NYU question

[Lilly2007]

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Hi guys,

Can anyone out there shed a little light on the controversy of how approximately 50 people are cut from NYU's first year class. How and why does this happen? I'm assuming that this is not simply the attrition rate. I know NYU has the largest class in the US so there for their attrition rate should be higher than other schools, but 50 people seems like a really high number. Why is it that other dent schools seem to fight nail and tooth to prevent students from failing out, while NYU seems to want this to happen the first year in order to decrease the class size?

As you all can tell, I'm a bit ignorant on NYU's policy for retention of their students. I have to tell you though, I have recently been accepted to NYU and have sent in my deposit. Since I have been accepted to other schools (and have other interviews coming up) I know I'll have other alternatives if I choose not to attend NYU. It's just that I really liked the school and the city, and would love to move out there for 4 years from L.A.. The only thing holding me back is fear of being kicked out regardless of how hard I try.

Can someone please better inform me about this issue? I would appreciate any advice. 🙂

Thanks
--Lilly
(by-the way..I posted a similar thread on the Dental forum hoping that current NYU students would have some advice for those of us thinking about attending NYU)

 

[jojo2280]

Well, that's the rumor. At all of my interivews people were discussing NYU's policy on how only the top 150 out of the 200 stay to the next year. So, that means, if, 150 people have 4.0's and you have a 3.9--see ya later (just not at NYU).
Then again I never asked someone at NYU, just people from other schools...
JOJO

 

[DesiDentist]

Like JoJo said, each school has their own policy. However, at most schools there is a chance for remediation (tutors, retaking classes, repeating years). However, NYU is notorious for cutting all those who fail to achieve a 75% mark after first year. No ifs, no buts.

Usually 30-50 people have to be cut. Remember NYU has only the capacity for 220 students.

My cousin is at NYU that's how I know.

DesiDentist

 

[PashaJ]

How the heck did the number increase? Wasn't the fashionable figure 20-30?

In any case from what I've read and been told it's not totally true. I think that those 20-30 people are lost over the four years, so that's the 10% of the class which are expected not to complete the program. Also, the kids don't get kicked out but rather fail.

Since NYU grants some kids a chance in dental school by admitting them, the student's either take on the responsibility, like this Corey kid from American Idol, or goof off, like that guy who tried to be like Sisqo.

Bottom line is if you study, you'll be fine.

 

[DesiDentist]

Originally posted by PashaJ


Bottom line is if you study, you'll be fine.

Yes, you are correct. 10% is a huge number, most schools lose around 1-5 with a class of 100.

DesiDentist

 

[PashaJ]

I was thinking 4-8 for the average class size of 50.

 

[3rdMolarRoller]

Hey Lilly2007, when did you interview at NYU?

 

[Lilly2007]

Hey guys,

Thanks for all your feedback, but again no one (including myself) seems to know the exact figures or the exact policy written on paper by the school regarding this issue. (it kind of scares me the way they don't discuss this with prospective students AT ALL). Since the school really does'nt address this issue during interviews or even on their web site, do you guys think it would be inappropriate for me to call the school (maybe Amy Knowles) to get a direct answer?

I was told by some students that you're only allowed to fail 2 courses which you may repeat during the summer. 3 courses would automatically mean you'de have to pack your bags. But I'm not even sure of NYU's definition of "fail". I don't think it's necessarily a "D" or an "F", and like someone posted earlier, I think if everyone else is getting a 4.0 and you happen to pull a 3.8, your basically considerd failing. Now you guys see why I'm sooo confused.

Please let me know what you guys think about me asking somone from the admissions staff about this. After all, I don't want them to revoke my admissions or anything 🙂 (with NYU you never know, I might be the first student to get kicked out BEFORE I even get there )
--Lilly (by the way, I interviewed on Jan 17th)

 

[rimpy823]

When Amy Knowles came to my school this past year, I asked her about the attrition rate. I did not mention that I know about ~50 students being dropped/failed. She said only 2 people dropped from last years class. When i was at the interview, i asked the students and they said it was true that NYU has a very high attrition rate but the faculty will never tell incoming students. NYU in many respects is a great school, i would definetely go there if the attrition rate weren't so high. Personally, that is the only con about the school. Otherwise, the education is great and definetely the clinical experience.

