New York University

This is hands down the worst possible place to go for undergraduate education. I feel so thoroughly disappointed in NYU that it almost sickens me to think that I wanted to come here. It is too big, overwhelming, elitist, and overrated. This website says it all: look at all of the negative comments and take them into consideration before you come here. Go somewhere, anywhere else but here. Please trust us.

1st Year Female -- Class 2012

Make sure that you realize what you're getting into: NYU doesn't have a real campus, it is so large as to be, at times, totally impersonal, and students are extremely competitive. If you're ready to feel like a young professional living in New York, this is the school for you--most people balance school, work, internships, etc. If you're not ready to be a full on adult (and not in the "Friends" way, either), go elsewhere.

Social Life
Freshman year is the only time when there are actual parties in dorms on any sort of a regular basis--then, everyone on your floor knows each other, so weekend parties can be wild. After that, floor-based socializing is nonexistant. Everyone then goes out to bars or clubs, so you'll need a fake ID and lots of cash to so anything social on a regular basis. If you're willing to risk getting caught/spending $10 on a drink three nights a week, it can be really fun and rewarding. Frats are nonexistant, as are sports; no one cares about them and almost no one plays them (our mascot is the Violets!). The club scene is relatively active, but many are extremely competitive--ie college democrats want to be political interns, and the debate club is future lawyers who would slit each others' throats to get into Harvard Law.

Academics aren't anything special. Under no circumstances should anyone apply to the College of Arts and Sciences here, it is a hellhole. I promise. You will get a much better education elsewhere since NYU does NOT care about the CAS students. At all. (+there is red tape everywhere, impossible to get into good classes, etc).

Going to NYU, in the end, is forsaking college as a distinct experience. If you want to feel like you live in the city and take classes somewhere, than NYU is right for you. If you're ready to start working on your career, if you want a killer internship, if you're extremely independent, and if you hate nature, then NYU is for you. If you want even the slightest feeling of being young and carefree--essentially, being a college student--go somewhere else, even somewhere else in the city. If you aren't ready to be thrust into adulthood, to feel guilty for not juggling 15 things at once, or to spend hundreds of dollars a weekend having the same amount of fun you could have anywhere else, pick somewhere else to go to school.

3rd Year Female -- Class 2010

Nyu is an absolute mess. the administration has got to be one of the most disorganized and rude bureaucratic systems I have ever seen in my life. NYU enjoys ripping the students off as much as possible. They are incredibly lazy and the professors and faculty never want to do any extra work to ensure your happiness and satisfaction. In other words, you will in no way be getting your moneys worth.

On top of all that, the social life is disastrous. I can't stress this point enough. I read a lot of the negative reviews before coming to NYU and they made me nervous--for good reason. They are entirely true. You can kiss a decent social life goodbye if you come here. Don't get me wrong, some people love it and have the time of their lives but most do not. Most people here absolutely despise NYU with every fiber of their being and cant wait to leave. There's a reason why NYU has the #2 highest suicide rate in the country, you know.I was hesitant to transfer because I thought I would give NYU more time. I wish I had transfered. Now I'm stuck at this god forsaken school for another two years...don't ask me how I'm going to get through it. Do not apply here. Even if you love urban living, there are better options that will actually have good academics and will foster a healthier atmosphere.

2nd Year Female -- Class 2011