10 replies to this topic

[daBKLYNdoorman]

Life at NYU Poly (class of 2013)

Social Life - If you were hoping for a true college social life - don't expect it. In fact, there isn't much of a social life at all. People come to class in the morning, usually by themselves, do their work, maybe study a bit in the library during the long breaks, and then head home by themselves again.

Academics - If you are planning on slacking off - you're going to the wrong school. The school gives you so much work that at times, you don't think you'll be able to manage it. And it's not homework that I'm talking about - it's the studying that kills you. Even if you feel like you understand the material well, you'll be better off going to the library and rereading everything again. The exams they give you, especially the Math department, are crazy to say the least. It's not a matter of whether you remember what you read - it's more like whether you know more than was given to you. In other words, at first the questions seem like something completely foreign to you until you notice that a combination of pretty much everything you've learned so far would give you the answer. I remember taking Calculus (not AP) in my senior year at Tech - the exams I thought were hard then would be super easy compared to the ones I got last semester in Calculus I. So to keep the story short, you'll be sitting in the library or at home and constantly studying like you've never studied before!

Campus - I don't know about you but I like to have a nice environment to work in. NYU Poly consists of 5 buildings: Admissions, Dibner Library, Residence Hall, Rogers Hall, and Jacobs Academic Building. The Admissions building is the best looking of them all, but it won't really matter to you since you won't be spending considerable time in it. Next is Jacobs Academic Building: it's just about brand new and looks great. The Residence Hall is, well, just like any other dormitory. It usually smells of sweat there but it's kept clean and looks fairly new too. The Dibner Library Building houses the library on two whole floors and some academic offices on the others. It also has a pretty nice auditorium, though small, it is perfect for hanging out or listening to a presentation. Rogers Hall is the oldest and worst looking of them all although they've just about rebuilt the whole first floor this semester. According to the administration, the whole building is up for renovation over the next 5 years. But even though its the worst of the Poly buildings it still looks significantly better than Tech's building.

Food - The food is great quality, although a bit on the expensive and unhealthy side. There's always great coffee available. Unlike everything else available it's pretty cheap and pretty damn good. I used to spend my money on Starbucks but after trying NYU Poly's it's basically the same thing (Seattle's Best) for half the cost. Other than the coffee there is a bagel bar, a pastry fridge (good stuff too), a general buffet (really good food but too expensive), a noodle or rice bar (depending on the day, and it's moderately expensive but not too good), grill (hamburgers, good and cheap), fried stuff bar (good, unhealthy, somewhat expensive), pizza place (good and cheap but not always available), pasta bar (um.. I don't eat pasta), snack bar (like every other snack bar), and a decent sandwich bar (too expensive but good). There isn't much outside the school - just some fast food restaurants that would kill you inside if you ate there everyday.

Dating - Haha, don't expect much. Actually, don't expect any dating whatsoever. I'm a guy and here are my personal statistics: 80% male, 20% female. Out of those 20%, 15% are butt-ugly, 3% are decent, and the other 2% are um... I can't say it here but I have no idea what they are doing in this school. But here's a hint that I uncovered late during my freshman year: NYU is the complete opposite in every way, it's a few stops on the F train, and if you're decent looking the girls will hit on you like you've never seen before. I've noticed there's a lack of straight guys there so I think that's probably why.

Professors - Quite a few of them are foreign, some of whom you can barely understand because of their accents. But choose classes wisely and always swap them if you find a better one.

Class Choices - Your tuition gives you access to 20 credits, or just about 6 classes. You'll probably want to take 14 - 16 credits during each semester of your freshman year (only the ones you need) and then 17 - 20 later on. NYU Poly offers up some pretty interesting side classes - I've found an Economics class to be the most interesting of mines right now even though it was optional for me and not required.

Grading - Freshman year is easy, do your best so you won't have to make up for it later. Getting a good grade isn't easy - requires a lot of work, but it's definitely possible. Don't slack off at all. What I love most about NYU Poly's grading system is that if you fail a class or don't like the grade you received, you can retake the class up to 2 times in your next 2 semesters and the grade you get there will replace your previous grade.

Tuition - NYU Poly is known for it's generosity when it comes to tuition and scholarships. It says I have to pay $36,000 this year but I ended up paying about $11,000. Just so you know I consider myself middle class but either way, 95% of students get some sort of significant help. No matter what your financial situation, I doubt you'll end up paying more than $20,000 a year. (Loans not included.)

Drugs & Smoking - Haven't seen anyone smoking weed yet. There are a few cigarette smokers but not much. Alcohol is rare too.

Neighborhood - I was worried my freshman year but if you stay close to Metro Tech center, you're fine. Metro Tech center is the closest thing to Manhattan's 14th street. Step a block a way and you might have to watch your back a little.

Commute - Check the subway map but there are a lot of trains that stop within 1 block of NYU Poly. As for the bus commute - there are 5 bus stops in front of the building.

Overall: I find the school very challenging, not too fun, but rewarding in the end. If anything, it's getting better and better. I know a few people who just graduated and didn't have the "NYU" name on their diploma and told me that their curriculum was far easier than mines right now. So what I suggest is that you work hard because I'm pretty sure that in a few years it will be close to being an elite school and with that come big rewards. And if you're worried about the social life like I was, don't worry - you won't die there. You need a girlfriend? Hit up NYU. You need a party? Hit up Manhattan. You need friends? Hit up... well, you know.

