The New School Reviews

"Mostly a positive experience. I will say anyone applying for the PhD in psych that you have to go through their MA program first and once done there’s 0 guarantee of actually getting into the PhD. This year they also moved the internal PhD deadline from February to November with a week’s notice that I had to actively seek out to confirm. Since I have my MA already from another school this aspect of the experience left me very disappointed and I must now apply elsewhere and start all over to finish a PhD…Read Less"

"The classes offered at The New School were really progressive, thought provoking, and inspiring. When I started the program, I had no clue that my path will be not only and intellectually challenged, but also how much I grow as a person. The size of the classes were small and intimate and you got to really know other students and their ways of thinking. I was also offered a very generous scholarship and was very grateful for that."

"The New School taught me how to analyze and evaluate, how to question and critique, and to never remain silent when you feel that you have something important to say. I learned about art history and business fundamentals through the lens of social justice/current events. Although many of my courses were art historical, I was always able to trace whatever I was learning to the everyday environment in which we live in. The New School taught me how to make interdisciplinary connections, not only through different courses but also within myself.Read Less"

"I adored my time at The New School, where I completed my degree in the Adult BA division, after transferring from another school. Although the school Id previously attended was considered to be more prestigious, I felt that my classes at The New School were often more stimulating and challenging. My classmates, many of whom were adults putting themselves through school, were extremely committed. Yout dont work all day and go to school at night without knowing why youre there, and that reality meant that classes were generally very engaging and focused. Class discussions were animated and well informed because everyone had truly taken the time to read and think about the material. Additionally, attending school with students of all ages who could lend both their personal and historic perspectives to the material being studied turned out to be an unexpected and much-appreciated benefit. My professors were also excellent, many of them high-regarded professionals as well as academics. Although I cant remember everyone I studied with 22 years after the fact, I can recall no negative experiences and do have very fond memories of some professors whose classes left an indelible impression. For myself, I didn't live on campus, so I wasn't really able to become part of the campus community and didn't forge as many friendships as I'd have liked, but I suspect that's typical in a program like the Adult BA program, where many students are also holding down full-time jobs. That said, my recollection of campus resources like the library and computer lab is that they were quite good. There was also a reciprocal relationship with NYU which allowed us to use their library, which was extremely useful. And of course, its a terrific part of town, conveniently located near several train lines. Overall, I had a great experience and would recommend The New School, especially for anyone wishing to finish their undergraduate degree while also working.Read Less"

"The New School offers a progressive learning environment based in the heart of New York City. The school is a hub of myriad learning opportunities, always buzzing with activity and inspiration from such subjects as fashion to psychology. Students are encouraged to engage in a wide breadth of knowledge and are not restricted to their departmental course offerings, making the experience rich with exposure."

"If you want to go to a school that encourages ideas and highlights being the change in the world, The New School is for you. In every masters degree offered, there is a component of humanitarianism and advocacy. The New School's international affairs masters program is not only theoretical but practical in the classes offered as well as the coursework."

"The New School is a great school and depending on your interests, work ethic and ultimately which school under the university title you attend it may be the right fit for you. I attended the liberal arts school during undergrad, Eugene Lang College, and am now a graduate student at The New School for Public Engagement studying in the graduate program for international affairs. My time in undergrad was wonderful! The seminar style setting in the classroom is great for those who do not wish to be overly involved, but also do not want to be lectured at. Depending on the professor and the course there can be a nice balance between the two. Professors often times teach at several schools in the area, such as NYU and Columbia. Those who attend Eugene Lang must be self-motivated, no matter what they study. Yes, there are requirements, but there is not as much direction as you would receive at a traditional school. You do not need to know exactly what you want to do, but through trial and error, ultimately through persistence, you can figure it out. It is a small college and a big university with a large amount of our student population being international students. Of course, the school being in NYC is an incredible plus (great for internships and networking), but there is no traditional campus, which does effect relationships with classmates and the school overall, to a certain extent. I am in my graduate program going on my second year and I really am enjoying it. Of course, it is different from undergrad (more reading and writing, as well as higher expectations), but I am up for the challenge. Many of the professors in my program are both professors and practitioners (i.e. still in the field they are teaching about). This makes them knowledgable, up to date and potentially a good contact if this is a field you wish to go into post-graduation. Again, you are in NYC, intern, intern, intern--make your contacts now! Figure out while you are in school what is you like and what you don't like in order to be better off upon graduation. Overall my going on six years at the New School has been great.Read Less"

"As the director program insists, the PhD program in Public and Urban Policy at The New School greatest strength and weakness is its flexibility. Besides the few mandatory core classes, students are free to develop their own course of study; however, there are not a lot of resources (funding, information, and administrative support) available to students, which makes pursuing the PhD more a cumbersome process than it ought to be. Also, by accepting too many students, there are not enough full time faculty available to give students proper and sufficient attention as advisers. This inadvertently forces students to seek mentorship at other institutions, or in other departments. But as an interdisciplinary program, this is part of the departments intention. It is also a program where applied research is prized over conceptual investigations, but this is not clear from the outset. The student body, which varies in age, experience, educational backgrounds, and origin of births, is one of its greatest assets, and serves as a vehicle for providing many different perspectives in the classroom. The program also has a strong focus on social/spatial (in)justice concerns. For those interested in tackling such problems in an intellectually stimulating environment, and can handle being left to your own to navigate the complex process of completing a dissertation, I recommend this program for you. For those looking for pure social science curriculums where there are administrators who will hold your hands through the process, it is recommended that you look elsewhere.Read Less"

