#TransferTalk Series🇮🇳🇺🇸✈️⭐

#TransferTalk Series | Episode 3: From Rote to Reflective – How NYU Reshaped My Learning! 

When I transferred from the Indian education system to NYU, I thought I was prepared - new notebooks, syllabi printed, excitement bubbling… but also definitely scared. I was stepping into the unknown. While I’d done well academically back home, I didn’t yet realise how much my entire approach to learning and even participating would shift.

In India, education was deeply rooted in rote learning. Our focus was always on what was in the syllabus. You study what’s in the textbook, memorize it, and reproduce it during exams. It was all about how well you could remember, not necessarily how deeply you could think. Classroom discussions were rare. In fact, most of us were told not to speak unless asked. It was about listening, not questioning. 📚

And let’s not forget the 75-80% compulsory attendance policy in most Indian colleges. It often felt like we were attending just to meet the numbers, not because we were excited to learn. That pressure to just “show up” physically can really take a toll on how connected we feel to the material.

Then came NYU and suddenly, the classroom felt like a space where my voice mattered.

Here, learning extends beyond the textbook. Classes include open discussions, small group activities, case-based learning, personal reflections, and constant challenges to the “why” behind every theory. Exams still exist but instead of memorising five pages for a 15-mark question, I’m asked to analyse a situation, suggest a diagnosis, reflect on my personality, or apply theoretical frameworks to real-life cases. It’s more applied, more personal, and far more engaging.

🎙️ As someone who was so used to staying quiet in classrooms and did not like public-speaking, this shift was hard. In my first semester, I barely spoke up except in my writing class, where I slowly started finding my footing. But over time, I began engaging more - asking questions in class, developing research questions, contributing to lab discussions, and participating in weekly RA meetings where we dissect and critique research papers. The classroom and the lab became spaces where I didn’t need to have the “right” answer. I just had to show up and be curious.

🎓 And here's another major difference - grades here don’t depend solely on exams. Participation actually counts along with written assignments, reflections, presentations, research involvement and even how you engage in class discussions. It’s a comprehensive and ongoing assessment of your thinking, effort, and growth not just your ability to memorise content and recall it on exam day.

3 Pieces of Advice whether you're making the shift or simply reflecting on yourself:

💫 Unlearn to relearn. Don’t be afraid to let go of the habits that once served you especially if they’re holding you back in a new environment. You’ll need to build new ones, and that’s okay.

🎤 Speak up, even if your voice shakes. Participation can be scary at first, especially if you're used to staying quiet but your perspective matters. You deserve to take up space in the room.

💫 Embrace being a beginner again. You won’t have all the answers, and you don’t need to. That’s exactly where growth begins with curiosity and courage, not perfection.

Up Next on #TransferTalk, I’ll be opening up about the emotional and cultural side of this transition - from moments of homesickness to navigating cultural shifts, feeling out of place, and slowly finding pieces of home in a whole new city. 🌍💫

Until then, have you ever felt like your way of learning or showing up completely changed? Or are you in the middle of such a transition? I’d love to hear from you.

If there’s a particular topic you’d like me to focus on next, drop a comment on my LinkedIn post or just let’s chat! I’d love to hear your story, your questions, or even your experiences with change.

#TransferTalk #StudyAbroad #IndianStudents #NYU #EducationShift #GrowthMindset #PsychMajor