[MaiAndy]

Thanks for taking your time and typing this up. I'm sure many kids will apply to NYC Poly from Tech and should be helpful to them!

[daBKLYNdoorman]

I should add a few more small things...

Schedules - Before I came in to NYU Poly, I was hoping for a 3 day a week class schedule (leaves me 4 days of whatever). That didn't happen since there's no real way you can get that unless you take an insanely small number of credits. Most people have class 4 days a week for pretty much the whole day and then the last day is free or just 1 class, like me. If you're stuck with 1 class, it's usually a recitation and so there's no point going there since it doesn't really affect your grade. Also worth mentioning is that as a freshman you'll most likely end up with 1 class that starts at 8am, once a week - and that would probably a lab. Significant for me as I like to spend my mornings in bed but I can't say the same about you.

Library - Two floors, mostly old books, 10 new iMacs, cable TV, and a really nice place overall. There are study rooms which let you walk in whenever you want, close the door, and study alone. Unless you plan to fail something, you'll definitely make use of them.

Failing Classes - Most of the people I've met so far have failed at least 1 class in their freshman year - and most usually it was some math class. And so did I. There are a few reasons for this: most of the freshman math professors aren't professors but actually grad students who can't speak English too well, and as a freshman we are pretty lazy and chill until we find out we're about to fail something. By then, it's too late and you just make sure you do really good next semester.

AP Credits - Professors laugh at it. It's not taken seriously at NYU Poly. Don't plan on making use of those credits. It's a waste of time for you in high school and a waste of money for when you go take the exam.

Elevators - They almost always work, aren't as crowded as at Tech, and are open to anyone.

AC - Unlike Tech, there is enough of it. Even Rogers Hall, the ugliest & oldest building of them all has a decent amount of AC. Some classes that really deserve only 1 AC in the window have like 3.

Administration - Not bad. Make friends. You'll end up needing their help sometime. I got a scholarship I wasn't supposed to get this semester because I became friends with one of the people at the Finance Office.

[Sulate]

Actually interesting information :O

[Alanmp08]

Did you hear that slapping noise after you typed the "AP Credits" ? Yeah, that was me face-palming myself. I'm only in AP World for now, so if I do try out NYU Poly, it won't be of help? T.T I hope I'm not taking it for nothing.

[SoLR]

Alanmp08, on 22 September 2010 - 06:06 PM, said:

Did you hear that slapping noise after you typed the "AP Credits" ? Yeah, that was me face-palming myself. I'm only in AP World for now, so if I do try out NYU Poly, it won't be of help? T.T I hope I'm not taking it for nothing.

Each school have its own policy regarding AP credits. Schools like NYU generally won't give you anything for them, but SUNYs like them and will give you credit even if you got a 3 even if its a gen ed class.

[daBKLYNdoorman]

Alanmp08, on 22 September 2010 - 06:06 PM, said:

Did you hear that slapping noise after you typed the "AP Credits" ? Yeah, that was me face-palming myself. I'm only in AP World for now, so if I do try out NYU Poly, it won't be of help? T.T I hope I'm not taking it for nothing.

Simply put, no. From what I know, there aren't any history or social studies courses available. Actually, the Writing/English department is laughed at by professors from all over the other departments. However, you might want to call the admissions department just to find out for sure if your AP Credit won't count as a possible Humanities elective.

[Alanmp08]

SoLR, on 22 September 2010 - 06:28 PM, said:

Each school have its own policy regarding AP credits. Schools like NYU generally won't give you anything for them, but SUNYs like them and will give you credit even if you got a 3 even if its a gen ed class.

daBKLYNdoorman, on 22 September 2010 - 07:26 PM, said:

Simply put, no. From what I know, there aren't any history or social studies courses available. Actually, the Writing/English department is laughed at by professors from all over the other departments. However, you might want to call the admissions department just to find out for sure if your AP Credit won't count as a possible Humanities elective.

Ah, alright. Thanks, guys. :)

[Hyzera]

Hey, do you mind posting your GPA and SAT scores (at Tech)? I want to see what my chances are of getting in.
Also, do SATIIs matter much to them?

[daBKLYNdoorman]

Hyzera, on 24 September 2010 - 07:51 PM, said:

Hey, do you mind posting your GPA and SAT scores (at Tech)? I want to see what my chances are of getting in.
Also, do SATIIs matter much to them?

Not that hard to get in, although it's getting harder every year from what I hear. I had 1220 (1940 for all three) and 79% average. Average sucked, I know - but at least I had an awesome 4 years at Tech. Best time of my life (so far).

Not sure about SATIIs.

[9 Inche]

Hmm. Mr Evangelist took me and a bunch of other kids to that school for dinner in Sophmore year. It seemed pretty cool. Just got the Dean's application for the school, hopefully I get in.

Im probably gonna have an easy time in there since I am in Math Major. (AP Calc BC and AP Phys C with the best teachers!)

Sorry for the bragging