New York University Top Questions

What should every freshman at New York University know before they start?

Katrina

Having never visited the school or even been to that state before, having no other friends or classmates attending with you, I know you fear loneliness going to a university on the opposite coast. But don?t worry, you?re going to be more than fine as long as you open yourself up to new possibilities and join school organizations, where you?ll meet friends with similar interests. Definitely consider studying abroad sophomore year. You?ll have the time of your life there, traveling all around and forming close lifelong friendships with classmates in the program. Also, be sure to take advantage of the internship opportunities. When you first get access to the career center, have an advisor revise your resume and cover letters, post them on the career website and apply to all suitable internships and work study jobs. Don?t be picky until after interviews and offers?choose the best one later. Books are expensive, but luckily there are textbooks and required course readings available in the school library and in its course reserves, which will save you a considerable sum. Overall, make the most of all available opportunities and resources, manage your time well, and have fun.

emily

Listen to yourself, forget what everyone else around you is doing and saying and go with your heart. I chose my college based on what everyone around me thought i was going to be not who i really wanted to be. It took two years at school and meeting hundreds of people i knew i didn't want to be like for me to realize that i wasn't happy with who i was on track to become and that i had made my college choice based on the same things everyone around me in high school cared about: grades and names. Forget about a schools ranking and what your peers expect you to do, instead focus on where you want to go, what you want to study and who you want to be around. Make your college choice based on what you want because what you want will make you so much happier in the end than what everyone else thinks you want.

Nakisa

In order to find the right college and make the most of the college experience, one must consider all options. You must cosider the fact that if you are looking for a small campus with a lot of school spirit, you are unlikely to find yourself in a city. On the other hand, if you are on the search for a school that is in a big city and has a lot of internship opportunities, you are unlikely to find it at a school that has a lot of school spirit. There will always be both options (big schools vs. small schools) but at the end of the day, you need to decide what you want/ what you want your child to take out of the experience. If you believe that the purpose of college is to prepare you for working in the real world, then you might be better off in a big city, getting an internship for credit every semester. If you believe that the purpose of college is to explore education options and make long term friends, then a small college with an emphasis on community building is better suited for you.

Yohan

Find a college that's right for you. Make sure you like the enviroment and the people. Pay attention in class and you'll find you learned a lot.

Xiao

You don't have to be crazy about the college you are about to attend. However, it does need to at least have some aspects that you think you could potientially like. College is not just about textbooks, homework, papers, and exams. It's also about experiencing life through new friends, new cultures, and new opportunities. It's about finding out who you are as an individual and what suits you the best. It's also about finding out what's not you and what you're not okay with and how to avoid them in the future. Wherever it is you're going, keep an open mind. Be willing to explore and experience.

Carla

Above all, make sure you can afford whichever college you go to. You don't want to go away for college then move back in with your parents because you are so deep in debt. Go to the college that gives you the most money!

Nana

The key to finding the right college is to go and visit the campus in person while classes are in session. This allows for the prospective student to get a true feel for the campus life that a particular school has to offer and going while classes are in session allows for the opportunity to observe the type of students that the school attracts. In order to make the most of the college experience, a student must be daring and willing to try everything. It is important to leave college having tried as much as possible so that there are no regrets post-graduation. If a student is unsure about their choice of major, he or she should not hesitate to consult his or her advisor and consider other options. The priority during college life is self satisfaction as it drives the student to aspire to be the best that he or she can be.

Kate

Do not search for the school with the most prestige--having a dream school and setting all your hopes on it is myopic. Happiness at the school you attend is dependent not on brand name, but on its setting. As a student, you should love the place in which your school is located. You should have an understanding of your ambitions and capabilities as a person--a smaller school is of course be able to take care of you better than a big one, but for people who are independent, this possibility to craft your own space is compelling and rewarding. Every college tour will talk to you about the fit of the school, and while that is cliche and overused, that byline is what the right school boils down to. Challenge yourself only insofar as you are able to handle the challenge, because figuring out how to study and interact with people is hard enough at this juncture in life.

Angela

Make sure that when you are picking colleges that you know the location and all its surroundings. Your first choice college may not be all it seems because colleges do intend to make their school more appealing than it actually is. Best case solution: visit the colleges yourself. Decide in your own first person perspective whether or not this is the place that you can see yourself in for the next four years, or for however long you plan to attend that school. When in college, it is always important to study. High school is not college and vice versa. It's a big step up so studying is necessary. And remember that there are other people in the same boat as you who need help, so make friends by working with them. Especially if your dorming, your social life becomes less of a problem because you've got an entire floor to meet and make friends with. Your roommate might end up being your new best friend, or the longest lasting friend that you'll ever have.

Eunji

The most practical rationale for deciding the right college is usually money. College tuition is a lot of money, and very burdensome for most families. That is a very important factor in deciding the right college, especially if it is an undergratuate school, because many students hope to continue their educations. But that is not what determined my decision. I chose New York University because it is in the middle of the city, full of opportunities and places to explore, espeically all the different churches. It is most important to consider the kind of lifestyle that the student would enjoy.