New York City is home to many excellent schools, including notable institutions like Columbia, Barnard, and New York University among others. Many high school seniors clamor to make it into one of the prestigious undergraduate programs offered by one of these schools, enthralled by the idea of spending their college years in the hustle and bustle of NYC. At just Columbia alone, over 36,000 applications were received for the incoming freshman class. While competition to get into NYC’s top colleges is fierce, there will still be thousands of students who make their way to the Big Apple every fall to start their college life there. If you’re considering applying to or contemplating enrollment at a university in NYC, here are somethings you should consider before making the move:
The Cost of Living is Outrageous
The cost of living in New York City is astronomical compared to living in other cities; it takes 1st place as the most expensive city in North America. If you are not going to be living in a dorm or with a family member, you should be prepared to spend a great deal of money on rent. In an average neighborhood, you can expect to fork over around $1,942 per month for a furnished, 480 square foot studio apartment. But, it’s not just rent that is more expensive here; it’s everything: from groceries and dining out, to clothes, to gym memberships, to personal care items, you can expect to pay more for just about anything than you would anywhere else in the country. Additionally, most NYC colleges come with a hefty price tag, so you might end up taking out more in student loans than you ever imagined to pay tuition and all of your other bills. Just read this one student’s experience taking on debt to attend NYU.
Plan to Move with as Little as Possible
In a city where rent is high and spaces are microscopic, expect to not bring much with you. While the typical freshman living off-campus might be able to bring their whole bedroom set and entire wardrobe, if you’re going to college in NYC, you can plan on leaving those things at home. Local moving company, Imperial Movers NYC, says that in their last decade of moving thousands of people into Manhattan apartments, they see the same story time and time again. People move to New York City not realizing just how tiny the accommodations are. In some cases, they’ll even have the movers put half of their belongings back on the truck and move it to storage until they can figure out what to do with it. If you’re moving here for school, you’ll probably want to look into on-campus housing or an affordable, furnished apartment to avoid having to bother moving furniture at all, and keep the rest of the things you bring to a minimum.
Also…You’ll Want to Leave Your Car at Home
Many New Yorkers don’t own cars because the city’s traffic is brutal, parking is an expensive nightmare, and public transportation is just way easier. Instead of bringing a car to college, you’ll want to look into one of the abundant alternative transportation options:
- The Subway: The New York City subway system has 469 stations that serve 24 subway lines. You can hop a train to just about anywhere in the city 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To find out everything you need to know about the subway system click here.
- Taxis and Uber: Taking one a ride in one of NYC’s 13,000 taxis can be equally exhilarating and terrifying. While a convenient option for many New Yorkers who rely on cabs to get them around town, at $2.50/mile, the price of taking a taxi everywhere can really add up. Generally, Uber or another ride sharing service is a more economical option.
- Buses: If you can’t afford to take a taxi every day, there are over 5,800 buses running each day in New York. An unlimited combined subway and bus pass only costs $116.50/month.
You Should Brace Yourself for Fast Paced Living
If you are moving to New York City for school, you should expect to live a fast paced life. People are always rushing to get somewhere, and the streets are always packed with people at all hours of the day and the night. The fast pace can be exciting, and actually good for you, some studies show, but it can also be tiring. For most college students, the convenience of 24-hour restaurants and clubs that stay open until 6 a.m. is welcomed, but for those who prefer a slower life with time to breathe may find the pace debilitating.
This Won’t Be the Typical College Experience
As one author put it, going to school in New York meant sacrificing the typical college experience filled with football games, sorority houses, and campus tailgates. After spending a year in NYC, she felt something was lacking and transferred back to her home state to finish out her college career. For many, going to school amidst high rises and skyscrapers just doesn’t seem like the quintessential college experience. Make sure that you are prepared for the atypical if you decide to enroll somewhere in Manhattan.
Manhattan Itself is a Classroom
If you can survive and thrive in New York’s concrete jungle, you’ll find yourself in a world where there are learning opportunities at nearly every street corner. As a NYC college student, you can get into any of the city’s world-class museums for free, attend Broadway productions whenever your budget allows, eat some of the best food on the planet, and meet a diverse population of people. In fact, living here, you might learn more outside of the classroom than sitting in one.