The Center for Student Life Provides a Warm Welcome to NYU

Welcome to NYU!

NYU Welcome offers a variety of programs, events, and initiatives to support your transition to college life. Class-wide events, like the Presidential Welcome Reality Show, a beloved musical sketch comedy written and performed by students and alumni, provide a glimpse into the full NYU experience. At the same time, intimate gatherings and community spaces offer students the chance to build connections with one another.

“My favorite part of NYU Welcome has to be the number of meaningful connections I have made within the program and with the broader NYU community,” says Manuel Estrada. He’s a senior majoring in Psychology at the College of Arts and Science (CAS). “Through NYU Welcome, I gained many friends who have had a significant impact on my time at NYU.”

Offered in both September and January, NYU Welcome helps students adjust to life at the University. You’ll learn all about NYU’s academic and social resources while simultaneously building a lasting community.

“There are so many events throughout NYU Welcome that it’s genuinely impossible to go to all of them,” says Amaris Romero Lopez. She’s a senior premed student majoring in Politics at CAS. “However, by going to the events that interest you, you place yourself in spaces with people who share that same kind of excitement and curiosity. When you seek out experiences and put yourself in the communities that speak to you, you will find people who make you feel like you belong.”

NYU Welcome . . . and Beyond!

While NYU Welcome provides seemingly endless opportunities to get involved during your first weeks at NYU, the Center for Student Life is there throughout your entire time at the University. “I think there’s a perception with NYU Welcome that students need to go to everything,” says Tava Bingham, executive director of the Center for Student Life. “Some even feel they need to meet their best friend during that first week. That can be a lot of pressure. But students need to remember, while this is an opportunity to welcome our students in, it doesn’t end there.”

Both Amaris and Manuel work alongside Tava as new student coordinators at the Center. There, they help students connect and engage with one another year-round. “As students, we are often not aware of how much support and different opportunities NYU provides,” Amaris says. “Knowing about NYU’s clubs and organizations, student government, or Class Activities Boards—and getting familiar with other aspects of the Center—is really helpful in getting involved and meeting new people on campus.”

Make the Most of Your Time at NYU

Throughout the year, the Center for Student Life provides a variety of services to help students navigate the University. Partnering with schools and offices across campus, it acts as a hub for students, connecting them with clubs, events, and other opportunities.

“Whether you have questions about where to find a reserved room, club spaces, or programs offered around campus, the Center staff are extremely helpful,” says Manuel. “The Center is used for club meetings and group study sessions. But you will also find groups of friends spending time there. Usually, I’m there with friends hanging out and catching up, speaking with staff members, or studying between classes.”

In fact, the Center sponsors numerous university-wide clubs, curates local and global service experiences, and hosts multiple student events almost every day of the year. “College is the beginning of a new phase of life for some. For others, it’s a period of transition,” advises Tava. “Take advantage of all NYU has to offer you. Connect with your professors and introduce yourself to the person next to you in class. Be kind to yourself, and take a moment to celebrate your achievement in just being at this really special place. This time is truly what you make of it.”