 

[DesiDentist]

Originally posted by rimpy823
When Amy Knowles came to my school this past year, I asked her about the attrition rate. I did not mention that I know about ~50 students being dropped/failed. She said only 2 people dropped from last years class. When i was at the interview, i asked the students and they said it was true that NYU has a very high attrition rate but the faculty will never tell incoming students. NYU in many respects is a great school, i would definetely go there if the attrition rate weren't so high. Personally, that is the only con about the school. Otherwise, the education is great and definetely the clinical experience.

I ditto that!

Also, I want to add the huge tuition and living expenses.

Also, you pay 8,000 bucks to "RENT" your instruments. At Temple it was like 6,000 bucks to buy your instruments.

DesiDentist

 

[ddstothecor]

When I interviewed at NYU, I asked my interviewer (the guy w/the massive goatee who looks like he was in the Queensryche video for "Eyes of a Stranger", he's in the catalog) about the attrition rate because, I guess, NYU is notorious for that. He was flippant in his response, and indicated that it's not unusually high--no higher than other schools. He basically said that the percentage of students that don't graduate is on par with the other programs, but that the number is inflated because of the preponderance of students enrolled at NYU. He estimated about a 10% don't make it (what 22-30 students?). I still thought that was rather high, and was not impressed that the school is motivated to support its students that genuinely struggle. Unlike Tufts, the attitude appeared as a you against the world mentality. Further, the student we ate lunch with confirmed the suspicion that the NYU boot is out there ready to kick-out an inordinate amount of students.
Of course, there were many reasons I chose not to follow-up with NYU, but some people who were there that day absolutely loved the school. It sounds like you like the school, but are concerned with the struggle to maintain. I believe you can make it if you try, and that's also what the student we ate lunch with indicated. She said it was hard, but doable. Any school will be hard.

 

[mcataz]

I relate NYU to Carribean medical schools. Usually 30% of the class fails out of Carib med schools. The initial impression is that those schools are weeding people out. In reality, the Caribean medical schools accept a lot of students who shouldn't be in medical school to begin with. I think the same can be said for NYU. They take chances on students who probably shouldn't be admitted to dental school. When you have a class size that big with low GPA's and DAT's, naturally a lot of students are going to fail out. I'm not suggesting that they lacked potential to be great dentists. But let's face it, it takes a lot of discipline and good work habits to succeed in dental school. Some habits are hard to lose and those people with the 2.8 GPA's probably didn't kick all their old college habits as well they thought they did.

But I will say this, NYU is probably aware that many students will not hack it, yet they admit a lot of weak students anyway. They probably are trying to milk their first years as much as possible. Still, who do you blame? Do you blame the school for admitting students they should not? Or do you credit them for giving a weak student a chance to prove him or herself?

 

[DesiDentist]

Usually 30% of the class fails out of Carib med schools.

mcataz:

Where did you get that number from? Are you saying that 30% of the people are actually kicked out or fail to pass the USMLE? Remember that going to a foreign med school you are risking not being able to practice in the US due to the increased pressures of letting FMG's (Foreign Medical Graduates) from practicing. So this indeniably increases the chances that those people wishing to practice here do not get a residency.

DesiDentist

 

[DesiDentist]

Also, I wanted to add there is a big difference between:

Kicking people out vs. people failing the license exams and are unable to practice.


However, if you maintain that 75% mark they can't touch you. However, since this has been going on for several years now they give many students "second chances" to prove themselves. So I laud NYU for doing that, because there are many students who do not have stellar gpa's with a burning passion to be a dentist and doors open because of this "generosity," say you.

🙂

DesiDentist

 

[DesiDentist]

thanks for the clarification, mcataz.

DesiDentist