What it's like to study abroad in America: from Grade Point Average and 'Darties'

I chose to spend my undergraduate years studying at New York University (NYU). When I accepted the place, I realised that the journey I was about to embark on may have a few hurdles - the culture shock of the US and the fast-paced lifestyle of the city - but I was excited to embrace the opportunity.

NYU is a special, unique place compared to most other American universities. There is a strong sense of community in  as there are no enclosed campus parameters. It can still feel quite isolating and daunting at first but you rapidly make your own campus: the city becomes your playground and Washington Square is your campus centre.

The discrepancy between the American and the British grading system took a long time to get used to. Growing up in the UK, you would do coursework and learn the syllabus throughout the year with exams only in the summer which determine your grade for the course.

But in the US, you are tested throughout the year and every piece of homework, small test and essay contributes to your Grade Point Average (GPA). This means you have to constantly be working at consistent level. This was a big change but now I actually prefer the GPA system as it is much fairer.

Secondly, you are suddenly underage everywhere - in the US, the legal minimum age to drink alcohol is 21 - so getting your hands on alcohol is more tricky. There is a strong house party culture, and in the summer especially there are "darties" (day parties) on terraces and in apartments.

But the reality is that people still go to bars and clubs, and some are even known as NYU dominated clubs and bars, which is a perfect way to meet and mingle with people particularly at the start of the year when everyone is trying to make friends. There are so many distractions in the city and as something is always happening, so you really have to learn to balance work and play and not go out every night of the week.

The culture in the US is definitely very different to what I was used to. Firstly, the change of pace: in New York everyone is out and about at all hours, so it can be much more tiring. Coming from London I would go to sleep at around 11pm, but in New York no one sleeps until 1am or 2am, even if you have class early the next morning. 

In my experience, everything happens a bit later than in the UK - which not everyone likes, but it does work for me. Prior to arriving in the city I thought the phrase “The city that never sleeps,” was merely an old saying with no truth behind it, but after a year in New York I can safely say I could not validate it more. There is always something happening and you have no time be bored.

The food in New York City is unrivaled, and there are more unhealthy sumptuous desert places than apartment buildings. A widely used phrase in America is “Freshman 15”, as every freshman is said to gain 15 pounds because of the change of lifestyle, unhealthy food and large quantities of alcohol. New York’s food wave can suck you in and the portions are twice the size of the UK’s, so you have to be careful to balance your meals and not order too many Insomnia Cookies.

The experience I am having at NYU has transcended what I even imagined. I feel I have learnt a lot in my first year and I’m excited to see what the next three bring.

Natasha Moufarrige is in her second year at NYU, majoring in Politics in the Liberal studies Programme