A Guide to NYU Welcome from a Welcome Leader

It’s here! The moment you’ve been waiting the entire summer for. It’s time to move into your first residence hall. This year’s move-in is on August 26 and 27. Incoming first-year students can move in a week before upper-level students and before classes start. During this week, there are school orientations and a variety of events where you can meet people, explore the city, and adjust to NYU and New York City all at once. 

Students are assigned a move-in time when they receive their housing assignment to ensure a smooth move-in process. When you arrive, swing down to the Kimmel Center for University Life to pick up your student ID and some cool swag! On move-in day, parents are invited to an information fair as well as a family welcome reception at Kimmel.

NYU Welcome hosts a wide range of events. Our marquee events are the largest ones. Here are some of the more popular ones you should check out:

• Presidential Welcome and Reality Show
  • From the Radio City Music Hall stage, the NYU president will warmly welcome the Class of 2027. NYU students will also perform a musical comedy sketch to showcase the ups and downs of college life and how to best navigate them.
• Drag Bingo
  • Truly a fan favorite, Drag Bingo is always a sold-out event every NYU Welcome. So if you’re interested in attending, get there early! Each year, we invite a popular drag queen to come and host bingo. It’s such a fun and interactive event. And it’s a great place to meet new friends. 
• Club Fest 
  • If you’re interested in joining clubs here at NYU, this is the perfect time to sign up! At Club Fest, you’ll get more information on all the clubs, Greek life, and athletic teams. 

In addition to on-campus events, NYU Welcome consists of excursions and tours. They’re designed to help you get familiar with the city. There are pedestrian-friendly tours in the area around campus. For example, you can check out local coffee places, try a variety of boba tea vendors, taste test dessert spots, or visit green spaces. If you want to find some cool spots around campus, hop on one of these tours!

Hoping to find people who share the same identity(ies) as you? Led by your very own Welcome leaders, affinity spaces are dedicated to bringing together people who share the same identities.

• Use the NYU Mobile app.
  • For the best NYU Welcome experience, download NYU Mobile. All events and activities are posted there. You can quickly find the ones that interest you and favorite them to create your own personalized schedule during Welcome. Learn how to navigate NYU Mobile. 
• You’ll never forget your first Welcome.
  • NYU Welcome is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. So please don’t be afraid to go out of your comfort zone and try something new. You’ll never know whom you’ll meet or what you’ll fall in love with that may change your life forever. 
• Don’t be afraid to talk to Welcome leaders.
  • The grand stairs of Kimmel will be lined with dancing Welcome leaders from the moment you enter Kimmel during move-in through the end of Welcome. What’s more, we staff all of the Welcome events, so please don’t be afraid to talk to us or ask us any questions. We truly want you to have the best Welcome experience. So use us as a resource while you’re adjusting to college life.