The NYU Shanghai Student Experience: Kevin Weighs In

“I have always had a profound interest in both Chinese culture and language,” says Kevin. “I studied Chinese throughout my high school career. Moreover, I participated in an exchange program between my high school and Shishi High School in Chengdu. With that being said, when I saw an opportunity to receive an NYU education in the heart of Shanghai, I knew that was what I wanted to do.”

Though he was eager for the unexpected, Shanghai’s student-to-faculty ratio of 6-to-1 was important to Kevin. He was looking for a close-knit classroom experience, and he found it. “The best part of my academic experience is definitely the connections I’ve formed with my professors. The classes are small, which allows plenty of one-on-one time with the professor,” he shares. “Furthermore, the professors here are so well connected. They are always available to help their students with regards to internships, schoolwork, or just life in general.”

The most challenging part of Kevin’s NYU Shanghai student experience was acclimating to the city of Shanghai itself. “I come from a small town in New Jersey with only 8,000 people. It was a massive change moving to one of the largest cities in the world,” he explains. “Luckily, I made great friends who supported me through this transition.” The most challenging part of Kevin’s academic journey has been time management. “I’m going to be completely honest: if you come to NYU Shanghai, get ready for a demanding workload,” says Kevin. “This, compounded with the desire to explore a city as vibrant as Shanghai, can create some tough times. Luckily, the school does a great job supporting its students with things such as the Academic Resource Center, among other resources.”

Joining an international student body is one of the best parts of the NYU Shanghai student experience, according to Kevin. “The diversity of views adds a lot to the overall experience both in and out of the classroom,” he says. “It’s tons of fun getting to learn about such a wide range of cultures.”

And the environment of NYU Shanghai also helped Kevin select a major. He opted for Social Science with an international relations track. “I chose my major based on the unique position in which NYU Shanghai is situated,” he explains. “With the ever-increasing complexity of U.S.-China relations, as well as its importance on the global stage, NYU Shanghai is one of the best places to study this topic. Studying U.S.-China relations in a room full of not only American and Chinese people but also people of so many other nationalities really goes far in encompassing all of the viewpoints of today’s pressing issues.”