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First-Year Survival Guide
Set up the five tools that save the most pain in your first month at NYU: classes, books, writing help, clean drafts, and real sources.
5 steps
1
Get every class in one place
Open Brightspace first. This is where syllabi, deadlines, slides, grades, and announcements pile up fast.
💡 Pro tip: Turn on email or push notifications for announcements so deadline changes do not blindside you.
📝 Context: Do this before week one gets busy. If a course looks empty, check again after the first lecture or email the professor.
2
Check whether your textbooks are already free
Search BobCat before you buy anything. NYU often has print copies, ebooks, or course reserve access waiting.
💡 Pro tip: If you need the book tonight, filter toward online access first and then check course reserves.
📝 Context: Search by course number, professor, or exact title. Reserve copies are usually the fastest win for expensive intro classes.