Virtual Open House Presentation Transcript

The following is the transcript for the GSAS Virtual Open House event, and accompanies the Virtual Open House presentation slides.

  1. Welcome
  2. GSAS Offices
  3. What Makes NYU GSAS Unique?
  4. What to Study?
  5. Academic Prep
  6. Statement of Academic Purpose
  7. Personal History Statement
  8. Letter of Recommendation
  9. Financial Aid
  10. Living in NYC
  11. Useful Websites
  12. Thank You

Slide #1: Welcome

Hello everyone and thank you for logging into our virtual open house. Thank you so much for joining us today. We will wait for a few minutes for others to log in and then we will get started.

In the meantime, please read your screen to learn where you can find the answers to many of your questions. GSAS has created the application resource center and some helpful tips to assist you with the application process. We encourage you to book mark these pages for future reference. Some departments will host their own virtual sessions in the future, so please check our graduate fairs section of our website. If you have questions related to curriculum or research opportunities for one of our 54 departments or programs, please contact them directly.  We will be posting a link to the department pages momentarily. Again, we want to thank you for participating in today’s event.

Please be patient as we wait for others to join.

 

Slide #2: GSAS Offices

Thank you for logging into our GSAS virtual open house. My name is Kristi Schwindt Ramos and I am one of the Senior Assistant Directors at Graduate Enrollment Services. Please review your screen for an overview of the various offices that comprise the Graduate School of Arts and Science. These websites hi-light just a few of many offices that can provide support to you during the application process; we encourage you to bookmark these pages.

Please review the notes screen in the upper right hand corner that lists the names and titles of the GSAS administrators who will be answering your questions today. We will also be joined by a current master’s student and a representative from our Office of Global Services.

We are now going to go through a brief presentation, discussing important topics such as deciding what to study, academic preparation, assembling the best application possible, and what makes us unique. Please be sure to bookmark the clickable links you see throughout. If you have questions about where to find any of this information, please ask during the question and answer portion. Whether you have already started an application or you are still making your decision on whether or not to apply, we hope you find today’s session helpful.

 

Slide #3: What Makes NYU GSAS Unique?

Founded in 1886, the Graduate School of Arts and Science is one of the oldest graduate schools in the United States. GSAS enrolls over 4,000 students in a broad spectrum of programs including doctoral, masters and joint degree programs as well as global programs and advanced certificates. The school's 53 departments and programs convene scholars who conduct path-breaking research and prepare for careers both inside and outside academia.

NYU’s campus is “in and of the city and of the world.” NYU is the largest independent research university in the United States, and is primarily located in the heart of downtown Manhattan and Brooklyn. Beyond our campus in New York City lies a world of opportunity within NYU's global network. With NYU Abu Dhabi and NYU Shanghai, our new degree-granting campuses, as well as 11 international academic centers in Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, and South America, NYU offers global experiences to all members of its community.

NYU and GSAS have amazing campus resources, such as our libraries, sports facilities and our Wasserman Center for Career Development. We have award winning faculty and are committed to diversity and building community.

 

Slide #4: What to Study?

Before you even decide to apply, you should be thinking about what you want to study. You must choose only one department and field of study and may submit only one application for consideration in a given term. If you submit more than one application for a term, all applications submitted after the first one will be held and will not be considered for admission. Thus, determine carefully the one program to which you will apply. Review the department websites, read faculty bios and speak with current students to help make the best decision.

 

Slide #5: Academic Prep

Be sure to know the school’s application policies. GSAS receives over 15,000 applications so you want to be sure to follow instructions, as basic as that may sound. Each department has a faculty committee that reviews applications; application decisions are not made by the Graduate Enrollment Services office.

It is important to note that everything can and should be uploaded as part of the on-line application-you do not need to mail us anything! All Applicants are required to submit the following documents:

  • Application Fee
  • Official Academic Transcripts
  • Statement of Academic Purpose
  • Resume or Curriculum Vitae
  • Three Letters of Recommendation
  • Official Test Scores from ETS (if required), and depending on your specific program, you may need to submit:
    • Writing Sample
    • Subject GRE
    • Miscellaneous Credentials, such as music compositions and DVD’s
    • There is also an optional personal history statement

If you have any questions about the components of the on-line applications, please feel free to ask! We have also created FAQ’s for the various components of the application, which should answer most questions you may have. These can be found on our application resource center.

 

Slide #6: Statement of Academic Purpose

The statement of academic purpose is one of the most important parts of your application. It shows not only your goals, but your writing style, your skills and what makes you unique.

