Frequently Asked Questions - Freshman Registration

Who is my advisor? How can I contact my advisor?

You can find whom your summer advisor is in Albert’s Academics tab (see Step 1 in this guide). After you have completed your online module, if you wish to discuss your fall academic plan in detail, you may also schedule an one-on-one appointment with your summer advisor in Albert. To schedule an appointment in Albert, please refer to this guide.

 
[For Chinese students] Can I change my choice of session of English for Academic Purposes (EAP) course?

Yes, you can enroll in any open session of EAP course, but there is no waitlist for any EAP course, and you can only enroll in one open session at one time. Beginning the second day of the semester (August 31), you will not be able to add/drop your EAP course in Albert. If you wish to change your EAP course registration after that date, you may contact Professor Steve Iams, Area Head of English for Academic Purposes (sei2@nyu.edu). He will accommodate your request if possible. 

I am an intended science major and have enrolled in all Foundations of Science courses (General Physics I/Foundations of Physics I Honors, Foundations of Chemistry I, FoS Physics Lab/FoS Chemistry Lab). Can I drop any of my enrolled courses?

If you intend to major in the sciences, you must take Foundations of Science courses in your first semester; therefore you will not be able to change your enrolled courses. If you would like to drop any of your enrolled courses, please email shanghai.advising@nyu.edu for help. 

 

If my preferred language/math/elective course is full, do I still have a chance to get into this course?
  • Yes, there is still a chance for you to be enrolled in your preferred course/session. However, we cannot guarantee a spot in any specific language/math/elective course for any student. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you choose an alternate section.  
  • Most courses have a waitlist. If you want to take a course that is full, we recommend that you add yourself to the waitlist, if possible. When waitlisting, make sure to use the Swap function so that Albert knows which class to drop you from should a space open up in the course. If you already waitlisted but did not use the Swap function, use Edit Swap to set up a swap after the fact. Many courses have a waitlist limit. When this waitlist limit is reached, waitlisting for the course is no longer possible.
  • Waitlists do NOT guarantee you a spot in a class, but students do occasionally get into the course from the waitlist when enrolled students drop the course. After initial registration, this movement is most likely to happen during the drop/add period once you arrive on campus. Since the likelihood of getting into a course off of a waitlist can be difficult to predict, you should always be enrolled in and ATTEND all registered courses. 
  • English for Academic Purposes (EAP) courses do not have waitlists. Students can only enroll in an open session for EAP course. 
What is Swap function and what is Edit/Swap function? How to set them up?

Most courses run waitlists. If you want to take a course that is full, we recommend that you add yourself to the waitlist, if possible. When waitlisting, make sure to use the Swap function so that Albert knows which class to drop you from should a space open up in the course. If you already waitlisted but did not use the Swap function, use Edit Swap to set up a swap after the fact. Many courses have a waitlist limit. When this waitlist limit is reached, waitlisting for the course is no longer possible.

I am not enrolled in all FoS courses (General Physics I/Foundations of Physics I Honors, Foundations of Chemistry I, and FoS Physics Lab/FoS Chemistry lab), can I still take the 2-credit EAP or Chinese class?
  • No. Only students who enrolled in the 8-credit FoS courses listed above are eligible to take the 2-credit Chinese/English for Academic Purposes course. 
  • If you are not registered for FoS coursework and enroll in a 2-credit EAP or Chinese class , you will be dropped automatically.
Can I still change my course schedule after I finish enrolling in class?

Yes, you can change your course selections, depending on the availability of courses. 

 

When can I start to enroll in courses?

All first-year students will register for fall courses on Albert on Monday, August 16, 2021 at 9:00 AM EST. The time is Eastern Standard Time​. If you are in a different time zone, please convert the time accordingly. 

 

 

What’s the deadline for changing schedules?

The deadline for the adding or dropping of a course or a section is the end of the second week of the semester. The adding of any course or section after the end of the second week is generally allowed only when the student is changing levels within a discipline—for example, from a Chinese or mathematics course to a higher or lower-level course in the same discipline. The changing of levels is permitted only with the written approval of both the instructor, any other relevant administrators, and the student’s advisor. 

