The unofficial NYU dictionary

Abu Dhabi: NYU is currently developing a degree-granting campus in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, which will open fully next fall with the class of 2014. The campus is entirely funded by the crown prince of Abu Dhabi. Albert: Your handy (and sometimes frustrating) online bursar and registrar robot. Log on to Albert by clicking the "Academics" tab on NYUHome and you'll be able to check your class registration status, tuition bill and GPA. Amazon.com: Where to get your books cheaper than NYU Bookstores. For real. Plan early, order ahead and get them by mail before classes start. Or you could try buying from an independent bookstore such as Strand, on Broadway at 12th Street.

Broadway: When you're at NYU, you can go to Broadway shows any time you want — and for super-cheap, if you know where to look. Check out talkinbroadway.com/allthatchat for the details on how to rush (aka get cheap, last-minute tickets) to current plays and musicals. (726) Broadway: Where the NYU Student Health Center is located. Very important for when you get nicked by a cab. (Just kidding. We think). Bobst: NYU's cavernous, 24-hour library. It's pronounced BOH-bst, not BAHH-bst. We're 99 percent sure you'll pull an all-nighter here before you graduate.

Campus Cash: Unlike Dining Dollars (see D), Campus Cash is money that you put into your NYUCard by yourself — it's not built into your meal plan — that can be used at lots of stores around campus. For freshmen living near the park, Campus Cash will be essential for late-night runs to Space Market. Also, some of the laundry machines in dorms take Campus Cash. CAS: Acronym for College of Arts and Science. Pronounced C-A-S, not "cass." Coles: One of two NYU gyms, located on Mercer Street. To some people, this gym is known as "not Palladium" (see P), but others swear by it. Columbia University: Our collegiate neighbor to the north. Five bucks says you'll meet people at NYU in the next week whose first choice was Columbia. Ignore them. We've got Woody Allen. And the Olsen twins.

Dean's List: Honor awarded to students by each NYU college for outstanding academic achievement. In most colleges, the cut-off is a GPA of 3.7; in Stern, it's 3.6. Dining Dollars: Sometimes called "declining dollars," Dining Dollars are the built-in-to-your-meal-plan dollars that you can spend on vital goods such as waffle fries at Upstein (see U), yogurt-covered pretzels at Kimmel and lattes at Starbucks at the Square.

Eisner & Lubin Auditorium: Most commonly known as "E & L," the auditorium, located on the fourth floor the Kimmel Center, hosts hundreds of shows, workshops and fairs throughout the year. Do NOT miss the Rocky Horror Picture Show here during Welcome Week.

Fake ID: Since there are so many alternatives to staying in dorms at night, you'll see lots of these flying around in NYU students' hands as you get to know the school better. Falafel: Go to Mamoun's Falafel (locations on MacDougal Street and St. Marks Place). You can get a falafel sandwich and a water for under $5.

Gallatinos: Supposed nickname for Gallatin students Ghana: One of the coolest NYU study abroad sites offered by the university. Yes, you can go one of the usual abroad sites (e.g. London, Madrid, Florence), but how insane is it that you could gallivant off to Ghana for four months? Gossip Girl: Now that Dan, Blair, Vanessa and Georgina will be calling NYU home, you can bet you'll be seeing more film crews around Washington Square Park. But does this mean more dirty secrets will be aired out for all to see? You'll have to tune into the CW to find out. XOXO, Gossip Girl. Gramercy: Arguably the most-wanted upperclassmen dorm, this building on Gramercy Park is a converted luxury condominium tower. For good reason, it has another name: "Glamercy"

Hayden: Perhaps the most sought-after freshmen dorm; lots of Early Decision applicants seem to live there. The building, located on the west side of Washington Square Park, has an organic dining hall. Hayden is known as the party dorm for freshmen and judging by the club-like crowd of people outside its door at night, the reputation has merit. Houston: Pronounced HOW-ston, not HEW-ston. The neighborhood south of this street is known as SoHo, or "south of Houston." Broome Street residence hall is in SoHo.

Indie bands: Approximately seven people on your floor will be in an indie band. They will probably listen to vinyl and wear nothing but ironic T-shirts. ITS: Information Technology Services, NYU's office for helping you with your tech problems. If your Ethernet chord is giving you trouble, call 212.998.3333.

J-Sex: The nickname for our esteemed university president, John Sexton. Judaism: There is a very active Jewish community at NYU. The Bronfman Center for Jewish Student Life, located on 10th Street between Rubin residence hall and University Place, always has cool activities and programs and, of course, there's the delicious Kosher Cafe in Weinstein.

