NYU Shanghai’s largest-ever incoming class with 520 students arrived on campus and promptly set off on a whirlwind week of activities to acclimate to their new lives as members of the Class of 2028. Between meeting new friends from all over the world and finding their way around campus, students dove head-first into their NYU Shanghai experience, participating in with a mix of educational sessions, team-building games, and socialization events while exploring the city of Shanghai.
Orientation Week was led by a team of 37 Orientation Ambassadors (OAs), upperclass students who shephard groups of first-year students throughout the week of activities and help them adjust to college life. Dana Zinchenko ’26, an Interactive Media Arts major from Russia, said she volunteered as an OA to help make first-year students feel like they belong. “During the orientation week you get to share a part of your life with incoming freshmen and later in the year see how they build their own lives here at NYU Shanghai,” she said. “Being an OA means also having the opportunity to experience orientation again and again, and maybe even contribute to making it better each year.”
Check out how first-year students experienced this year’s jam-packed Orientation Week!
Monday: Inspirational Messages and Making Shanghai Home
First years and OAs at Monday’s University Welcome Ceremony; OAs put on dance performances for the first-year students
At Monday’s University Welcome Ceremony, the Class of 2028 were addressed by university leaders Chancellor Tong Shijun, Vice Chancellor Jeffrey Lehman, and Provost Joanna Waley-Cohen, who offered their words of advice to the incoming first-year students and hyped them up for an exciting Fall semester. Chancellor Tong Shijun exhorted students to engage with each other and the local community, Vice Chancellor Jeffrey Lehman challenged students to speak in a foreign language for two hours a day, and Provost Joanna Waley-Cohen advised students to make a practice of stepping in and out of their comfort zones on a daily basis.
Afterwards, the OAs took their first-year students on tours of the New Bund campus, where they checked out the campus facilities– from the state-of-the-art athletics and fitness center to the bustling cafeteria and the library’s unique study spaces.
“Our Qilin Welcome is designed to provide new students the opportunity to engage with one another, understand the expectations of being an NYU Shanghai student, and the entry point to the community,” said Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Dean of Students David Pe. “Everyone at the university cannot wait to welcome the Class of 2028.”
David Pe speaks to students on their role as members of society.
First-year students tour the New Bund campus
Tuesday: Teamwork Makes The Dream Work
Fun and games at Tuesday’s Fun Olympics
The second day of Orientation Week kicked off with a series on college expectations and communications. Students also had the opportunity to share and exchange their personal stories and experiences with each other in the First Year Dialogue session. The afternoon’s Fun Olympics challenged students in a variety of team-building activities that transcended cultural and linguistic barriers.
At NYU Shanghai, each first-year student is paired with a roommate from a different country to allow students to step outside their comfort zone. First-year students reflected that cultural and language differences are challenging but also opportunities for growth. “The hardest thing for me is the language problem,” said Ren Aining ’28, a student from Xi’an. “My roommate Ralitsa, who is from Bulgaria, helped me to say the difficult words when I couldn’t remember them and she also encouraged me to meet with more people and make more friends.”
Activities at the Fun Olympics encourage team building
Wednesday: Exploring Shanghai and Making Memories
It was off to explore Shanghai, as the first-year students embarked on a classic city walk and scavenger hunt, racing around town to find and identify iconic Shanghai landmarks such as the Bund, Shanghai Pearl Tower, China Art Museum, Yuyuan Gardens, Wukang Mansion, and the Xujiahui Cathedral.
Students visiting Wukang Mansion and Yuyuan Garden on a city walk.
The activity gave new students a glimpse into life outside the campus, and let them begin to explore Shanghai. “We sent students off campus to explore the city with their peers from various cultural backgrounds,” explained Shelly Lu, director of the Center for New Student Programs. “By completing the city scavenger hunt tasks together, the students not only get to know the city better, but also build up new friendships.”
"I have been living an indescribable experience for the past few days,” said Magnus Wallace do Amaral Vital ’28, from Manaus, Brazil . “I feel truly embraced by the NYU community. With every new person I encounter, I discover a new name, a new culture, a new perspective of the world and a warm smile eager to greet me.”
Students pose for selfies during a scavenger hunt around Shanghai
Thursday: Education 101 and then…a Night Run!
The annual Qilin Forum invited first-year students to participate in a range of workshops and sessions covering topics like culture, AI, academic preparation, and lifestyle. “We hope students can experience the academic atmosphere at NYU Shanghai and get to know the variety of college resources through this platform,” explained Lu. Students also participated in workshops on sexual respect, harassment protection guidelines, and Title IX policies.
Associate Dean of Students Judy Li speaks to students about Title IX policies
As day turned into night, a Qilin Night Run got students’ endorphins pumping. A group of 64 students ran to the nearby Qiantian Riverside Park to explore the magic of running alongside the Huangpu River under the stars.
Students heading out for a night run near campus
Friday: Food, Fun, Friends!
As the busy week wrapped up, students celebrated at Qilin Fest, with a street carnival held in the campus courtyard and activities throughout campus. Students enjoyed trying their hand at Sudoku frisbee, basketball free throw, claw machine, whack-a-mole, and other fun games. A variety of food stalls offered everything from pizza, vegetarian sandwiches, grilled skewers, freshly-made drinks and ice-cream. With food and friends in hand, first-year students socialized and got to know one another in the bustling quad of the New Bund campus during the kickoff to the fall semester.
After a jam-packed week, students unwind with food and games at Qilin Fest
NYU Shanghai closed out Orientation Week with the annual Talent Show, where students showcased their many skills from singing and dancing to kungfu and everything in between. After a week of outdoor excursions, team games, and bonding activities, the Class of 2028 was ready to embark on their four-year journey at NYU Shanghai.