What Exactly is the General Studies Program @ NYU and...

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 2/19/05 at 5:30pm

...is it worth going for?

I was getting the mail today and saw a pretty thick envelope from NYU, and I immediately began freaking out. I opened the letter and read this:

We have just completed our review of your application and I must inform you that we are unable to offer you admission to the College of Arts and Sciences. However, I am delighted to tell you that your application has been selected for the General Studies Program (GSP). I congratulate you for your selection!

Then the letter goes on telling a little bit about GSP, and says that I have to reply within two weeks whether or not I want the official offer. I read the booklet about the GSP that came along with my "kind of" acceptance letter and it seems that one of the only cons is that you are not guaranteed admission to the college of your choice (in my case, the CLAS) unless you have a 3.0 GPA by junior year. I know there are a lot of NYU experts on here, so I'm wondering if anyone has any feedback on the GSP program, and is it worth going ahead? I understand you would complete a general core curriculum...how does this curriculum differ from NYU students who are not in GPS program? I was reading about some of the requirements during your first two years. Any pointers would be greatly appreciated. I was actually quite pleased and thought I would be completely rejected.

Updated On: 2/19/05 at 05:30 PM

[ShuQ]

Posted: 2/19/05 at 6:02pm

Was this or application to the summer program? Or to to college? If summer...which one did you apply to?

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 2/19/05 at 6:06pm

It was for regular Fall 2005, and I applied to the College of Arts and Sciences.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 2/19/05 at 6:07pm

I was accepted to NYU so many years ago, but didn't go.

Posted: 2/19/05 at 6:56pm

Ive never known anyone to take the GSP program but I looked it over on the website and I could tell you what I notice as differences in the program... but I wouldnt have much more to say than what youve probably already figured out.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 2/19/05 at 7:01pm

So, if I went to CAS, I would be taking these same core classes? The only case here is that I am not guaranteed admission to CAS in my junior year unless I have a 3.0?

Posted: 2/19/05 at 7:34pm

Youre guaranteed an associates degree, upon keeping 3.0 your first two years, you can then go on to continue your studies at the program you applied to.

The classes are named differently but evolve around the same concepts, in CAS theyre simply called Writing the Essay, Conversations of the West, World Cultures and Societies and Social Sciences. I didnt notice a Math or Foreign Language requirement which IS required for graduation from CAS, youd likely have to fill these in your third year if you dont fill them at GSP.

Other than this, it seems the teachers who teach your classes will all be professors where at CAS, its often the case that a grad student teaches Writing the Essay. And the biggest difference would be that the classes are going to be limited to 15-25 people where at CAS, classes can often be in an auditorium with 200 kids.

It would seem to me that this is a good program for those who want/need extra personal attention from their teachers.

People say all sorts of things about the different programs at NYU. When I applied, a teacher at my high school thought the School of Ed was beneath me, but thought I had no chance of getting in CAS. It was basically bull because you have to satisfy their minimum academic requirements to get in at all- even to their Arts program where I was applying, which require ALSO getting in based on your skills.

If you dont end up getting a 3.0 at the end of the two years, youll have an associates from NYU, thats still pretty good.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 2/19/05 at 7:37pm

Thanks, Mistress! You are a great help!

[EvelynNesbit1906]

Posted: 2/19/05 at 11:53pm

They had this policy in place when I applied years ago. My advice to you would be not to go. An associates in General Studies really won't get you far in life -- especially since it's not your "area" of interest (you applied for something more specific) -- and NYU will charge you an arm and a leg just to get that "degree." Hopefully you'll have the opportunity to go somewhere that lets you study what you want to study. Otherwise, it might be best to just apply again.

Posted: 2/20/05 at 2:06am

She didnt say she applied for something specific, or if she did, I missed it? Arts & Sciences isnt a major, its just the name of the school... CAS doesnt require you to declare a major upon entry anyway and as I said, does require a bunch of base courses your first year or two. When I went to NYU as an art major, most of my core courses were chosen for me, I just got to choose the when part. I had to take my core classes over a longer period of time because my art foundations HAD to be completed the first year. CAS has the morse academic plan.
At CAS, your schedule could go like this, with all morse academic plan courses...
first year- Writing The Essay(two semesters), Quantitative Reasoning(one semester), foreign language(two semesters), foundations of contemporary culture(two semesters)

second year- natural sciences(two semesters), foreign language(two semesters), foundations of contemporary culture(two semesters)

that really only leaves room for three or so classes as electives anyway because all or most of those courses are four credits.