Kimmel: NYU's student center. Essential things in Kimmel: the MarketPlace on the third floor (best meal-plan sandwiches on campus), the laptop lounge on the second floor, and the view of the city from the 10th floor. Fun fact: Earlier this year, several dozen students from the university barricaded themselves inside Kimmel's dining hall for 40 hours with a list of demands.

Lady GaGa: Get used to hearing her music while walking down the hall of your dorm. The talented (and out-of-her-mind) "LoveGame" songstress attended Tisch before becoming famous and is loved by a large percentage of the NYU population. LSP: The Liberal Studies Program — formerly the two-year General Studies Program — was created last year in an effort to change the landscape of the school and incorporate a new four-year program.

Mass Transit: As one of the most competitive and popular clubs on campus, this all-male a cappella group is a great way for you to get involved with a talented group of singers. It may even help you score a date or two with swooning female fans. Museum: New York City is home to some of the world's greatest museums. Here at NYU you can take advantage of special student discounts and even utilize them for classes. The Metropolitan Museum of Art is always free of charge (don't feel obligated to give the $20 suggested donation), and the Museum of Modern Art offers free admission Friday evenings from 4 to 8 p.m.

Office hours: Let's face it, in many of your classes and lectures here at NYU, you'll be one among dozens — and in some cases, even hundreds — of other students. Every professor and TA is required to offer office hours, so students have the chance to engage in one-on-one conversations.

Palladium: In addition to being a dorm, dining hall and home to the Wasserman Center for Career Development, Palladium also has the nicer and newer of NYU's two gyms. Fun fact: Palladium was a well-known nightclub during the '80s and '90s, but was demolished in 1998 to make way for the new dorm.

Queer: NYU has a very active LGBT community and the Office of LGBT Student Services has resources for students of all different identities. Visit nyu.edu/lgbt for more information.

ResEd: Short for Residential Education, this is NYU's award-winning dorm community program.

Silver Center: The main classroom building for CAS. The building adjoining Silver, the Brown building, was the site of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire. Skirball: NYU's performing arts center, located next to the Kimmel Center on Washington Square South. Sternie: The nickname for Stern students Sylvia: The wonderful, eccentric cashier at Hayden dining hall. Sylvia has been greeting students at the door of the hall for years. Say "hi" to her when you're there next time!

Ticket Central: Ticket Central is NYU's gateway to cheap tickets. Located in the Kimmel Center, the box office features reduced-price fares to Broadway and off-Broadway shows as well as other popular productions in the city, such as Yankees games. The tickets are affordable, but your seats will very likely not be something to write home about. Ticket Central's best-kept secret, though, is their discount movie passes that can be used at most theaters around New York. For other Broadway ticket offers, visit the TKTS booth in Times Square or check each show's Rush Ticket policies. Timekeeper: If you're outside of the Silver Center right before class, you're going to hear the "Timekeeper," a self-appointed monitor of NYU students who calls out how much time is left before classes start. You'll see — and hear — him on the east side of the park, at the intersection of Washington Place and University Place.

Tisch: There are several incarnations of the Tisch family name around campus. The first (and best known) is the Tisch School of the Arts. The second is Tisch Hall, which is actually a Stern classroom building on Gould Plaza. The third is the Tisch Center for Hospitality, Tourism and Sports Management, an undergraduate program in the School of Continuing and Professional Studies. The fourth is Tisch Fountain, the new name for the fountain in Washington Square Park to honor the $2.5 million donation that the family made to the Parks Department. Trolley: If you live in a dorm outside a 10-block radius of campus, you're going to become very familiar with the NYU buses and trolleys. Visit the Department of Public Safety's website to see the bus schedules.

Upstein: The nickname for the upper dining hall at Weinstein residence hall. The basement dining hall is usually called Downstein.

Violets: NYU's mascot is the Bobcat, but athletes are actually called Violets, as in the "Fighting Violets."

Washington Square Park: Your premier spot for watching street performers and splashing in fountains. Did you know there's a hawk living in the park? Watch for it. WSN: You know what's up. Pick it up every day, or go online at nyunews.com.

Xerox (free): There is a free copy machine on the second floor of Kimmel near the vending machines and escalators. One drawback: The copier is sponsored, so there is an ad on the back of each page.

Zoos: Although the Bronx Zoo is the best known in New York, do yourself a favor and check out the Central Park Zoo. It might be small, but it's cheap and they have new snow leopards.