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New York University's independent student newspaper, established in 1973.

Washington Square News

New York University's independent student newspaper, established in 1973.

Washington Square News

New York University's independent student newspaper, established in 1973.

Washington Square News

All content by Mia Shou
(Srividhya Chandramouleeswaran for WSN)

What I didn’t say in my Common App essay

As college commitment season approaches, a reflection upon my academic journey reveals new insights into the value of acknowledging self-doubt and rewriting expectations.
Mia Shou, Staff Writer March 14, 2025

As weird as it sounds, I’m starting to think I was accepted into NYU on the basis of mediocrity.  And by mediocrity, I mean how I wanted to go into a humanities field in...

(Evan D’Souza for WSN)

New eats near NYU: Where bagels and gelato unite

Affordable eats chain Sofia’s brings two of its most popular food items together in a quaint space on West Fourth Street.
Mia Shou, Contributing Writer February 28, 2025

A block away from Washington Square Park, among jazz clubs, cocktail bars and Lipton Hall, sits Sofia’s Bagels and Gelato. The humble West Fourth Street shop, decorated with...

Cooking up suburban escape

Cooking up suburban escape

A meditation on the transportive power in making comfort food.
Mia Shou, Staff Writer February 7, 2025

Whenever my mom would finish making her Shanghainese chicken broth, she would call out, “Chicken soup for the soul!” as a way of getting us to come to the table. To me, my...

An illustration of simplified drawings of various forms of self-care like tea, a person wearing a face mask, and a person doing yoga on a blue background.

What it means to take care of yourself across different cultures

Students share self-care practices from their cultures.

As we enter winter and the trenches of finals week, it is important to carve out time to take care of yourself. While social media may inundate us with new, trendy practices weekly,...

A woman wearing a blue sweater smiles while standing in front of a bookshelf.

Why you should be thinking about food beyond your plate

Marion Nestle, the founder of NYU’s food studies program and one of the world’s most influential scholars in food, has been challenging the norms of the American food industry for decades.
Mia Shou, Contributing Writer December 6, 2024

“Food” and “studies” aren’t words that most of us associate with one another. But for Marion Nestle, the founder of the Food Studies program at NYU, food has long been...

A cluttered dorm room with a bed covered in pillows, two nightstands with trinkets on top, and vines, pictures and a heart-shaped sign on the walls. A window in the center shows a blue sky with clouds, illuminating the room.

A broke college student’s take on dorm decor

Here is why you shouldn’t let the scraps of paper in your recycling bin go for good.
Mia Shou, Contributing Writer October 9, 2024

If I were to make a list of 10 things I was stressed about while heading into a new school year, decorating the depressing, jail-like room NYU gives you would definitely be on...

Pastries on display in a glass case with small signs that read “TIRAMISU CUP” and “NAPOLEON”.

The sweetest of San Gennaro

The best of the desserts offered at the Neapolitan food festival.
Mia Shou, Contributing Writer September 20, 2024

The annual Feast of San Gennaro hadn’t always been brimming with eager diners and bustling vendors like it is today. The 11-day celebration — this year from Sept. 12 to Sept....