"My time at The New School has been wonderfully eye-opening. I am most grateful for the diversified faculty members, subject matter, and presentation of materials and ideas. The campus is beautiful, the mission is progressive, and the energy is exciting. I am assured every day that the campus is buzzing with innovative ideas in any number of schools of thought. I am eternally grateful to be in the presence of such accomplished faculty, guest faculty, alumnus, and present classmates. It has truly been a worthwhile experience.Read Less"

"I think that the graduate program at the New School will serve as a catalyst in terms of fulfilling my dream of furthering my knowledge in the international field as well as set me on the right track of achieving my dream as a human rights advocate and policy maker. My purpose in this life is to wake everyday knowing that I made a positive I apart in someone's life. I strongly believe that the master's program in international affairs will open doors and opportunities in fulfilling my dreams and a step further in my future career path. Having a strong and vibrant administrative school such as the New school is an integral part of the development of personal and professional growth for all graduate studentsRead Less"

"I attended NSSR from 2008-2010 as a student of Political Science with an intention to work toward a doctorate in Political Theory. The school did not offer much financial support to its MA students, offering only a 33% scholarship with no negotiable extension of that aid. As a result, I took on over $50k in additional student loans for two years there, on top of my previous undergraduate loans to attend this school. While there, few professors took the time to try to get to know me and I was not able to make any meaningful connections there. They came across as very in touch with their research and expertise but largely out of touch with their students and the act of meaningful teaching. As a working commuter, I felt the department privileged NYC-based students and culture and was not appreciative of the full diversity of its international and commuter students. Further, given the limited methodological approaches of their faculty, the program did not prepare me well to enter into a world in which quantitative political science and policy analysis were the dominant paradigm, and while my interest was in theory, I was not prepared at all to engage in conversations with large swaths of the field who practiced other methods and had different epistemological standpoints. We were very much trained to join the ivory tower of disgruntled theoreticians and engage in discourse, critical theory, and ethnography but little else. I was not prepared for the job market with a M.A. from this school. I was not admitted to any doctoral programs with a degree from NSSR, and there was little (zero) demand in the job field for M.A.'s in PoliSci that paid any better than for someone with a B.A., or no degree at all. As a result, due to my oppressive levels of debt, I had to switch fields and embark on another career with tens of thousands of dollars in debt, and yet they still hit me up every year for an alumni donation. No, thank you.Read Less"

"The New School is a progressive flexible university with the highest number of international students in the USA. The classes give a thorough look back and forward with a heavy dose of theory and practice. I have been able to tailor my education to my needs and although I am taking the program mainly online, I have access to independent studies and the professors, whom are mostly working in their field. I can't say enough great things about my growth as a student and a professional."

"I learned so much about myself and about the world around me. I grew as a person and learned to be more appreciative and thoughtful. I also learned a ton that I would not know otherwise."

"Great school with great teachers. My course was a little unorganized due to it being a newer course but overall great experience."

"College is a wonderful experience. I met great people and got to learn things I'm passionate about. However, it was expensive and put me into debt."

"The New School is a diverse and rigorous and progressive university established in 1919 designed for freethinkers. It's flexibility allows It is the #1 school for small classes . It ranks #1 for art and design and has highest percentage of international students. I am enrolled in the Media Studies program, where I plan on expanding media literacy in my state and in the nation. Because the university allows for me to achieve my goals, I can take classes outside of my school and still get credit toward my degree. The university is heavily focused on theory and practice.Read Less"

"The New School is a wonderful Music program. A few months after I graduated I went on Tour with Beyonce so it definitely prepared me for my future. However, the advisors never told me that my degree wouldnt help me as far as teaching. Also the advisor did not advise me to take english or math classes just in case i would want to continue on and get a masters degree which I now have to take on top of my graduate courses to complete my certificate ."

"The thing I loved most about Eugene Lang was its small, seminar style classes. The faculty was as a whole really great, and very involved in helping me succeed as a student and an artist. The campus life was a little lacking, and I had trouble finding an opportunity to connect with my peers because there were few opportunities to connect outside to class, but I consider the value of the classes to outweigh this shortcoming. Proactive, independent thinkers will do well at this school."

"As a student at The New School, I had the opportunity to enroll in a unique dual degree program that allowed me to get a Bachelors of Arts and a Bachelors of Fine Arts in 5 years, greatly preparing me for jobs as an designer and environmental educator. I was able to easily to integrate my artistic and academic interests. In addition the New School is located within the heart of Manhattan with access to museums, music, theatre, and amazing internship opportunities."

"I am writing about The New School for Social Research. I have continuously been impressed with the program here that I am going to continue on from my MA and get my PhD in Clinical Psychology here at the NSSR. What is most appealing about this program is the mentorship that I receive from both faculty and peers alike. I always feel that I am able to go to someone when I need advice or need to run a research idea by someone. The classes and professors here are unlike any other University I have attended. There is a real emphasis on learning to learn and not learning to test and that is something I did not have at other institutions.Read Less"