Leah Remini Completes Her 1st Semester at NYU, Calls It ‘Tough’ but ‘Worth It’
People know Leah Remini best for her role in King of Queens and her history with Scientology. However, some fans may not realize she never went to college. While not everyone needs to attend a university, Remini decided it was time to enroll.
Remini revealed her acceptance into New York University on social media. Now that the semester is ending, she is finishing up her exams. She says the tests are not easy, but she does find school life worth every second.
Why Leah Remini decided to pursue higher education
Many people regard the Church of Scientology as a cult due to stories of how officials treat the members. Multiple people claim that the leader abuses his staff, and guards allegedly try to prevent people from leaving. Policies also require people to disconnect from loved ones who exit the church.
A few celebrities have ties to Scientology, with Remini being one of them. She grew up as a member of the organization, but she broke away in 2013. She left because she did not want her daughter to suffer from the same pressures she had endured. Afterward, Remini released a book and a documentary series about her experiences.
According to Page Six, one of the ways Remini was influenced by Scientology growing up was to focus less on schooling. The reason is unclear, but Remini ended up not pursuing higher education. On Twitter, she explained that she attended school up to the eighth grade.
So, Remini decided to continue her education at the age of 51, showing that “It’s never too late.” OZY reports that she obtained her GED. She is now in college and stated, “This is one of the last chunks of my life that I am taking back for myself from Scientology.”
Remini finishes her first semester at NYU
Remini shared how excited she was that she had the opportunity to go to college. She started classes in 2021, and she recently posted that she is finishing up her first semester. Remini expressed how happy she was about her decision, and multiple fans congratulated her.
Remini is enrolled in NYU, a private institution. The quality of the school likely drew her there, and she is now one of the thousands of students at the college. Remini is aiming for an associate’s degree in liberal arts. However, the specific focus of her major is unknown.
Remini revealed that the enrollment process made her nervous at first. The process typically involves filling out an application and submitting an essay. So far, her classes have not been “easy” due to all the tests and assignments. Still, she enjoys her time there and posted an image on Twitter of her standing outside the university’s library. Like other people, Remini finds it “tough, but it’s worth it.”
Other celebrities who were students at NYU
Remini is not the only celebrity who has gone to NYU. Lady Gaga, for instance, studied music there for a couple of years. While she eventually dropped out to pursue her career, other well-known stars have graduated.
According to TheFamousPeople, Angelina Jolie is an NYU alumnus. At a young age, Jolie was already in New York learning theater. She later attended the university to study different aspects of filmmaking, which helped her with directing and producing.
Elizabeth Olsen is also on the list, having attended NYU after high school. She studied at the Tisch School of the Arts and earned her degree in 2013. Toward the end, she focused on her acting career and appeared in the Marvel Cinematic Universe shortly after graduating.
Another recognizable face is Anne Hathaway; she transferred to NYU in 2005. Her IMDb page shows that before NYU, she attended Vassar College. Hathaway majored in English, and her chosen minor was women’s studies.
