The UGFTV Chair's Office invited this year's Peer Mentors to share advice for first-year students.
What's one university resource you wish you had known about in your first semester?
"Study spots! There are so many good nooks and crannies to hide in and do some work for a bit." - Schuyler Barefoot
"The printers in Bobst!" - Zoé Medranda
"I wish I had known more about the Production Center!" - Maggie Soik
"The degree progress report and planner. They can be found in our Albert account under academics, which I never used until junior year and I wish I had remembered to check them more as a freshman!" - Yolanda Zhang
"The NYU Creator Network Slack channel that the school production lab just created which connects you to people with different professions in filmmaking." - Chris Zilong Wang
What tips do you have on how to get to know other students?
"Don't be afraid to ask to hang out. Introduce yourself when you can. Offer to write something together or go take photos if you need an icebreaker. Everyone is waiting for someone to make the first move, so don't be afraid to make new friends whenever you can." - Schuyler Barefoot
"The main tip I have on getting to know other students is to always says yes! Meeting new students can be nerve-racking and awkward, but you will never know the bond/connection you can make with someone unless you put yourself out there and say yes to the first hang out. You got it!" - Zoé Medranda
"Ask what roles in production they want to be in the future; ask for Instagram or phone # ASAP just in case you forget their names or can't reach out to them when you need help." - RayRay Qian
"Join group chats! Reach out to others in your dorm/housing. Talk to others at the dining hall." - Maggie Soik
"You can just talk to anyone anywhere like on an elevator in Tisch or on Instagram." - Chris Zilong Wang
What go-to spots around campus would you recommend?
"So many. Dig, Lazy Sundaes, and Playa Bowls are my current favorites." - Schuyler Barefoot
"My favorite go-to spots around campus are Cozy Soup 'n' burger, Outro NYC, and a spot in chinatown called "Wah Fung Fast Food"." - Zoé Medranda
"Lazy Sundaes for bubble tea; Fresh&co for fast food; The Donut Pub for snacks; The white food truck in front of Stern for legit Chinese food!" - RayRay Qian
"Two Boots has the best garlic knots I've ever had." - Maggie Soik
"Even if I'm not a McDonald's person but you'll always go there when you just off a set and it's only 10 minutes before your next class." - Chris Zilong Wang
Other advice for new UGFTV students?
"Don't follow the crowd. Find your voice and make films that are true to who you are." - Zoé Medranda
"Be very kind to absolutely everyone." - Schuyler Barefoot
"Don't become avoidant — as obvious as this sounds, when you're under a lot of stress you can be very inclined to avoid the source of your stress. Keep in mind that it's better to do a poor job at something than to give up on trying altogether." - Yolanda Zhang
"Take risks, this is the time to make mistakes and learn. Failure can be your greatest strength." - Zoé Medranda
"Step outside your comfort zone." - Maggie Soik
"Be proactive both inside and outside the school. Your classmates are the best resource the school provides you with. Enjoy NYC!" - Chris Zilong Wang
"Don't rush — a lot of people want to get ahead, but in trying to do so they can overestimate their availability and underestimate the workload of classes, which can result in burning out and lead to worse grades than they would normally get." - Yolanda Zhang
"Make friends with the Post Production Center team." - Schuyler Barefoot
"Join clubs and make projects outside of school!" - Maggie Soik
"Be there for your classmates. Always treat people with kindness, you never know what someone is going through, so it's good to be a shoulder to lean on especially during these difficult times." - Zoé Medranda
"Join clubs — we all know it's important to stay socially connected, and clubs are an excellent way to do just that! You can find many options on NYU Engage and request membership there." - Yolanda Zhang