Alf Lim

Buy a cup of chai and an egg roll from one of the cafe stalls next to the vegetable souq and bring it to the breakwater by Zayed Port. Sit on the rocks and enjoy the cheap treats with a beautiful view of Abu Dhabi.
Try an Arabic shawarma from Maroush, it’s very different from Foodland’s shawarma. It’s quite an experience to sit in the parking lot on a plastic chair in the evening and see all the expensive cars drive by to pick up food from this affordable eatery.
Volunteer as a Peer Ambassador for Candidate Weekend and rediscover why you wanted to come to this school. Feel the excitement and the dreams; it’s a different experience to participate in Candidate Weekend from the other side of the admissions process.
Learn at least five staff members’ names, they really appreciate that. Here is my list of staff friends: Melba, Eva, Tristan, Patience, Alphie, Alma and Chandra.
Fail often, fail fast and you will eventually succeed. That’s what freshman grades are for! #freshmengradesFTW

Krushika Patankar

Have multiple, unofficial advisors. Discuss your work with professors that have nothing to do with your major. They could give you more interesting insight than you would have expected.
It's OK to not be OK. It's OK to ask for help. Ask for help from your friends, professors, staff, etc. Everyone is there for you.
Don't blame falling in and out of love on this school. It can get difficult with everybody's dreams and study abroad plans getting in the way. Be happy and cherish the relationships you have with people for the time you have them and let them go with respect and dignity when it's time to go.

Kimberly Rodriguez

Honor your commitments. People put a lot of effort into organizing events and programs, and there's nothing more frustrating than having to deal with people who back out last minute.
Be diligent in doing your class work, but don't let it take over your life. Be involved in one activity or another, support your classmates in their projects and exhibitions, etc. Don't let college be an extension of high school; really make the best use of the resources we have here.
Attend Institute events! So many great academics and lecturers come to our campus.
Make time. There's always time.

Zahida Rahemtulla

Make friends with the New Yorkers that study abroad here. Not only will this make you know more people if you ever study abroad in New York, but also they see a different perspective from those students and remind one of the outside world.
Do as much as you can off the Student Portal in your first year. As years go by, it becomes harder to be involved and try all the opportunities they have for us. You will be thankful for having crossed things off your list when you were a freshman with more energy and perhaps time.
Bake at least one person a cake for their birthday while you are here.
Take at least one class, if it’s offered, on the Emirates – Pascal Menoret’s Modern Architecture in Abu Dhabi or Phil Kennedy's UAE from Pre-History to 2030: History, Environment, Society and Culture class and so on… They really make you understand where you are more.
Stay in touch with what's happening with our school in terms of labor rights, etc. Listen to everything and try to leave this place with a somewhat coherent idea of what you feel about all of this.

Mandy Tan

Build strong relationships with people outside of NYUAD to escape this island physically and emotionally.
Despite the new changes and recommendations from the university, try to really study abroad once for the randomness and adventure of the location, and once for academic purposes.
Make sure to take care of your well-being before anything else. Going to the gym and munching on shawarmas will do the trick.
Take advantage of all the free events in the city, especially for the ladies.

Laura Evans

Your capstone doesn't have to save the world. But it does have to be something you care about seeing completed. It will be far more rewarding if you actually invest in your capstone than if you don't care.
Pick a mentor who cares about you and the project itself. They'll be better poised to give you advice and help you make a great project.
Writing is hard. But take classes with response papers and readings, because they're an important part of liberal arts and the best way to learn to express yourself analytically.
Invest in something really nice for your room, whether it's a blender, a nice carpet from the carpet souk or wall art. You'll be here for four years; make it your home.
We haven't finished creating this community, not by a long way. It is so important to get involved — by running a SIG, working on Hall Council, taking an on-campus internship or volunteering on Candidates Weekend. We need people to roll up their sleeves.

Jamie Sutherland

Talk to upperclassmen in your major, or the major you're interested in, about their capstone.
Perform at an Open Mic Night.
Read fiction that has nothing to do with your classes.
If you're studying away, schedule a monthly Google Hangout with your friends.
Volunteer for an event that's completely outside your discipline or background.