I really do think NYU is a perfect, wonderful place for some people but as almost everyone on this website has said, its is truly truly not for everyone.  Before you come to NYU have a serious introspective look on what kind of person you are, what you want to get out of your education, and what kind of college experience you want to have.

People who absolutely love NYU fit into a few categories.  They LOVE nyc and urban living, hate everything about the typical college experience (frats, quads, sports, nature, etc), are in Stern/Tisch, want to get ahead with internships and other opportunities presented in nyc, are extremely outgoing and can make friends in the often isolating & hostile social environment, are incredibly, incredibly independent, usually like fashion, and don't mind jumping into a social scene that is entirely motivated by money (clubs, bars, hookah, etc takes major cash people...kids on average probably spend over $130/weekend).

I personally, did not fit into any of those categories.  I was never totally excited about the city nor was I completely set on NYU.  It was never my dream school, but I don't regret going there.  It helped me find out what kind of person I was, which was not obviously, a city-loving one.  NYC and NYU requires a very certain type of person to thrive there (seen above), and unfortunately, that wasn't me.  I think that the other comments are perhaps too negative.