From March 15 to 16, high school students from mainland China visited campus for this year’s first Candidate Weekend. They were just a portion of over a thousand students invited by NYU Shanghai’s Office of Undergraduate Admissions to participate in six day-long admissions events hosted over three weekends at the New Bund campus.
At the first of the Candidate Weekend programs, Chancellor Tong Shijun addressed the attendees, urged them to relax and be their authentic selves. “You have distinguished yourselves among thousands of applicants, proving your excellence as high school graduates and future university students,” he said. “You are here today not only for the purpose of being carefully chosen by NYU Shanghai, but also for the purpose of carefully choosing NYU Shanghai.”
NYU Shanghai’s flagship admissions event, Candidate Weekends are a crucial part of NYU Shanghai’s admissions process for Chinese national applicants, said the Interim Director of Undergraduate Admissions Adam Ebnit. “We are looking for students who are not just strong academically, but who embrace a global perspective, collaborate effectively with peers from diverse backgrounds, and will thrive in a dynamic, English language learning environment,” he said.
Through a series of immersive activities, admissions candidates are able to gain a deeper understanding of NYU Shanghai’s academic environment, while showcasing their fit for its unique educational model. Students attend guided tours led by Chinese and international student ambassadors, and participate in interactive icebreakers, team exercises, and writing assessments to help the admissions team better ascertain institutional fit and academic potential of each applicant.
For many Chinese national students who have primarily studied within China’s education system, this experience exposes them to NYU Shanghai’s unique approach to learning, combining diverse educational philosophies. Visiting the campus before taking China’s national university entrance exam, the Gaokao, allows them to gain a tangible sense of what studying at NYU Shanghai entails.
In order to give the candidates the opportunity to engage with different academic perspectives - not only the ones they are interested in but also the areas that may not have previously been explored, the candidates have been paired for two sessions to ensure they can connect with faculty and learn more about the academic programs through diverse teaching and learning styles across disciplines such as Social Science, Humanities, Interactive Media Arts (IMA), Interactive Media and Business (IMB), Business and Finance, Computer Science, Data Science, Natural Science, NeuroScience, and Mathematics.
Assistant Professor of Practice in Chemistry Vivian Chiu led a lab class, emphasizing to the students the importance of curiosity in science. Through her class, she said, she aimed to model for students the importance of asking meaningful questions, seeking fulfilling answers, and embracing discovery. “Our natural sciences program here at NYU Shanghai offers students the solid background and tools they need to move forward in this journey of discovery across a wide range of research and practical interests,” she said.
A high school student from Shanghai, who participated in a biology class, said she gained a lot from the experience. “The professor brought the subject to life with vivid explanations and numerous metaphors,” she said. “While some of the content felt abstract and unfamiliar to us, the professor’s teaching [style] made it easy for everyone to grasp.”
A student from Nanjing remarked on the welcoming atmosphere of the Candidate Weekend activities. “NYU Shanghai is very open, with enthusiastic student volunteers and patient teachers,” he said.
One Shanghai parent who dropped off her child at Candidate Weekend said she was impressed by the international atmosphere and sense of community at NYU Shanghai. “Learning here is driven by themed activities, personal projects, and peer collaboration. It’s truly distinctive and holistic,” she said.
NYU Shanghai will welcome admissions candidates during two more upcoming weekends, from March 22 to 23 and March 29 to 30. International admissions candidates will have the opportunity to visit campus for Admitted Students Weekend from April 26 to 27.