New York University

Date: Apr 22 2004
Major: Communications (This Major's Salary over time)
As everyone says: NYU IS NOT FOR EVERYONE. You have to be able to function on your own as an adult to survive here. Students that thrive in this atmosphere take the initiative to discover opportunities on their own, rather than relying on someone else to do it for them. There are plenty of wealthy students—which is to be expected at a private university—but there are numerous, truly middle class students (such as myself—I am attending thanks to a partial scholarship). I don't feel out of place because I am here on partial scholarship. I've made what I consider to be my first group of true, loyal frinds here…never had people whom I would consider such back in high school. The notion that all the people here are anti-social is completely false. Granted, it depends on the dorm in which you live freshman year…I lived in Weinstein and during the first few weeks, people left doors open and you could introduce yourself to people readily. I came to NYU from North Carolina, and I made friends within my first night of being on campus. When I found friends to hang with, we had the best city in the country at our disposal. Bars, jazz clubs, poetry slams, dance clubs, Broadway, Central Park, live television tapings, ethnic restaurants, and numerous other activities are your various methods for unwinding with friends. Enough about the social scene, with regards to academics, I find the liberal arts program better than average. I don't enjoy it all, but I have learned quite a bit. Also, I think my communication studies program is top notch; I have learned so much, and not just about the media, but also about critical thinking. NYU is not UNC-Chapel Hill (where most of my friends from high school ended up) or any other large, public university type institution. If you are like me: independent, free thinking, open minded, goal oriented, and extroverted, then NYU is a good match…otherwise, pick another institution.