Dear NYU First-Year Students (and Eshika)

I know that applying to college can be an anxious process. Believe me, I know exactly what little Eshika went through while trying to navigate admissions as a first-generation high school student. It can be so daunting. There are so many things I needed to keep track of and even more to applications than what meets the eye. Don’t fret, though!

My advice would be to ask every single question you have. It takes a village to send anyone to college. Don’t forget there’s an army of people supporting you. I know that you will succeed wherever you go. I urge you to enjoy the rest of senior year year after applying, and sit back and relax. Make some memories! This time will fly by before you know it.

Coming to college alone is one of the hardest things to do. It pushed me out of my comfort zone and I learned so much about myself that I hadn’t known before. Making friends was a little hard, but with the various clubs and activities happening at NYU it is an enjoyable experience to get involved. As a senior, I can happily say that I put myself out there. I took advantage of many opportunities to meet and get to know others! It can be a little scary, especially when you know no one. But I assure you it’s an enjoyable experience looking back.

I think the biggest things that I struggled with was probably Time Management and Procrastination. There are always so many events and gatherings happening at NYU and I would’ve liked to attend them all. However, I definitely had homework to do and put it off to the side to have fun. The best thing to do, however, is establishing a balance. An even balance between work and play would’ve helped me reach my goals much faster. I assure you, it does not feel as good to stay up until 2am to finish that assignment due tomorrow that you’ve been putting off the past week.

A strategy that helped me move forward in the semester was time blocking. It was an efficient way for me to plan out my week and find available space for me to relax and recharge so that I could get the important stuff done on time and not feel rushed at all!

I would also encourage students to take advantage of professor office hours, as well as resources within both libraries on the Manhattan campus. Group study sessions also went such a long way. (We had to make a pact to keep the side conversations to a minimum).

Living in the city can be expensive if we don’t properly budget things out. I would say use that meal plan and give any extras to the Swipe It Forward Plan at NYU, so that other students can benefit!

Something that helped me greatly was scoring an on-campus job. In this case, I worked for Admissions and got to make a little side income during my time here. Becoming an RA is another way to help out. Meals and housing are how RAs get paid on campus, and I would’ve totally applied if COVID didn’t get in the way. However, I was able to use my work money to pay for fun dinners with friends, experiences, and outings. In addition, there are so many cheap and discounted things you can do with NYU. Some clubs sponsor visits to museums and Broadway shows and I would say, take as much advantage of those as you can!

The career office is a great way to get started when looking for an on-campus job or an internship! I used the Wasserman Center of Career Development to workshop my resume, book mock-interviews and learn more about the industry I was going into!

I think one of the most memorable parts of my NYU experience had to have been when I studied away. Everyone deserves this amazing opportunity and the best part is that NYU tries to make it as accessible as possible. My financial aid package and my scholarships traveled with me when I went to Florence.

You can read more about my Study Away Experience here!

As my NYU journey comes to an end, I’m excited to start a new one by joining the corporate world. I’ll be working at a consulting firm! I am looking forward to see what the future holds for me and how I can bring my NYU experiences to my post-graduate life. One day, I hope to return to student life by pursuing my Master’s. Thank you for the opportunity to show the behind-the-scenes of my NYU life, Little Eshika!

Love,

Eshika