<p>Over the past year I’ve come to love NYU, with it’s many quirks and oddities. But I’d like to hear from other students, alumni, and parents what you dislike about NYU. This isn’t meant to frighten away prospective applicants or anxious incoming freshmen, just to discuss the not-so-good stuff that detracts from our NYU experience, how you would improve the university if you could, etc. I’ll start:</p>
<li><p>Money! NYU has earned a reputation for sucky FA. I’m afraid this won’t be changing anytime soon since people continue to undergo extraordinary debt to attend, and as long as people are forking over their life’s savings, NYU has no incentive to lower costs or increase merit or need-based aid. And why did we donate so much to the WSP renovation? I doubt it had much to do with a dog run by the library. </p></li>
<li><p>Greenwich Village animosity - NYU has played an important role in the Village for almost two centuries, but in the last couple decades, there’s been a growing animosity between Village residents and NYU. Some of this is unfounded, but can you blame people for feeling NYU is destroying the character of the village and slowly taking it over? Them making space for Pre-K because of lack of available classrooms is nice, but maybe bigger steps? I’m moving to Morningside Heights and i don’t feel much hatred toward Columbia, or people getting upset at CUNY or Fordham. I guess since we don’t have a campus this will always be a problem.</p></li>
<li><p>Red tape, red tape. I don’t think I have to elaborate…but that comes with any massive school. It’s made me a more demanding, aggressive person though. :)</p></li>
<li><p>Aesthetics…it’s an ugly school. It’s a shame, my grandma lived here in the 40’s and 50’s and the pictures show how beautiful is once was - progress, I guess. By progress I mean hideous cement towers with purple flags. Kimmel and Bobst made it onto a list of ugliest buildings in Manhattan, no surprise The interiors are cool though.</p></li>
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<p>Just be happy the original plan to make ALL the buildings look like Bobst and Tisch hall fell through. And then be even happier that the second plan to make all the buildings look like Kimmel fell through, too. I wish I could have seen the old Victorian/neo-Gothic building before they tore it down.</p>
<p>You know, when I was trying to decide between NYU and a few other colleges, I stumbled upon some negative reviews. I was almost ready to cross NYU off my list when a particular review struck me. This student went into great and vivid detail about what they hated about NYU. Believe me, there seemed to be very little that they didn’t hate about NYU, but they ended by stating that the university was still the best school, the only one they could see themselves in, and they just wanted to make it even better.</p>
<p>Ohboi - well you’re not a student yet, don’t worry about it Red tape is a problem most large colleges/corporations/govt’s have. Not a big deal.</p>
<p>Zapa - I love NYU, and most NYU students/alumni on this site love NYU, but it’s interesting to talk about what we think would make it even better…like, if it was affordable. </p>
<p>NYU<em>times</em>two - part of the reason the aesthetics bother me is because my family is very NY based, have lived around here for centuries, and my grandparents and greatgrandparents lived in Greenwich/East Village. I’ve seen lots of old pics, and it did look really great. In many ways the area is much nicer now, but the aesthetics and character have changed a lot.</p>
<p>Alix2012, I definitely agree with you. As I believe I’ve told you before, I’m pretty knowledgeable about NYU’s history, and part of that knowledge comes from an architecture class where I got to see what the area around WSP used to look like. And beyond that, of course, I’m a total history nerd, so I’ve researched the area on my own time as well. While I can definitely see how someone might think that Kimmel looks better than the converted old law tenements around it, the fact is that all these new buildings lack character. The thing I absolutely despise about the International style of architecture is that it stripped away any indication of social or cultural influence, leaving behind what has by this point been whittled down to glass, glass, and more glass. I like tons of natural light as much as the next person, but I like it most when it’s coming through to a loft in a converted warehouse not into an entire building made of glass. All it is is commercialized, sleek blandness that is stripping the area and most of New York City of the very things that make it different enough to attract millions of tourists annually. </p>
<p>Also, I’m a little worried about what’s going on with Waverly and Brown. Do you have any idea what they’re doing with those two buildings? I can’t imagine them tearing Brown down, seeing as it’s the site of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire.</p>
[quote]
12-16 Waverly Place will become the new home for the Center for Genomics and Systems Biology (GSB). Genomics is a rapidly emerging field, which has as its goal the analysis of the complete genetic material of organisms. The Center will focus on using evolutionary insights to address biological networks. Faculty affiliated with the Center sponsor seminars and offer courses in Genomics and Bioinformatics.</p>
<p>They’re supposed to start really soon, but then, the whole thing was delayed by about 2.5 years, so who knows when they’ll get around to renovating the eastern portion of the park. </p>