Withdrawing from a full semester course during the first two weeks of the term is treated as a drop and will not appear on the transcript. Those courses withdrawn from during the third week through the ninth week of the term will be recorded with a grade of W. After the ninth week, no one may withdraw from a course. Students who are ill or have other serious personal circumstances should contact their advisor.

 
If a course is not listed on the Freshman Open Course list, can I take it?

No. First-year students can only take courses that are listed on the open course list

What are the minimum and maximum credits I can enroll in my first semester?

Freshman students typically take 4 courses for a total of 16 credits in their first semester. Based on your interest, you may also enroll in a 2-credit elective on top of your schedule. However, the maximum credits students can take in their first semester is 18. 

Students who are interested in taking the 8-credit Foundations of Science courses will take 18 credits in total in their first semester. 

Can I take more than 18 credits in my first semester?

No. First-year students cannot take more than 18 credits per semester. 

Can I declare my major now?

No. The earliest students may declare a major is prior to registration for the fall  semester of sophomore year if they are registered for enough credits in the spring freshman year  semester so that at the end of it they will have completed at least 32 credits . They must have a final grade of C, or current semester midterm grade of B, or higher in a designated prerequisite course for that major. Students must declare a major prior to registration for the next semester if they are registered for enough credits in the current semester so that at the end of it they will have completed 64 credits (typically registering for fall of their third year). 

 

Where can I find NYU Shanghai’s major/minor requirements?

On the NYU Shanghai Majors and Minors website, you can find information regarding majors and minors requirements. However, major/minor requirements vary by students’ matriculation year, and the requirements that apply to your class will be available in the Undergraduate Bulletin that you will receive during the Orientation. 

If I fail to enroll in a core curriculum class in my first semester, can I still graduate?

For first year students, you are required to take GPS course, math, and language courses. For the fourth course, elective course is absolutely necessary for your degree progress. No matter you will take a Core, Major, or general elective course as your fourth class in your first semester, you will stay on track to graduate on time.

Do I need to take any courses for my intended major in my first semester?

Most of the majors offered at NYU Shanghai do not require students to take major courses in their first semester, but for students who intend to major in natural science majors (including Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Neural Science) should follow the recommendations in the right column on this page. 

Students who would like to pursue Honors Math major are highly recommended to take both Honors Calculus and Honors Linear Algebra I in their first semester. 

I have taken AP/IB/A-Level math and I believe I should be placed into a higher level Math course. How can I change my Math course?

You should send the relevant exam scores as soon as possible to NYU Shanghai. You can follow these instructions. Please also send a screenshot of your exam scores to shanghai.advising@nyu.edu. For placement criteria, please review the website.

I have some questions regarding my Chinese placement. Who should I contact?

If you are having any technical issues with the online exams, you can email cas.placementexams@nyu.edu. If you have any questions about your Chinese placement level, please email shanghai.worldlanguages@nyu.edu
You may also find more information on the Chinese Language Program of NYU Shanghai on their website.

I saw on Albert that there is an advisor clearance required to sign up for Fall classes. Do I need to contact an academic advisor to clear this hold?

Yes, you can register for courses only after your registration hold is cleared by an advisor. In order to have your registration hold lifted, please complete the NYU Shanghai Online Advising Module, and follow registration instructions to put the courses of your selection into the Albert shopping cart. After finishing the aforementioned steps, your advisor will review your course plan submission and get your hold lifted. 

Where can I find the academic calendar?

You can find the Academic Calendar on the Registrar's Office website (see "Fall 2021 Academic Calendar" under "Calendars"). 

Where do I go for non-academic questions?

For questions about passport issues, visas, visa application forms and processes: shanghai.student-mobility@nyu.edu
 
For information on housing and the residence hall and questions about roommates: shanghai.reslife@nyu.edu
 
For help on how to set up NYU email, problems with NYU Home and your Net ID, or VPN setup and installation: shanghai.it.help@nyu.edu
 
For information on student clubs, student government, athletics facilities and volunteering/service projects: shanghai.involvement@nyu.edu

For academic accommodations: tong.jin@nyu.edu

For Health and Wellness questions: shanghai.health@nyu.edu

For other general inquiries: shanghai.studentlife@nyu.edu