New York University Top Questions

I thought I had everything figured out; college gave me a healthy dose of reality. I learned that I have limits. I learned that I can, in fact, be wrong; something my 18-year-old self could not comprehend. I learned humility. I learned to pick my battles and I learned the very hard lesson that sometimes the battle I choose to fight will be a losing one. I learned that I am funny and sarcastic, and perhaps even more naive and idealistic than I'd like to admit. I learned how to fail and how to succeed. I learned that sometimes it's all about who you know and other times you won't get anywhere without hard work. I learned that I can't be friends with just anyone, and not everyone will want to be friends with me. I grew up in a small North Dakota town and attended college in the biggest city there is and I experienced the scariest and most exhilirating four years of my life. I wouldn't trade a single one of my successes or failures and without my college experience, I wouldn't be the person I am today.

Leaving my home to attend NYU has challenged me as well as broadened my world view. I have met countless people who are completely different from myself, and experienced things I never thought I would have the chance to experience. I have worked diligently academically, as well as outside of the classroom with jobs, internships, and extracurricular activities. One of the most unique aspects of my experience, however, has been life in NYC; seeing shows, attending concerts, going to museums, participating in poetry slams, and even meeting the occasional celebrity- the options are endless, and have provided me with the opportunity to learn about the world outside of my previous understanding. Additionally, being surrounded by other students who are passionate about their interests is invigorating. I learn so much from the people around me, and have subsequently become a more diverse and loving person. The difficulties I have encountered at NYU- living thousands of miles away from family and friends, adjusting to a new life, and overcoming horrific roommate experiences- have helped to shape me into the person I want to become. What you learn in class is important, and what you learn from your overall college experience is invaluable.

My college experience taught me the value of self preparation and hard work. It is true that my parents paid for most of my tuition, but I covered everything I could with part time jobs and work study. It is important to prepare for the next step as an independent. I have watched my father grow older with each passing day and am doing all that I can to make sure that I can relieve him of the burden of raising and financing my dreams. College taught me to find the resources I needed for myself and how to always be prepared for the good and the bad times. It has also taught me that passing people I meet could become very important parts of my life. I am grateful for the help and support that I receive from my family and friends in my endeavors. It has not been an easy journey, but I am fortunate that it has been a supportive and relatively sucessful one.

I grew up in upstate NY. I had been to the city many times, and new that it was where I wanted to be, but I wasn't sure if I could really live there and be happy. When I got to NYU I was overwhelmed. The student body is huge. I was sure I would never find people that I could be close with in with so many people to meet. Although NYU is huge, it is not homogeneous. Once I got up the courage to start meeting people, it became very clear how important a diverse student body is to a college experience. I met so many interesting people that I never would have met if I hadn't attended NYU. I received an amazing education from NYU that has allowed me to succeed professionally beyond my expectations. However, more importantly I made a group of friends that I now consider my family. We found each other amidst the tens of thousands of other students and have loved and supported eachother for more than ten years. I am eternely grateful to NYU for giving me the tools I needed to succeed professionally and personally.

Although I have not been at college for very long, I have learned a lot in my time here. The most important thing however has been independence. The first semester I didn?t sleep, didn?t eat right, stayed on Facebook for forever, and never contacted my family. I was miserable. For second semester I made a list of resolutions ? to get between eight hours of sleep every night, to exercise regularly, to limit my time on the computer and spend more free time reading, volunteering, or getting an early start on my homework, and to call my family as often as possible. Giving myself more of a routine and also more purpose has made me happier and healthier. Also, many college students forget to really appreciate and thank their families for getting them to where they are now. I know that my parents know of my gratitude when I call them just to see how they are doing and let them know what went on with my day. College is a time of major changes, but making sure you are taking care of yourself and the ones you love should always remain a part of anyone?s routine.

I returned to college after taking an 8+ year leave and I have realized it means a lot more to me now than it did back them. I am remembering what school is all about, like when it was fun to do homework and learning new things. When I was fresh out of high school I thought like a lot of people, that I already knew EVERYTHING. However, I have all but forgotten everything I "learned" back then and am relearning everything again! I am learning about art and humanities and that biology really is fun. I have 4 small children, and we sit and do homework at night and they see me struggling with my lessons and it makes them feel better about themselves when they struggle with theirs. The clich? that you can?t teach an old dog new tricks, well HERE I AM, an old dog learning a lot of new tricks and loving every minute of it.

As an undergraduate student of NYU, I received a stellar education from a prestigious university in the heart of New York City. I had the opportunity to study abroad in Madrid, Spain, where I honed my Spanish speaking and writing skills. I was able not only to gain knowledge in an academic setting but also to learn to be comfortable with my identity as an Asian American gay woman. Growing up in Nebraska, I had learned to hide who I truly was out of fear of familial and peer rejection and violence. Attending NYU, I encountered many others who shared my identity, and I learned to accept myself and to be proud of who I am.

I have gotten so much experience, living on my own in New York CIty, as well as in another country during my semester abroad, that ahve taught me how to be my own person. I've explored different fields of study, different cultures, new ideas and perspectives that have opened my mind and helped me not only figure out who I am as an individual, but helped me grow as a person.

My college experience has helped me better understand how big/small the world is, how diverse/similar we all are. Professors, classmates, dorm mates, friends have opened my eyes to the different cultures that are all around us through curriculum presented and life stories shared. My education has shown me that different states, countries, religions, upbringings, cultures, etc., provide an array of diverse people, yet we are much the same in our basic needs and desires. Appreciating diversity and understanding common ground will be invaluable for helping me try to change the world in positive ways in the future.

I completely loved NYU and miss it now that I am in grad school. Even though it didn't have a traditional campus, it is truly a dream school. I learned so much about myself and the world around me. They have a tremendous Gender & Sexuality studies course and have a diverse population in many aspects. Wish it wasn't so expensive, but I am 100{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} sure that attending NYU was one of the best decisions I ever mad and has undoubtedly put me on the path for success! Proud to be an NYU alumna!