<p>I don’t understand why they had to tear the old building down. There was so much unused space in that building, especially in the top floors, that they easily could have just renovated it. But, is this going to be like what they did with Silver, grafting a completely new building onto the facade, or will it be like the 12th Street dorm, a separate facade with a giant, separate structure behind it? Either way, I’m sad to see Waverly go, particularly that gorgeous marble lobby and the old Alumni Lounge.</p>
<p>I think it’s like the 12th St dorm - separate facade. Here’s the design if you want to take a look: [NYU</a> Construction](<a href=“Construction”>Construction)</p>
<p>Seriously, NYU could solve a lot of problems if sometime during the last 2 centuries, they had simply built a freaking campus. Not only would this generate a lot more revenue and make the school a lot more appealing to applicants, it would get Greenwich Village off our backs. I wonder how they get away with constantly shutting down streets for fairs and stuff like Strawberry Festival? Well I don’t think it causes a lot of disruption, but who knows. </p>
<p>I hope the park is completed by the time I graduate in 2012!</p>
<p>But where in village is there room for them to build a campus without still shutting and tearing down a bunch of place? I think the school is really at the point where it can’t just decide to build a campus anyway.</p>
<p>I have never had a red tape issue (I’m a parent). On the few occasions where I have had to deal with office staff, they have been helpful, courteous and done what they said they were going to do.</p>
<p>In fact, just yesterday I called the FA office. I had just gotten the paper for my son’s FA for his junior year. I was thrilled that they had increased his scholarship amt from 30K to 32K and that he was still getting a perkins loan and subsidized stafford as well. But I was disappointed that he only got $940 in work study. His work study for this past year was nearly 4K and he earned every penny of it (he worked over xmas at the gym). I asked if they could remove the 2K in unsubsidized stafford loan and move it to the work study column. She checked and came back and said that instead they were going to reduce the ‘suggested Plus loan’ (which is really how they list your EFC) by 2K and add it to the work study amount. I could also choose not to accept the unsubsidized portion of the stafford loan (leaving my son with 5500 in stafford and 2400 in Perkins loans for this year).</p>
<p>ohboi - at this point they can’t, it’s something that should’ve gone into action around 1830 but it’s one thing that makes NYU unique, which is nice</p>
<p>Sueinphilly - I agree the FA office is pretty good. I had to deal with so many red tape problems earlier between CAS/LSP/Advising/Dean of CAS and Dean of LSP because I’m in LSP and wanted to study Neural Science/Genetics and they wouldn’t allow it. Got it resolved but it took a lot of effort. A lot of students complain about red tape at NYU, so it can’t just be me…but it’s a minor flaw of going to a large university.
And I just signed up for last-minute Summer Session II courses and it went smoothly and quickly, no hassle, so the CAS Advising is pretty good too.</p>
<p>Yeah, the way to deal with red tape is to be respectful and polite but also firm and persistent. Keep records of important things, such as FAFSA confirmation emails, bill confirmations, what have you, and make sure that if you need to get something done, you find the right person for the job AND their supervisor. You would not believe how quickly I’ve gotten things done by saying, “Well, I have this paperwork indicating that…” or CC-ing a supervisor on emails that are going nowhere with someone lower down on the employment ladder.</p>
<p>^ Well, some Village residents are just stupid in constantly complaining about everything, they fail to realize how NYU is such an important part of the Village. However, they do have some fair points…basically they’re nostalgic for the past and love their community, whereas NYU wants to turn the neighborhood into the freaking Financial District. </p>
<p>What is this LEED Silver building that the first article mentions?</p>
<p>So is NYU just like this huge construction project right now? Like, if I go there I don’t want every building being torn down and reconstructed.</p>
<p>Since NYU is giving itself until 2031 to do all this, and the projects it started when I was a freshman back in 2003 have yet to be completed, I doubt you’ll see many of the buildings you frequent torn down. Then again, there’s always construction going on in the city. Once one section of scaffolding comes down, another goes up. As someone who grew up around construction sites (it’s what my dad does), I find it oddly comforting.</p>
<p>The potential demolishing of the Brown Building, though? Not so much.</p>
<p>No, by Silver they meant Silver Towers, 2 buildings which house both students and faculty on Bleeker/Mercer. Don’t worry, basically every building is in tact. The only main construction sites going on right now are next to Waverly for the Genome Center and the Catholic Center. </p>
<p>After looking at it again, I realize they’re not destroying Brown, just altering the facade, which isn’t bad since it’s kind of ugly. So it’ll remain the Biology/Chem center, but the first floor will be a cafe? Interesting.</p>
<p>Damn, that new Catholic/Faith Center is ugly. But nothing can outdo Kimmel! :)</p>
<p>I’m actually really excited to see the new Tisch Hall if it’s done the next time I visit. When is that supposed to be done? Or is it done already?</p>
The interiors are cool though.</p></li>
Red tape is a problem most large colleges/corporations/govt’s have. Not a big deal.</p>
but it’s one thing that makes NYU unique, which is nice</p>