The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach – they’re sharing their college experiences as well. Alice is a New York City tutor specializing in Literature tutoring, AP English tutoring, all levels of Spanish tutoring, and more. She graduated from New York University in 2012 with a Bachelor’s degree in Comparative Literature. Check out her review of her alma mater:
VT: Describe the campus setting and transportation options. How urban or safe is the campus? Are there buses or do you need a car/bike?
Alice: The NYU campus is as urban as it gets, located in the heart of New York City. All of the dorms are located within walking distance to most of the buildings, and NYU also provides bus service to the further outlying locations. Many students ride bikes, walk, and use the subway to get around the city.
VT: How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants?
Alice: The professors, advisers, and TAs are very accessible. I am still in touch with several of my professors and look to them as mentors.
VT: How would you describe the dorm life – rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students?
Alice: NYU is unique in that it provides many opportunities on and off campus. For students interested in on-campus life, there are a myriad of clubs and organizations, and dorms have strong communities. Dining halls are popular among freshmen, and usually after the first year, students cook for themselves and enjoy the many restaurants in NYC. Many students find jobs and internships in the city and become truly immersed in New York.
VT: Which majors/programs are best represented and supported? What did you study and why? Did the university do a good job supporting your particular area of study?
Alice: I studied Comparative Literature. The department is relatively small and students received much individualized attention. There was a great deal of support from the faculty and staff, and the university also provided many grant opportunities for students interested in research.
VT: How easy or difficult was it for you to meet people and make friends as a freshman? Does Greek life play a significant role in the campus social life?
Alice: I made friends through my freshman residence hall and freshman seminars. My best friend in NYC is from my first Writing class at NYU! Greek life is not a big aspect of campus life.
VT: How helpful is the Career Center and other student support services? Do many reputable companies recruit on campus?
Alice: Many big companies recruit on campus, and the Career Center was greatly helpful and accessible. I easily found jobs through the Career Center while at NYU.
VT: How are the various study areas such as libraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious?
Alice: The library can get a little crowded at finals time, but otherwise it was sparsely populated and my favorite place to write papers. The student union was a great place to relax, study, or hang out between classes (and it also has an amazing view down 5th Ave!).
VT: Describe the surrounding town. What kinds of outside establishments / things to do are there that make it fun, boring, or somewhere in between? To what extent do students go to the downtown area of the city versus staying near campus?
Alice: It’s NYC! Anything and everything can be found in the city. I loved going to the museums, listening to jazz in the Village, enjoying the parks, trying new kinds of food, and generally exploring the different neighborhoods of the city. I lived off-campus in Brooklyn for my last three semesters and really enjoyed getting to know another borough.
VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes?
Alice: NYU has a huge student body, yet nevertheless, class size remains very small. My Literature classes were never more than 20 students; usually they were around 10-12 students, and I remember one Literature Seminar with just five students. It was great to have discussions in small classes. Some of the more general classes are much larger – I remember Intro to Psychology having over 500 students, and we met in smaller groups once a week with a TA for individualized attention.
VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one you regret the most.
Alice: My best memories are of sitting on my advisor’s couch talking about literature and my thesis. I remember when I learned about her dance career prior to becoming an NYU professor; I realized the photo behind her desk of a ballerina was her! I had so many great conversations with her. We’d start talking about literature and the conversation would often shift to dance, travel, family, New York, and just about anything else.
Check out Alice’s tutoring profile.
The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.
