I recently visited Pace University in lower Manhattan, where I toured the campus and spoke with the admissions office about the latest trends in admissions. Here are some takeaways from my visit:

· With small classes, a compact campus (a five minute walk from one end to the other) and just under 6,000 students, Pace offers a less abrupt introduction to big city living than nearby campuses like NYU.

· While more traditional outdoor campus space is limited, there are various areas where students can congregate within Pace’s buildings, including a cafeteria, student center and library.

· The majority of undergraduates study in the Lubin School of Business, while a small contingent of students major in the highly selective School of Performing Arts.

· Some of the largest employers of Pace grads are Goldman Sachs, KPMG, NBC and Universal. Many students intern at the UN.

· Housing is guaranteed all four years. There is one traditional-style dorm (with common bathrooms and lounge spaces on each floor), and three quieter apartment-style dorms (with doubles/triples and a common space in the basement). A fifth dorm is in the works. 25-30% of students commute from home.

· There are various online learning options: some classes can be taken asynchronously, and others allow students to “Zoom in.”

· Around 3,000 undergrads attend the more traditional campus in Westchester, which is where the selective nursing program is housed. Sports are also present on the Westchester campus, but not the Manhattan campus.

· The university practices need-blind admissions, and SAT/ACT scores are not required for merit aid.