New York University

I went to the Institute of Fine Arts, the graduate art history/art conservation school. I studied mostly ancient art but also had classes in 19th and 20th century art history, and am now working in contemporary public art.

The IFA is nothing like regular NYU. There is no contact with the Washington Square campus except once a year when you have to go pay your tuition. The IFA is like a very small school-within-a-school. You know EVERYONE, very well, to the point where you respect everyone's "regular" seats in the study rooms. If you make a mistake, though, shame on you and your reputation will haunt you the rest of your time there.

Everyone is studying either art history or art conservation, so the atmosphere is very competitive given the generally poor job outlook in both fields--the person studying next to you is going to be competing for the same job you are going for. Accordingly, the students aren't very collegial because it's easier to stab someone in the back if you don't know them very well. The faculty also pits students against each other, especially in seminar classes, and openly play favorites. If you don't acquire a faculty mentor in your first semester there, forget getting a job when you get out. But you can't get one by just asking--you have to kiss up a little, or you just happen to find a prof that you just "click" with. I was lucky that I got on very well with my Egyptian Art prof without having to kiss up, and so I ended up with a great mentor. He's passed away now but he was wonderful.

The IFA is good at turning out qualified Ph.D.s and most graduates go on to teach somewhere. Very few of them do what I went there to do, which is to prepare myself for museum work. I did not get a Ph.D.--left with the M.A.--and left to take a job because I couldn't afford to stay anymore. I was pretty much ostracized my last year there because I had to work full-time and study. It was very lonely and I didn't mind leaving.

The faculty is excellent (although the older ones are a bit dotty), but some of them really try to flunk you out. The pressure of staying in is very intense. The library is good and the image library is comprehensive. The facilities are pretty old and traditional--the school is located in the old Duke (i.e. tobacco-Duke) mansion and it's barely been renovated to host an educational environment. This may have changed since I graduated in 1986, though.

In retrospect I tried too hard to be like everyone else there, but since I wasn't interested in university teaching or entering the publishing rat-race, I soon discovered that trying wasn't worth the time. I did meet someone who felt the same way I did and she and I managed to eke out a good friendship while we were there, which encouraged me to finish. Otherwise I really would have quit in anger and frustration after my first year. As it was, I was kicked out of one class in the middle of the first semester because I didn't fit in and couldn't understand the rules--my work was poor and I was not motivated to make it better because I was so unhappy.My advice to anyone going there is not to take any seminar classes your first year--just take lecture classes--and don't take seminars that aren't in your specialty area. Seminars are really for those who have declared Ph.D. candidacy already and finished their qualifying papers. Take it easy your first year, find a friend, find a faculty mentor and you will do fine. Don't sit in anyone else's regular seat and for heaven's sake, don't move books out of the reading rooms they are stored in!

Alumnus Male -- Class 2000

I grew up in NYC and attended NYU as if it was some local commuter school. It was about 20 minutes away from my house by foot. Yes, it seems almost surreal that I am one of the few poor local inner city kids who got a chance to go to a highly rated college, especially an expensive and well known institution such as NYU. I came to the school paying a meager tuition of $10,000 per year without room and board. The rest was taken care by a scholarship and some grants I received. This was in the mid to late 90's and NYU sure has changed since then. Not much in terms of the education and culture, but the buildings/infrastructure and faces have changed over the years. The tuition has skyrocketed and what hasn't these days if I may ask. People today are paying more because the school provides more. I didn't have WiFi internet access around campus and all the small luxuries when I was there. The few pet peeves I have with the school are that it is somewhat unfriendly to its students. It is managed like a large corporation and the students are like numbers, where they are easily replaceable at will. The other is the Bobst library, which is outdated and too small/cramped for a university such as NYU. They really need to do something about the Bobst in terms of keep up with the times. In terms of my experience, I would describe it as OK. It could have been better, but definately not worse. I often felt left out because I was stacked against with the more outspoken students with superior upbringing. They were either White or Upper crust Asian whose parents had money and education. I came from a humble working class background and was the first to attend college. But that didn't stop me from getting the things I wanted in life. I made friends, even study aboard and have kept in touch with 2 professors who are still teaching in the university. Today, I have re-entered the university as a part time continuing education student with a totally different outlook. I feel much more confident with the school, and see it as a powerful institution more than anything else. Being older, I can now appreciate NYU with its diverse resources that can be "exploited" when one graduates. It is probably the only school where its alumni can reconnect or utilize it to the fullest. This is the real beauty/return of the school. I can buy books from the computer store and professional bookstore needed for my job. I can go to the Bobst library and attend some of the classes for free to kill time. Now what school has a computer store? Many of you will not realize it until you get a little older. My advice is to trust your instincts, live life to the fullest and never give up. NYU is for go-getters and it has the resources (this includes all the people and fellow students) for you to reach your goals!

Alumnus Male -- Class 2000