NYU 1L Taking Questions Forum

[ohnoyoudidn't]

I know NYU kicks ass but the rent is outrageous. Does anyone commuting have a general idea how much rent is in their area?

[spondee]

I know NYU kicks ass but the rent is outrageous. Does anyone commuting have a general idea how much rent is in their area?

You can definitely get better prices but they come with drawbacks obviously. Anywhere from $600 for a room up to dorm prices for your own studio. It just depends on how long of a commute you're willing to make, how many roommates you're willing to have, etc.

I pay a little less than dorm prices, live in Brooklyn, have my own alcove studio in a doorman building, and commute to school in 20 minutes. It's a pretty sweet deal; to be fair, however, I've lived in New York for years and found this apartment while working a "real" job - not right before coming to school. If I were moving to NYC for the first time to start law school and was under the age of 25, I think the dorms might be the best choice.

[azlawlady]

You can definitely get better prices but they come with drawbacks obviously. Anywhere from $600 for a room up to dorm prices for your own studio. It just depends on how long of a commute you're willing to make, how many roommates you're willing to have, etc.

I pay a little less than dorm prices, live in Brooklyn, have my own alcove studio in a doorman building, and commute to school in 20 minutes. It's a pretty sweet deal; to be fair, however, I've lived in New York for years and found this apartment while working a "real" job - not right before coming to school. If I were moving to NYC for the first time to start law school and was under the age of 25, I think the dorms might be the best choice.

What about those over 25?? Is trying to get your own apt really as much of a PIA as it sounds like it is? Would a backer/co-signer/whatever its called still be needed because of the income issue? Would someone really need to use a broker to get something decent or is it totally possible without (at least for newbies to the city)?

[Renzo]

You can definitely get better prices but they come with drawbacks obviously. Anywhere from $600 for a room up to dorm prices for your own studio. It just depends on how long of a commute you're willing to make, how many roommates you're willing to have, etc.

I pay a little less than dorm prices, live in Brooklyn, have my own alcove studio in a doorman building, and commute to school in 20 minutes. It's a pretty sweet deal; to be fair, however, I've lived in New York for years and found this apartment while working a "real" job - not right before coming to school. If I were moving to NYC for the first time to start law school and was under the age of 25, I think the dorms might be the best choice.

What about those over 25?? Is trying to get your own apt really as much of a PIA as it sounds like it is? Would a backer/co-signer/whatever its called still be needed because of the income issue? Would someone really need to use a broker to get something decent or is it totally possible without (at least for newbies to the city)?

I am over 25 and in the dorms. It's not ideal, but also not awful. The rental market here isn't as bad as some horror stories make it out to be, but it could be really, really hard to find a good apt at a reasonable price from out of town. 9 months in the dorms would let you learn the city, learn neighborhoods and train lines, and make some word-of-mouth connections.

[nthanks98]

i took a few years between undergrad and law school, and i'm loving the dorms. it really is so convenient to be right next to the law school, and you have free printing in the lobby, too. they ARE expensive, but if you aren't in a position to find a cheaper place, they're a great choice. also... don't need to worry about subletting if you plan to spend your 1L summer elsewhere.

[azlawlady]

Thanks for the input renzo and nthanks!

[Blazers4Life]

i took a few years between undergrad and law school, and i'm loving the dorms. it really is so convenient to be right next to the law school, and you have free printing in the lobby, too. they ARE expensive, but if you aren't in a position to find a cheaper place, they're a great choice. also... don't need to worry about subletting if you plan to spend your 1L summer elsewhere.

Two questions about this, the first one which might be a dumb question. When I think "dorm" I think "roommate." You don't bunk together like freshman year of college, do you? Second, is on-campus housing not available in the summer?

[Blazers4Life]

dbt: I see you had a 174/3.7 and got some merit-based aid (and were in the running for even more). Can I assume 172/3.6 puts me below the merit aid threshold and not get my hopes up? Honestly, I think I'd just be thrilled to be admitted. LSN users with my numbers were 15 for 15 last year plus 3 WL. I'm starting to feel like possibly I'm in "comfortably admitted but paying sticker" territory.

[NYU2011]

i took a few years between undergrad and law school, and i'm loving the dorms. it really is so convenient to be right next to the law school, and you have free printing in the lobby, too. they ARE expensive, but if you aren't in a position to find a cheaper place, they're a great choice. also... don't need to worry about subletting if you plan to spend your 1L summer elsewhere.

Two questions about this, the first one which might be a dumb question. When I think "dorm" I think "roommate." You don't bunk together like freshman year of college, do you? Second, is on-campus housing not available in the summer?

No, every roommate has their own room. On campus housing is available during summer for all student I'm pretty sure.

Blazers, I don't know a lot about merit aid, but I had almost your exact numbers (2 years ago) and there was definitely no mention of merit aid.

[Blazers4Life]

i took a few years between undergrad and law school, and i'm loving the dorms. it really is so convenient to be right next to the law school, and you have free printing in the lobby, too. they ARE expensive, but if you aren't in a position to find a cheaper place, they're a great choice. also... don't need to worry about subletting if you plan to spend your 1L summer elsewhere.

