New York City is a big town with a lot of people living in it, so it is only natural that it is home to many good schools. Some of them are institutions like Columbia, New York University and Barnard which are ranked very high and are widely respected. Many high school graduates are trying their best to get into universities in New York City because of their quality in education. An additional reason for relocating to New York for college would be spending their college years in such a busy and energetic place as New York is.
This all means that competition to get into NYC’s top colleges is vicious. However, there will be thousands of freshman class students that make it to the Big Apple every year. If you are considering applying for schools there, or if you are one of the lucky students that are relocating to New York for college, here are some things that you should probably know.
Living costs in New York are incredibly high
The cost of living in New York is outrageous when compared to living in pretty much any other city. It is ranked as number one at the list of the most expensive cities in the U.S. If your plans do not include living in a dorm, or living with the family member, be aware that you’ll have to spend a serious amount of money on rent. In an average neighborhood, a standard one bedroom apartment would set you back for about $2000 per month. That, of course, is a price for a furnished apartment. One without any furniture it would be cheaper, but you do not want to move with your furniture for college, and that’s for sure.
Unfortunately, rent is not the only expensive thing in New York; everything is. From standard groceries and restaurant meals to gym memberships and personal hygiene items, to clothes and shoes, you can be sure that you’ll pay more for practically everything that you would anywhere else in the States. On top of all that, New York City colleges usually come with a nice and big price tag. That means that most of the students, after relocating to New York for college, end up taking more student loans than they thought they would ever need just to be able to pay for everything.
All of this makes you wonder why people move to NYC. And we will get to all of that later.
Relocating to New York for college means that you’ll spend much more money then you are used to.
Move with as little as possible
When moving to a city where spaces are tiny and rent is astronomic, you cannot bring much with you. While freshmen in other cities can bring their whole bedrooms and wardrobes to college when living off campus, living in the Big Apple means that you can forget about all of that. Professionals from the Big Apple Movers NYC state that they see the same error over and over again. People simply relocate with too much stuff, not realizing how small accommodations really are in NYC. Putting half of their things back on the truck and getting them to the storage unit until they figure out what to do with it is not an unusual thing.
As we already stressed, living off campus can get expensive in New York, so your best bet would be to look into on-campus housing. If you are strict about living off campus, try to find an affordable and furnished apartment to avoid moving with furniture.
Plan to leave your car at home when relocating to New York for college
If you planned to pack your things in the car and drive to NYC, better get a quote from professional movers. Owning a car in New York is not a common thing, and there is a reason for that. This happens namely because the city traffic is described as brutal, parking is expensive and there aren’t enough parking spots. The fact that the public transportation system is one of the most sophisticated and modern in the world only adds to this. If you have a car at home, plan to leave it there when relocating to New York for college. We’re suggesting you look into the list of alternative transporting options.
- The Subway – There are 24 subway lines in New York, and they are serving the system of 469 stations. Train service does work literally 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. So you’ll be able to move around the city at any time.
- Uber and Taxis – NYC has 13,000 taxis in its service. Prices are at $2.50/mile for the cab, so taking one everywhere can be an expensive habit. Uber, however, is a more affordable solution.
- Buses – While taxis are expensive, taking a bus is even cheaper than taking the Uber. An unlimited monthly ticket costs $117, so it is the best option for a tight budget.
Taxi is the most popular, but not the most affordable way of transport in New York.
Living in New York is Fast Paced
Be sure to reduce stress when moving as much as you can. As you can expect to live a fast-paced life in New York. Everyone is rushing to get somewhere, and there’s a lot off people on the streets all the time. This kind of lifestyle is exciting and can be good for you. Restaurants that work 24-hours and clubs that are open until 6 a.m. are only the convenience for most students. Thing is that you will have to accept this lifestyle or you won’t be able to function properly. This makes problems for some students while others take on it with ease.
Everyone is rushing to get somewhere at all times here.
New York college experience is different
Going to school in New York often means that you have to sacrifice the typical college experience for the privilege of being there. Time there won’t be filled with many football games, campus tailgates and spending time in sorority houses. Many students can’t cope with that kind of life and constantly feel like something is missing. Some of them don’t think that skyscrapers should be part of the college experience. If you feel the same way maybe this city isn’t right for you.
However, if you are ready to live atypical college life you will love Manhattan. Relocating to New York for college brings you a chance to visit all the world-class museums for free and attend Broadway shows. Also, you’ll be able to eat some of the best food in the world here. Living there alone is a learning process, and attending college in New York is a completely unique experience. You’ll learn many things that you will remember your whole life.
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