  • Use the statement of academic purpose to tell your story. It should explain:
  • Career plans and educational objectives.
  • How your past experiences contribute to your future goals.
  • Why a particular program/school interests you—be specific. Modify this section for each school.
  • How you will relate to the program.
  • What contributions you will make to the program.

DON’T:

  • Be too long or wordy.
  • Dwell on the negative.
  • Be boastful.

EDIT:

  • Ask friends/family members/faculty advisor to edit, read and comment.

The statement should not exceed two double-spaced pages. Please proof the document carefully. Once you have submitted your application, you cannot make revisions or corrections.

 

Slide #7: Personal History Statement

The purpose of this optional essay is to get to know you as an individual and as a potential graduate student, and to understand how your background will add to the diversity of our school. Please describe how your personal background has motivated you to pursue a graduate degree. You may discuss:

  • Educational, familial, cultural, socioeconomic, or personal experiences or challenges.
  • Gender identity; community services, outreach services, first-generation college status or other matters relevant to your decision to pursue graduate education.

The statement is optional and should not exceed two double-spaced pages. It should not duplicate the Statement of Academic Purpose. Please proof the document carefully. Once you have submitted your application, you cannot make revisions or corrections.

 

Slide #8: Letter of Recommendation

Request letters from faculty who really know you and your abilities. Ask early. Allow your recommenders plenty of time.

Provide samples of your work to your recommenders. Remind them of classes you took with them, research projects in which you assisted, and provide any relevant materials that will help them evaluate your potential for graduate study.

Follow up to be sure that your recommenders have submitted before the deadline. Be sure to thank your recommenders.

 

Slide #9: Financial Aid

Now I will discuss various Financial Aid Options available to you.

  1.  Most Doctoral students are fully funded under the MacCracken program. No additional application forms are required for consideration for scholarships or fellowships in GSAS.
  2.  Financial aid is available in certain master's departments and programs. Please refer to the web page of your department or program of interest. Applicants should submit the admissions application by the program’s specified deadline date. Once again, no additional application forms are required for consideration for scholarships or fellowships in GSAS.
  3.  Domestic students should file the free application for federal student aid (FAFSA) to apply for federal students loans and work study. Graduate students are eligible for up to $20,500 in federal Stafford loans as well as the graduate PLUS loan
  4.  You should take the time to learn about our Tuition Incentive Program (TIP); GSAS encourages students to apply for external assistance and provides tuition support to recipients of external awards. Please visit the TIP section on our website for details. Your department is a great source of information on suggestions where to search
  5.  If you are admitted to GSAS, you can search for On and off campus employment, including federal work-study positions and internships, through our Wasserman Center for Career Development
  6.  Students can learn about opportunities to become Resident Assistants through the Office of Resident Life and Housing Services. Please note that incoming graduate students may not apply for a position until they've completed a semester at NYU.

 

Slide #10: Living in NYC

Our Living in New York City section on the website provides information on how to find an apartment, public transportation, where to find cheap eats, how to navigate the city streets, and resources for moving, among other topics.

NYU on-campus graduate housing is extremely limited and available on a waitlist basis only to students enrolled in masters or non-MacCracken doctoral programs. When selecting students from the waitlist, GSAS gives priority to international students and to students who have a permanent United States address that is more than 35 miles from NYU. Please note only students who have accepted our offer are eligible to apply for housing.

If you apply, are accepted and officially accepted your offer of admission, then you will be able to access the on-campus housing application.

NYU’s Student Resource Center advises students on the apartment search process through a variety of resources, such as commonly used websites for apartment searches, a roommate registry, legal resources, local brokers and more. The NYU Housing Registry, which can be accessed by admitted students, makes available a listing of non-NYU apartments and shares, only viewable to the NYU community.

 

Slide #11: Useful Websites

Listed on your screen are some websites that you may find helpful to reference before, during and after the application process. These include the Council of Graduate Schools, the only national organization in the United States that is dedicated solely to the advancement of graduate education and research; the National Association of Graduate- Professional Students, a student-run national, non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life of graduate & professional students across the United States; the American Association for the Advancement of Science, an international non-profit organization dedicated to advancing science; Educational Testing Services who administers the GRE and TOEFL exams; and the International English Language Testing System, which can be used in instead of the TOEFL.

 

Slide #12: Thank You

This concludes today’s session. Thank you, and once again, if you have follow-up questions, please call 212-998-8050 or email gsas.admissions@nyu.edu. Please note the full text of the presentation, along with the slides, will be posted on our website. Enjoy your day and best of luck in all of your future endeavors.