And an associates from NYU can be better than a bachelors from some other schools. The NYU name holds a decent amount of weight. But Id say it comes down to how hard do you think it will be to maintain a 3.0?

[EvelynNesbit1906]

Posted: 2/20/05 at 7:27am

Pursuing an associates degree in response to a rejection from a BA program just isn't a good idea. Most jobs for people with college education will list a bachelors among the qualifications; a general education associates degree is - to many people - not much different than just having a high school diploma. I say that if millie's intent was to get a BA, then she should start pursuing that rather than go for an associates and then try for a BA. Updated On: 2/20/05 at 07:27 AM

[shira467]

Posted: 2/20/05 at 10:17am

I actually attended NYU General Studies last year, I know I'm getting an A.A., etc...but I don't look at it that way. I look at it as taking the same courses as ny friends in CAS, and I'll transfer in 2 years. The classes are smaller and taught by amazing professors, and the only difference is that you end up with two degrees in 4 years - an A.A. and a B.A.

Basically, you polish off your required general education courses before you begin the courses for your major in CAS.

I had an AMAZING experience there last year, and I recommend attending if you can.

I'm not there right now, as I am taking a year off. But I had great professors and I really enjoyed the education I recieved.

You don't get an A.A. and then TRY for a B.A. If you keep a 3.0, you go to CAS and get your B.A. and have two degrees even if an A.A. is bubkes. And really, a 3.0 should not be so hard to maintain. After all, if you studied well enough in high school to get into NYU, you should be able to put forth the effort to maintain a 3.0.

[InfiniteTheaterFrenzy]

Posted: 2/20/05 at 10:21am

I don't know much about GSP, but all of my friends who are in it really like it...
And I have one friend who applied to transfer to Steinhardt after just a semester and got in...
I'd suggest calling and asking to talk to a student representative or something.

[surefinewhatever]

Posted: 2/22/05 at 5:46pm

Are students in GSP looked down on by other students because they weren't "good enough" too get into the other schools? I know this shouldn't affect my decision, but I don't want to be in a place where ppl think of me as some1 to dumb to get into the College of Arts and Sciences. Also, if I graduate w/ an A.A. degree and continue at CAS, can i get a B.S. degree? Cuz i want to major in either Biochemistry or Neural science. Also, how does this affect any plans for pre-medicine i had?

Updated On: 2/22/05 at 05:46 PM

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 2/22/05 at 5:49pm

"I don't want to be in a place where ppl think of me as some1 to dumb..."

With that spelling....yeah.

Seriously though, after you get your AA, wouldn't you proceed to get a BA? Is the price the same whether you go through the GSP or directly into the BA program?

[surefinewhatever]

Posted: 2/22/05 at 5:59pm

jeez. .. when i'm writing papers i write/spell correctly. i figured that since i'm online, ppl would understand if i used abbreviations that everyone else uses.

Updated On: 2/22/05 at 05:59 PM

[broadway_star_tomorrow]

Posted: 2/22/05 at 6:01pm

tiff's just a b*tch

and yes, provided you get at least a 3.0, you would be admitted to the CAS and would work towards your BA or BS, depending upon your department.

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 2/22/05 at 6:01pm

Does that include "to dumb..."? I figured people would understand irony and humor, but I guess that's "asking a little too much, isn't it?" Even when I'm trying to help.

Updated On: 2/22/05 at 06:01 PM

[broadway_star_tomorrow]

Posted: 2/22/05 at 6:02pm

you are too good tiff!

[surefinewhatever]

Posted: 2/22/05 at 6:11pm

ok...i edited the "asking a little too much" part out, cuz i knew it sounded too harsh. sorry, i didn't mean to sound ungrateful. I didn't pick up on the humor from your post the first time (im feeling a little down from not getting into CAS and my mom made some stupid comment about how im not good enough to get in anywhere). Thanx for trying to help.

Anyways, about the whole A.A. continuing to a B.A. or B.S. degree, I read through the info book and everything and there's nothing really clear or definite about it. Anyone here graduate from GSP and move on to get a B.S. in something?

Updated On: 2/22/05 at 06:11 PM

[broadway_star_tomorrow]

Posted: 2/22/05 at 6:13pm

You get a BA or BS depending on your major.

An AA is always given after 2 years, regardless of major.

Posted: 2/22/05 at 7:08pm

If you plan on being pre-med, it would only change what core courses are required of you.