Being a Student at NYU—an International Perspective

To me, being at a global university means interacting with people whose lived experiences are incredibly different from your own. NYU encourages you to share these experiences in all capacities of your education whether it be in the classroom, your residence hall, clubs, or communities. Gaining a global perspective from people with such diverse backgrounds encourages you to learn about cultures that vary from your own, share what you have in common, and celebrate what makes you different. 

Transitioning to the United States from the “land down under”

After moving to New York, I honestly didn’t know what to expect. I thought I would stand out as the person with an accent they thought was British, the strange person who had vegemite on toast, someone who they also thought said, “G’day,” or rode Kangaroos to school (please note, we never say or do that). Instead, what actually happened was that I was welcomed with open arms by faculty and friends. I learned that I could trick new friends into eating a whole teaspoon of vegemite as if it was peanut butter (please note, don’t try that at home). I shared how we don’t ride kangaroos to school, but we do have koala crossings on the roads. 

Rather than feeling like the odd one out, I found pieces of home throughout New York City. Whether it was the Australian cafes, hearing my accent on the street, meeting another Aussie, or ordering a flat white. Thankfully, I found parts of my culture being celebrated. 

 

Through being at NYU and living in New York City, I learned that I am unmistakably Australian. I am proud of my culture and who I am. I love that I can share my country with friends, classmates, and faculty. By being a part of this global community, I represent and share my country. I also get to learn, through others, about the rest of the world.

I totally understand that, as an international student, the application process can be difficult to navigate. You might be scouring the internet to find out what an SAT, AP, or IB is. Maybe you’re extremely confused about what early or regular decision means. Perhaps your first language isn’t english or you’re totally overwhelmed by the Common App. I was also once in your shoes, feeling nervous, extremely confused, and excited all at the same time. But there is no need to fear, because I’m here to help!

Who is my admissions counselor? 

Most countries and states have a regional counselor. This is a member of the admissions team who is familiar with the education system in said region. This includes standardized testing, policies, and curriculum. You can see the entire admissions team and the regions they represent on the NYU Undergraduate Admissions website. To assist with specific questions about your region, you can be placed in contact with your regional counselor by emailing [email protected] or calling the admissions line at 212-998-4500. 

It is worth noting that NYU is a test flexible university. This means that we acknowledge a wide arrange of standardized testing. You can see a full list of accepted international examinations on the Standardized Testing section of the website. 

Also, if your primary language of instruction at your current (or past) high school was not english, you may need to submit a form of English Language Testing. A full list of accepted exams are available on the admissions website.

If you have any questions, you can contact the Undergraduate Admissions by emailing [email protected] or calling 212-998-4500. Both current NYU students and admissions counselors are available to guide you through the application process.