How does academic advising at NYU compare with academic advising at Brown?

The main tradeoff is structure versus flexibility: NYU tends to provide more school- and program-based advising around requirements, while Brown gives students unusually broad curricular freedom but expects them to take more initiative in shaping an academic path. At NYU, the consistency of advising can vary noticeably by undergraduate school, major, and whether a student is in a specialized program. At Brown, every student’s choices can look quite different because there is no standard general-education core curriculum.

NYU students typically work with professional academic advisors within their specific school, such as Arts and Science, Stern, Tandon, Tisch, or Steinhardt. This can be especially useful for mapping required courses, navigating internal policies, studying abroad, and staying on pace for a credentialed or tightly sequenced major. The tradeoff is that a large university and decentralized school structure can make the experience feel more administrative, and students may need to seek out faculty mentorship separately.

Brown assigns first-year students academic advisors and offers department-based advising, peer guidance, and faculty relationships as students explore and declare concentrations. Because students have much more room to experiment, Brown advising is often centered on helping them make intentional choices rather than simply checking off a prescribed set of requirements. A student who does not actively schedule conversations and explore departments may find the freedom less guided than expected.

For accessible, personalized help with course selection and major exploration, Brown is likely to feel more personal overall, particularly for a student who will use faculty and advising conversations proactively. NYU may be preferable for someone who wants clearer program requirements and a more structured advising framework, especially in a professional or specialized field.