Alumni Advice: From the Class of 2014 to the Class of 2024

I wish I knew that it was okay to feel imposter syndrome. New York and NYU have his way of making you feel like everyone has it together and you don’t, but if you power walk with purpose and remind yourself that you deserve to be part of this amazing community, it will be the best decision you ever made.

-Jaime

As a high schooler, I was highly competitive – top of my class, president of several clubs, a volunteer – all in the hopes of building a strong college application. But when you get to NYU, I quickly discovered that I was amongst all the other class presidents and valedictorians from around the world. Suddenly I didn’t feel as special or accomplished. Attending university in New York City can be a clean slate – embrace it. The competition is over. You already made it. Be humble. Be open minded to new ways of thinking. Become a completely new and improved version of yourself. Competition won’t take you as far as comradery.

-Andrew

I wish I’d known that every faculty member be it professor or residence hall staff member is there for you! As a student of color, I wish I met with more faculty to members just to see how they plan to help minority students feel more included, specifically in my home school of Tisch.

-Rachel

The professors! Going to office hours is a great way to deepen your understanding of course material, get feedback on your work, and build relationships that can help you down the road. Another amazing (but maybe less essential) resource is the rare book library at Bobst. It can really take your research to the next level.

-Meredith

Freshman year hall council was a big one for me. Especially if you don’t totally click with your roommate or even your floor, this is the place to go to find the students who are the most willing to put themselves out there and make friends!

-Jaime

Living in NYC can be stressful and overwhelming, and the Student Health Center offers free counseling. It’s easy to book appointments and keep your mental health in check throughout your tenure.

-Andrew

Keep applying, apply to as many as you think you’d be a good fit for. Network with professors and see if they have friends anywhere that take interns. Be annoying, in the end, it will only benefit you.

-Rachel

Be yourself. I know that sounds cliché, but as someone who has now been on the other end of the hiring process, there’s nothing worse than interviewing someone who is trying to be someone they’re not, or say the right thing, and they lose themselves in the process. Don’t be afraid to let your true self shine, because that is what will draw an employer in. Also, we live in an age now where so many things are required to land a job or internship, so focus on building a multidisciplinary skillset. Get out of that one track mindset. Build those skills so you can ace that interview!

-Dimitri

I always intended to be a film major and set out to pursue that dream at an early age. However, through my Business of Entertainment minor – I discovered a passion for producing and marketing. Although I initially came into NYU wanting to be a film director, I graduated with ambitions to work in creative advertising.

-Andrew

I came to NYU knowing that I wanted to major in English, but I think what really confirmed it for me was British Literature II with Professor Freedgood first semester sophomore year. She allowed us to personalize our writing assignments to be as creative as we wanted, and she was incredibly passionate about her work. That class made me feel really at home in the English department.

-Meredith

I looked to the people on campus that inspired me and asked them how they got where they were. I scheduled countless informational interviews and eventually someone took an interest in me enough to help facilitate making a call on my behalf to the places I was applying. It took a lot of persistence, I wore a suit to our coffee date! In hindsight, start networking with the adults you trust early and often, and it will feel less transactional later on.

-Jaime

I studied Drama at the Tisch School of the Arts. Pursuing a career in the arts can be challenging, but I felt thankful to be in New York City, the home of Broadway. I was able to make amazing connections and build a wide network throughout my four years which helped me very much. Also, my professors were a wonderful resource. They themselves were working professionally in the business, and really made sure I was prepared and ready to book my first job, which thankfully I did. I made my Broadway debut on my graduation day. A day I will never forget.

-Dimitri

NYU is one of the most unique college experiences out there. Don’t take your major so seriously (employers won’t even ask what you’re degree is in). Try new things. Go outside your comfort zone. Learn tactical skills that make you self sufficient and valuable, such as cooking, design or coding. Immerse yourself in any and every experience you can. The city will be your best professor.

-Andrew

An NYU degree means something, not just in terms of the quality of your education but in what it says about you as a driven person who has existed and learned in one of the most diverse and eclectic cities in the world. My best friends to this day are the ones I met at NYU, and even though I live far away, Washington Square Park will always feel like home.

-Jaime