Two questions about this, the first one which might be a dumb question. When I think "dorm" I think "roommate." You don't bunk together like freshman year of college, do you? Second, is on-campus housing not available in the summer?

No, every roommate has their own room. On campus housing is available during summer for all student I'm pretty sure.

Blazers, I don't know a lot about merit aid, but I had almost your exact numbers (2 years ago) and there was definitely no mention of merit aid.

Thanks for the feedback on the housing. Anyway, I'm of the mindset that going to NYU or Columbia at sticker is the right call over going to Michigan or Duke with a measly $15k/year type scholarship. I hope I'm not being foolish...

[jacko]

Does anyone know how NYU does with need based aid?

[Renzo]

Does anyone know how NYU does with need based aid?

All aid outside the "extra-application" scholarships (RTK, scholars programs, etc.) is given on a combination of need and merit. I think it would be impossible to figure out average amounts, but at one meeting a financial aid office rep said that almost 1/3 of the class gets some form of aid.

[jacko]

Does anyone know how NYU does with need based aid?

All aid outside the "extra-application" scholarships (RTK, scholars programs, etc.) is given on a combination of need and merit. I think it would be impossible to figure out average amounts, but at one meeting a financial aid office rep said that almost 1/3 of the class gets some form of aid.

Thanks Renzo. Does that seem a little low. I may be wrong, but I think that I recently read somewhere that 90% of Berkeley students get some type of aid. 1/3 seems kind of low compared to other schools in the T14.

[jacko]

Found it. Right below COA --LinkRemoved--

[Renzo]

I think that NYU has a reputation for being a bit stingier with aid than some schools, but I think that result is larger awards to fewer students as opposed to smaller awards to everyone.

I also think that money is awarded as LRAP instead of financial aid, in part because the school really takes the PI commitment seriously. The result is that many people get nothing up front, but if you go into PI or government (note: most schools don't count prosecutorial work as PI, NYU does) your loans are paid.

[badfish]

I think that NYU has a reputation for being a bit stingier with aid than some schools, but I think that result is larger awards to fewer students as opposed to smaller awards to everyone.

I also think that money is awarded as LRAP instead of financial aid, in part because the school really takes the PI commitment seriously. The result is that many people get nothing up front, but if you go into PI or government (note: most schools don't count prosecutorial work as PI, NYU does) your loans are paid.

this

[zanda]

It looks like these threads are popping up...if you got any questions, shoot.

if you look a lot like your avatar, I think I saw you one day in Mercer haha... took me a while to realize why you looked familiar.

[sophie316]

I think that NYU has a reputation for being a bit stingier with aid than some schools, but I think that result is larger awards to fewer students as opposed to smaller awards to everyone.

I also think that money is awarded as LRAP instead of financial aid, in part because the school really takes the PI commitment seriously. The result is that many people get nothing up front, but if you go into PI or government (note: most schools don't count prosecutorial work as PI, NYU does) your loans are paid.

I agree with this. I think most people are in a pretty similar boat financially...everyone has to take out loans and I think it makes far more sense to help out those who take the lower paying jobs at the end than to randomly help some people but not others at the start. It levels the playing field.

I somewhat suspect that one of the reasons I got such a generous award was b/c I was not eligible for any loans.

[sophie316]

Not sure if any 2Ls(or extremely knowledgeable 1Ls) are reading this but does anyone know if there is a way to appeal the elective? I really *really* want international law...some of the jobs I want to apply for this summer require it, and the fact that I could take int law as a 1L was one of the reasons I chose NYU over Columbia...and they stuck me in my 3rd choice. Does anyone know if theres anything I can do?

[NYU2011]

Sophie, I don't know about appealing, but a lot of people last year ended up switching their elective. You can sign up when someone drops the class. You can try posting to coases to see if anyone wants to switch for the elective you did get, or just ask to let you know if they're planning on dropping. Even in the first few weeks of class next semester people will probably drop it so you can add. If it gets close and you haven't been able to add it I would probably contact the professor and let them know your situation. Good luck

[Renzo]

Yeah, you need to do a contingent add/drop. How did you allocate your points? You're the first person I've met who didn't get their first choice!

[red_sox]

Yeah, you need to do a contingent add/drop. How did you allocate your points? You're the first person I've met who didn't get their first choice!

I think International Law and maybe one of the Property classes were the only ones which were oversubscribed.

[sophie316]

Yeah, you need to do a contingent add/drop. How did you allocate your points? You're the first person I've met who didn't get their first choice!

I think International Law and maybe one of the Property classes were the only ones which were oversubscribed.

I allocated 1000 to international. I had property as my first alt, and con as my 2nd. I somehow am the only person I know that got neither their first or second choice and STILL bid 1000...

[Renzo]

Wow. The gods of random selection really hate you.

[IHaveDietMoxie]

Who in your opinion(s) are the best teachers, and why?

tyia