How times does fly! As a soon-to-be graduate of the accelerated 16-month Master's program in Social Work at the Silver School of Social Work, I can’t help but feel like maybe I haven’t squeezed every last experience (or snack, cultural program, social event or on-campus freebie) out of my time as an NYU student. With only a few months until graduation, I have tried to take advantage of the many events and opportunities made available to me and have continued to use the perks and benefits that I learned during my time here. With such a large campus and so much to do, it can take a little while to get acclimated to the NYU community. As grad students, we’ve got a limited time to learn about these perks and live it up! If only someone had filled me in on this insider knowledge right when I arrived!

Well, you’re in luck, blog-readers. Here are a few things you should know about to get the most out of your time at NYU.

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Grad Go Events: Meeting grad students from outside your specific school/program can be challenging, but Grad Go events bring students together for fun activities on the cheap. Paint nights, beer tastings, and other exciting events get you exploring the city and expanding your network! Check out some of the upcoming socials they'll be hosting here.

Microwaves: Don’t let commuter life stop you from eating a hot lunch! Microwaves are available all over campus. I personally like to frequent the microwaves on the lower level of the Bobst Library.

Bathrooms: The best bathrooms on campus, in my opinion, are at the Wasserman Center for Career Development in Union Square and in the new Admissions Center across the street from NYU Stern. Also, if nature ever calls while you’re in the library, head up to the 10th Floor Graduate Student Exchange for some exclusive bathroom privileges.

Speaking Freely: Want to dust off those old high school language textbooks and parle vous a little Francias? Speaking Freely offers low-pressure weekly conversation courses in a ton of different languages and levels. ¡Muy divertido!

NYU Box Office: The physical office is located on Laguardia Place, but there's a virtual office located in your NYUHome portal! NYU's Box Office offers tickets to Broadway shows, movies, sporting events and more! And at an amazing discount! If you’re anything like me, you will talk your parents into taking you to a different show every month (#blessed to be raised by Broadway lovers). Sometimes the tickets posted on here are FREE!

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Practice Rooms: Not an arts major? Don’t let that stop your from getting your song and dance on! Music practice rooms and dance studios are available in the Kimmel Center and Palladium Hall for all students to reserve.

Leslie E-Lab: This entrepreneurial epicenter (say that 5 times fast) is home to many resources for students interested in starting their own business. You don’t even have to be a business major! The E-Lab offers mentors, a course on how to create your own start-up, competitions with prize money for new ventures, and a lab filled with 3D Printers and laser cutters!

Also!

  • You get $50 worth of print credits loaded onto your NYU ID every semester. Use them or lose them!
  • In my opinion, the best truck food is Teryaki Guys, which is almost always parked outside of the Bobst library (and almost always staffed by a sweet lady named Maria--gotta change the name to Teryaki Ladies AMIRIGHT?)
  • If you forget your NYU ID, Campus Safety can write you a temporary pass for a day. Just stop in and tell them what NYU buildings you need to visit that day

Those are just some of the things that I love. You’ll find things that you’ll love about NYU and our campus too! I hope these helpful tips give you a little more confidence to explore during your time here. NYU is your oyster! Work hard, play hard, and get as many free experiences and treats as you can because, as the incomparable Barack Obama always says...

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(Okay not super applicable but LOVE HIM!!)