It’s no secret that the idea of NYU is drool-worthy. Between being labeled #1 Dream School by outlets like The Princeton Review and Seventeen Magazine, and it’s ideal location in the heart of Manhattan, I knew that I had to go to the dream school of dream schools. Going to NYU for undergrad is anything but the typical college experience. Without shirtless beefcake football players running around or even a real campus, the NYU college experience is one that I never expected but also one that I would never regret. Here’s the truth about going to NYU:
The Fashion
Prepare to ask daddy for a pretty penny when it comes to your wardrobe. I remember back in the day when I thought my Frye boots were boujee, but believe it or not, YSL and Balenciaga are not reserved for famous rappers and socialites. Expect to show up to a classroom suited for Anna Wintour, with full faces caked and heels taller than the freaking Empire State Building. That’s right --- might as well leave your sweats at home because they will find no place at NYU.
The Internships
Living in the city will allow you the opportunity of networking, even the kind that happens outside of the club. I had my first internship my first semester of my freshman year. So when my friends from other schools didn’t even know what LinkedIn was, I was hauling my young ass uptown to meet with clients and attend meetings. While going to NYU might mean sacrificing some of what traditional college has to offer, living in one of the biggest (and best) cities in the world will open up so many doors when it comes to internships. That being said, I’ll still be living in a cardboard box once I graduate, but I digress.
The Nightlife
My parents dropped my sheltered ass off at NYU at the ripe age of 18 one night. The next night, I was out at some of the biggest clubs that Manhattan has to offer. I had gone from living a life in the suburbs where eating a pint of Ben&Jerry’s and watching rom-coms was the typical night, to spending late nights at 1 Oak with Fetty Wap (throwback) and Justin Bieber. To say it was an overwhelming change that I probably wasn’t fully prepared for is the understatement of the year. While my friends who went to more traditional schools were gushing about the frat guys they met at Sig Ep Whatever, I was mingling with old wealthy men who had escaped their five-star retirement homes for the evening. It was shocking, and fun, and a lifestyle that made me grow up a lot faster than I think I would have otherwise.
The Dorms
I lived in NYU housing for my freshman and first half of sophomore year. What people usually do after that is get a stunning studio apartment in Chelsea or the West Village. My parents are probably eating canned soup for dinner so that I can go to my dream school, so that being said, I moved into a tiny apartment in the East Village with my two best friends. So for anyone at NYU considering moving out of housing -- think again. Buying your own toilet paper is a bitch and I can promise you there will be some nights where you’ll be air-drying. Also, the dorms at NYU are not regular dorms. My freshman year, I lived in the center of the East Village on the 26th floor. With floor-to-ceiling windows, my view was stupid beautiful.
The People
There are two types of people who go to NYU. There are the Tisch kids, who carry tote bags filled with granola and dried kale. They have sleeves of tattoos and don’t buy into societal norms. Don’t bring up the institution, because whatever that is, they hate it. The other kind of NYU student is the Paris Hilton type, the “do you know who my daddy is?” kids from LA or Westchester. If their last name sounds familiar, it’s probably because their parent invented something or produced your favorite movie or something.
Going to America’s Dream School has been just that -- a dream. It’s been the best four years of my life and the people that I’ve met are some of the weirdest, most insane, and best people ever. NYU definitely is not for everyone and life going to school here is an acquired taste. I probably would have been perfectly happy at a traditional college, but I am so freaking grateful that I chose to take the risk and go to NYU. That being said, I hope my mom and dad are enjoying their cans of beans for dinner.
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