College Knowledge: NYU
If you’re looking for a unique college experience in a fast-paced world, then New York University may be the school for you. NYU is in the heart of New York, and its “campus” is a collection of buildings that span the city. From downtown Brooklyn to the Upper East Side, NYU students can be found sprawled all over the city, learning from the diverse groups of people who inhabit New York.
NYU is a private university, with over 25,000 undergrads. Unlike many colleges, NYU does not have a traditional campus. The urban setting often makes the size of the school seem irrelevant, because the city itself is densely populated. The most common place of congregation for NYU students is Washington Square Park, an epicenter of culture and politics. Significant protests and rallies are often held here, and the park has hosted many performers and entertainers. There are 22 residence halls for undergrads: two halls in Brooklyn and twenty in Manhattan. The university’s buildings surround Washington Square Park, as well as Union Park, which is just a ten minute walk away.
The acceptance rate is 32%, making NYU a moderately competitive school. The typical unweighted GPA of admitted freshmen is 3.5. The average (new) SAT scores of admitted students fall in the 1400s, and the average ACT score is a 30. While NYU only requires one of these two forms of standardized testing to be submitted, they are very flexible in this area and will consider 3 AP test scores, or 3 SAT subject tests in place of the SAT or ACT.
NYU is a very diverse school, with 83 countries and all 50 states represented in its student body. New York University has the highest number of international students in America. The gender diversity of the freshman class is currently 58% female and 42% male.
For accepted students, NYU offers a wide range of academic opportunities, the most popular majors including Visual and Performing Arts, Social Sciences, Business, Marketing, Liberal Arts and Sciences, and more. Every year NYU offers 300+ clubs to its students, creating an academically and socially stimulating environment where students can easily get involved in student and community life. Although NYU does offer Greek Life fraternities and sororities, they are not prominent on campus. In addition to clubs, NYU offers varsity, club, and intramural sports. NYU is a Division III school, so competitive sports are not a prominent part of the school culture, but they are supported by students, and many participate in sports in order to have fun and meet new people.
New York University is certainly a unique school. While it may not be a good fit for everyone, the vibrant school atmosphere and urban setting are characteristics that draw students to NYU. If any aspect of this school sounds interesting to you, it is highly recommended that you take a tour to discover if NYU is your future college.
