The author stands in front of the NYU Tandon sign.

Here I am, standing in front of the NYU Tandon School of Engineering’s main building.

1. Where Is Tandon Located?

NYU’s Tandon School of Engineering is located in the heart of Downtown Brooklyn. All the buildings are situated around the Brooklyn Commons, making it feel like our very own campus. Tandon’s location is an opportunity to escape Manhattan’s chaotic streets. Since the majority of our students study engineering, it is easy to make friends in class or through other activities. Because of this, Tandon has a very tight-knit community where you encounter familiar faces every day. Some may worry about the disconnect between NYU’s Brooklyn and Manhattan campuses, but Tandon is unique. What’s more, Tandon students are always welcome on the Manhattan campus and can use any of the facilities and amenities there, and vice versa.

2. Where Do Tandon Students Live?

Tandon students who choose to live on campus their first year are required to live on the Downtown Brooklyn campus. There are two great residence halls to choose from. Each has unique features:

Othmer Hall
The exterior of one of NYU’s residence halls in Brooklyn, Othmer Hall.
Othmer Hall

Located right next to campus, Othmer is a great choice for those who want to savor their sleep and wake up right before class. Not only are you close to school, but you’re also close to a major subway station, Jay Street–MetroTech, where you can hop on a multitude of train lines and head wherever your heart desires.

DeKalb Market Hall, an eatery located in Brooklyn.
DeKalb Market Hall
McNally Jackson Books in City Point.
McNally Jackson Books, one of my favorite stores in City Point!

A must visit place is DeKalb Market Hall, a huge eatery for all the foodies, at City Point, which is a pedestrian-friendly distance away from campus. There’s also a Target and Trader Joe’s there. And there are plenty of smaller stores to explore, making City Point worth coming back to multiple times. McNally Jackson Books is my personal favorite store there. It has a huge variety of books to browse through as well as an extensive stationery collection. I always stop by to check out the latest stuff whenever I come to City Point!

Clark Hall
The exterior of one of NYU’s residences in Brooklyn, Clark Hall.
Clark Hall

Clark Hall is located in the beautiful and quiet neighborhood of Brooklyn Heights, which is about a 10-minute commute from campus. This is a great residence hall to choose if you want to explore a different neighborhood. Definitely check out Dumbo. There is a great view of the Manhattan skyline as well as the Brooklyn Bridge. There is also a wide selection of places to shop and eat, and, overall, it is such a relaxing neighborhood to visit. All Tandon students make their way out there at some point. I still remember going during my first year—it was a breathtaking experience.

3. Can I Take Classes on the Manhattan Campus?

Tandon students are able to take all of their classes on the Downtown Brooklyn campus. You will never have to venture into Manhattan, unless you want to. If you are interested in taking classes on the Manhattan campus, you can take up to four. You can even take minors at the other schools within NYU if one interests you. 

I took the Introduction to Forensic Anthropology course at the College of Arts and Science on our Manhattan campus as an elective. Fun fact: I took it because Bones is my favorite show! I also really wanted to experience the Manhattan campus and I loved it.

4. Is Transportation Provided for Tandon Students?

NYU shuttle bus parked on a city street.

NYU provides a free shuttle service for students with multiple routes offered throughout Manhattan and a route that goes between the Manhattan and Brooklyn campuses. It is a great way to get around, and it is my personal mode of transportation. It’s super convenient as it runs every 15 to 20 minutes. It runs from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. 

Between the hours of 11 p.m. and 7 a.m., there are other no-cost safe ride options provided for students to get between NYU locations. For example, you can request a ride through the NYU Safe Ride app. I love taking safe rides especially if I am at school late at night doing homework.

5. How Can I Make the Most of My Social Life at Tandon?

Four female-presenting NYU Welcome leaders standing in front of a life-size “Y” letter in Washington Square Park.
My NYU Welcome team!

NYU offers more than 300 student-run clubs and organizations. The great thing about these is that there are no requirements to join. Students from any school within NYU can join any club of their choosing, whether it’s based on the Manhattan or Downtown Brooklyn campus. Tandon actually offers 40 specific engineering clubs in Downtown Brooklyn. 

I wanted to venture out and be more involved on the Manhattan campus, which is why I joined organizations there. I applied to be an NYU Welcome leader as well as an Admissions Ambassador. Because these take place in Manhattan, I’m able to meet new people from different schools with different majors within NYU.

Hello! I’m Jennifer, and I’m a student at the Tandon School of Engineering in Brooklyn. I’m currently studying Computer Engineering. I was born and raised in South Jersey, and I’m also a first-generation Vietnamese-American. I’m a huge foodie, so I love to explore the city in search of the most unique and tasty food New York City has to offer!