well?</p>

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<p>Chris, I don't have any official answer for you but my assumption is that Tisch Scholars are made up of students from both ED and RD as that makes sense. I don't know, however, when Scholars from the ED round are notified...if it is in Dec. or April, sorry. My D just got back to NYC tonight from a trip with Tisch Scholars. Tisch Scholars are from all areas of Tisch, not just Drama. There are between 15-20 of them per year. This is NOT a scholarship thing. That is a DIFFERENT thing and a DIFFERENT mailing. I don't know how many Scholars are in Drama but my GUESS is likely not much more than 5.</p>

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<p>soozievt... what were your daughter's statistics in school? Did she have a 4.0, super high SATs, ect?</p>

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<p>Lotte, I don't post either of my kids' academic "stats" on forums. Overall, I can say that my D was a very good student and had good SATs and SAT2's but none of her "stats" are stratospheric in the terms you mentioned. Selection to Tisch Scholars is not like a numbers game where the highest stats get chosen, or I doubt she'd have been selected. On the discussion forums, we often see kids posting stats when talking of who got in and who didn't (for any colleges). However, for selective colleges, while a student must have the requisite stats in the ballpark of admitted students to that college, once they do, MUCH more is considered. Some less selective schools might rely on numbers and cut offs but with more selective schools, a majority of applicants will have the numbers needed to get in so that is not what sets them apart. At selective schools, you will see kids who got in with an SAT or GPA or rank lower than some kid who was rejected, for instance. Both had stats in the right "range" for the school but much else came into play....essays, personal characterisitics, extracurriculars, achievements, recommendations to name a few. </p>

<p>For Tisch Scholars, the students are selected (I'll quote from parts of the letter) for "oustanding credentials as an applicant."....."Tisch University Scholars Program is an honors and leadership training program for emerging artists and scholars of the highest caliber."....."Incoming University Scholars are selected on the basis of academic and artistic excellence, as well as a demonstrated record of community service and leadership potential." I can't say why my D was selected and we didn't even know such a program existed until receiving the notification of selection. But I know it was not strictly based on stats as hers are surely NOT the highest of ALL applicants, though she had a strong academic record. In retrospect, once we read more about Tisch Scholars, it occurred to us that some of her essays really dovetailed with the kinds of students they were looking for because she described some activities she had done where she was a leader, initiator, and creator as well as service to her community in the arts. Tisch Scholars embodies that same kind of thing so I can see the fit there, though we had no idea at the time of application that such a program existed. There are about 15-18 Scholars chosen from all disciplines within Tisch. </p>

<p>Throughout the year, they participate in an enrichment program of special events, invited speakers, and discussions. Each scholar has to maintain a 3.5 GPA while in the program, and take on leadership roles in student activities and fulfill a community service requirement in the arts in the city each year. Each student participates in two trips fully funded by the program. The trips are cross-cultural encounters. As freshmen, Scholars travel to Appalshop which is in Appalachia in Kentucky, for workshops and creative projects with leaders in that arts community. Besides leadership skills, they explore issues of art, culture, and social change. (My D has led artistic activities in our community that were about social change as well so this really relates). In soph or junior year, each Scholar will go on an international trip with the group (this year was India, next year is Brazil, for example) and work with leaders in the arts there. Being in this program is a commitment. My D just returned from Kentucky last night and all I know so far was that it was a great experience and that the other kids in it became new friends. I hope to hear more today. My D also has an ongoing job in the city working in musical theater programs with youth. So, that is what Tisch Scholars is about. I think other schools at NYU have Scholars programs as well because my D's close friend from HS (my D graduated early after junior year and so her peers are currently in the senior class) just got selected as a Scholar at Stern. </p>

<p>Tisch Scholars is UNrelated to scholarships. No money is involved toward tuition or anything. However, all the trips and other yearly events are fully funded by the program. </p>

<p>The Trustee Scholarship, which we also had no idea that merit aid existed at NYU (that's why I share these things so others can find out about them as we knew nothing about this stuff when my D was an applicant), is about money toward tuition. The Trustee Scholarship was explained to me by someone in the financial aid office. I was told that it is a merit scholarship (you do NOT have to be an applicant for financial aid to receive one and I have seen posters post who got one who were not applying for aid). IF a student who receives a Trustee Scholarship is also a financial aid applicant (as my D was), then the scholarship amount may be higher as need comes into play after being selected for merit. </p>

<p>So, while I am not going to post stats of my children, I can tell you that they were in range for their universities but that other factors came into play for these sorts of selections. Again, I don't know why my kid was picked but she did have strong extracurriculars that were long time commitments, leadership, achievements/awards, good recs, essays that were well written and showed who she was as a person (she also excels at writing), and then there is the artistic talent part and I don't know how she was chosen in that respect. At the Scholars luncheon the Deans talked about their hopes that the students who were Scholars would be future leaders in some capacity in the arts. Leadership potential was a big factor, I believe. So, it is NOT ALL about stats. I'm sure you have to have good ones to be considered but it is not like they took the top stats off the pile in terms of admissions to the university, being selected as a Scholar, OR for the scholarships because I know my D's stats are quite good but not the highest at NYU by any means. That is another reason why posting stats is not that useful. I wouldn't for my kids' privacy anyway but I also see too many posts on other CC forums with merely stats and people analyzing who got in and who didn't and for selective schools, you can't tell by stats alone. Most applicants have the stats in the right ballpark for the college (or else really should not apply) and so lots else is going to be considered since too many students have the requisite stats. Admissions takes a wholistic view. They are accepting PEOPLE, after all. </p>

<p>Susan</p>