<p>Okay, so I thought I'd just pitch in because I'm an actual NYU student, and as I'm sure, much like many other NYU students on this board, I'm growing tired of people making generalizations about the school based on what other people have told them, and what they've deduced by observing the NYC stereotype. </p>
<p>Just to clear something up, there are numerous current NYU students on this board, and while some may be bitter, I find that many of the posters have thoughtful insight on the school (as they actually attend, go figure), and I find it quite rude for people to automatically assume that because some students decide to pitch in and answer the questions of prospective students, they are automatically the people who "aren't ready" or "don't belong in the city" and who lurk CC 24/7. Furthermore, making assumptions on the personalities/social lives of individuals who are merely trying to give a helping hand, is something that is so contrary to dare I say - the way of life, at NYU. Making such assumptions on how certain people become anti social because their parents aren't holding their hands or they are from small towns and can't handle NYC is a judgment, an entirely false and blind judgment at that which is based on what you have been told is the NYC mentality -- if that's the first thing that you should learn before you come here, it's that your judgments do not matter, because all they do is cloud your thoughts, clump people into social groups much like in high school, and take away from the beauty of the diversity of the city. Don't judge people, or you will be miserable, it's as simple as that. </p>
<p>I think that the biggest problem with NYU is that many come into it thinking that they have to act a certain way to fit "city life." If everyone who came to NYU was someone who was independent, stylish, and open minded, it would be a boring school comprised of a bunch of people who are EXACTLY THE SAME. Screw what you think city mentality is. Take responsibility for yourself, take responsibility for making friends and getting a job and doing well in school, and that's all you really need to worry about! I'm from a suburb in Long Island, so many of my friends from high school go to NYU as well, and there are people who have changed for the worst since attending. This is because in order to smack a smile on their faces and tell everyone that they go to one of the most diverse schools in the world, they are trying to conform to what they think the typical NYU student is. New York mentality does not mean that you have to be rude, or stressed out, or foul-mouthed - it means that you act the way that makes you happy, and you disregard anyone who has a problem with that. There are plently of students from small towns who are polite, meet everyone with open arms, and get lonely because they miss their families, and miss a more easy going lifestyle, and these students still manage to fit in and have a good time. I honestly think that the half of the reason that NYC has such a reputation for being cold and lonely is because people WANT to make it that way so they can call themselves city-slickers, they feel as though if they're not shut off from everyone as they walk the streets, they don't belong in NYC (and I'm a commuter student, so I know more than anyone what it feels like to walk the streets alone). Screw what anyone thinks about whether or not you belong, act the way you want to - and if that means calling your mommy and daddy every night to make you happy, then go for it! And honestly, if you're going to rule out specific people and tell yourself that they don't "belong" somewhere because they're not used to it, then you're overlooking what makes college so much more glorious than high school.</p>
<p>Finally, there is something for EVERYONE. There are undeniably parties in dorm rooms with crappy beer and students running away from the RA's, and there ARE actually... dun dun dun FRATERNITIES AND SORORITIES! Here's the moral of the story on judgment, last year when I had been admitted, I was told that those who joined frats and sororities didn't belong at NYU because they didn't understand what it's like to be independent, and I blindly agreed... until I joined a sorority. I spend every day on the train alone for 2 hours, and I'm not afraid to admit that I did want a family, a group that I could always go to away from home. The problem is that students come to the school so close minded to these things b/c of what they believe to be the "NYU student" that they make themselves so much more miserable, and they end up missing out on a lot. No matter how much I told myself that I was so open to diversity b/c I go to school in the most diverse city in the world, I ended up succumbing to stereotypes about Greek Life - I thought they'd all be blonde haired bimbos who were from the suburbs and didn't belong at NYU, and the women that I have met are anything but that (no two women are the same, and every door that has been opened to me so far, from community service to my current job, is b/c of my sorority). The more you read these forums and search about NYU, you begin to create a certain fantasy of college life that may cloud your mind, and that may cause you to adhere to a certain mentality that may cause you to overlook certain groups, people, and activities, that you may otherwise enjoy. WAIT UNTIL YOU GET ON CAMPUS, and then figure out what kind of life you want to lead. </p>
<p>Wow, I didn't mean to make that so long, but I have the flu (just in time for 2nd semester) and I'm stuck home and need something to distract myself.
Hope I helped somehow =)</p>