Published April 10, 2024
Reflecting on My 4 Years as an International Student at NYU
As my last semester at NYU comes close to an end, it feels surreal that these four years have gone by so fast. It feels like it was just yesterday that I was hitting “submit” on my application. I was a nervous but excited seventeen-year-old, and four years later I am a nervous but excited twenty-one-year-old almost done with school at her dream university. It all feels surreal, and I want to take some time to reflect on my four years here.
As an international student, picking a college so far from home was a daunting task. I had to make sure that it checked all my boxes like academics, social life, and everything else in between. Make sure to consider all your dealbreakers before you say yes to your school. You want to go somewhere that can truly feel like home.
I always say that I decided on NYU when I was thirteen, because purple is my favorite color. At that age, it meant it was the school for me. While NYU definitely was the school for me, our distinctive color was not the only factor in my decision. Other factors came into play as well. However, the three reasons I decided on NYU were the academic program, the research opportunities, and the student body.
Academics and All That Jazz!
Academics played a big role in my decision. In high school I liked studying a variety of subjects. I wanted the opportunity to do that in college while still majoring in STEM.
Luckily I did both during my time here! By majoring in Business and Technology Management I got to take STEM classes. And through the Core Curriculum, I studied a lot of interesting subjects. One of my favorite classes was Dinosaurs: Reviving an Extinct Species. It’s basically if Jurassic Park were a class, which is really cool.
F-R-I-E-N-D-S
Another important consideration is the type of community you want in your college experience. This was really important to me. Through NYU, I found some of my best friends for life, which has been truly wonderful.
Being at a school in New York City does mean you might have to go out of your comfort zone to find your community. Still, there are a ton of resources that make this a lot easier to accomplish. Joining clubs and organizations on campus is a great way to find friends. I have met some of my really close friends by being an Admissions Ambassador as well as being part of my hall council.
Liv, who I met through this job, has become one of my best friends here. I even went home for Thanksgiving with her, which was really fun. My roommates Cat and Ant have become my home away from home, especially after living together for almost three years.
All said, you never know how or when you might meet your community. Through my friend group here I have gotten to experience a lot of new things. I’ve also grown so much, and this personal growth is an important part of the college experience.
Worried About Being Homesick?
Homesickness is such a big challenge when you move far away from home. Keep in mind, though, it is a natural feeling. You’ve left behind everything you have ever known to start fresh in a new place. My first semester on campus was a big transition for me. Homesickness was a natural part of that. I was embracing New York City as my new home but still longed for a bowl of my mom’s rasam.
Joining cultural organizations on campus helped me connect with other students who were in similar situations to mine. The Hindu Students Union is one organization that I frequent, and it definitely helps when I just want to experience a bit of home. Temple visits, Holi gatherings and Diwali festivities add a tiny bit of home to my everyday life. Sometimes I take my friends along with me to these events. It’s a nice way for me to share some of my culture with them.
If there is one piece of advice I could give to my seventeen-year-old self it would be to not be scared to push your limits. College is a big change, and moving to another country is another big change. Especially as an international student, doing these things at a young age does require a bit of resilience. However, once you have found your home at college, this will quickly become the best and fastest four years of your life. It is really bittersweet that my time here is coming to an end, but I would not trade the time I have had here at NYU for anything else in the world.
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