actressmom

Thanks for the info. I talked to a mother who is going through the same thing in my exercise class and it seems that the williamsburg area is the place to go. I told my daughter she won't be saving any money because she will have to get a years lease and buy furniture. She is doing a summer apprenticeship at Berkshire theatre festival and it runs from May 31 to August 31 so we would have no time to figure this out before school starts. She would have 24 hours to move. I think this year it would be a bad idea. Your daughter is so lucky!!!! She sounds very mature and talented!!!They are young adults but we are still paying the bills and picking up the pieces when things don't work out.

NotMamaRose

At the Tisch accepted students' event last weekend, we were told that the University guarantees dorms/housing for all four years as long as kids put in their paperwork in time. However, they warned the kids that once they opt out of the system (by getting their own places), it's difficult to opt back in and they would have to be put on the waiting list, which is not a good way to go.

soozievt

actressmom,
Your D was in a tough situation as she entered the NYU Housing lottery with a roomie who was unable (understandably) to accept all the dorm options on their list, even though your D could.

It will be hard for your D to apartment shop given her summer plans. But maybe the roomie can scout apartments after both list their personal criteria and then your D might be able to do a day trip down to confirm or maybe you could. You are right about the constraints of signing a year's lease...something that gave me pause last year but turned out to not be the case for my D because of the unusual apartment arrangement she went into (as I described earlier) and so we only had to commit to the school year and were able to stipulate my D's start and end dates as we needed (not first or last days of month either!). But many students who have a year's lease either work in NYC in summers (your D could next summer) or sublet out to friends who do. I guess it is common but it is one more thing to deal with. My D won't have that issue next year as she will graduate (hard to fathom!) next May and will be staying on in NYC (which is one reason she wants Brooklyn as she thinks she may be able to afford that apartment on her own at that point compared to some others in the city).

I completely agree with you that we are the ones paying the bills and picking up the pieces. I only meant that at this point in my kids' lives, they are making decisions that affect them and I tend to discuss it with them and support them but it doesn't mean I don't advise them or in some cases, have to stipulate what we can or will pay for. But for many things that I may not choose if it were me, I do let them choose what they prefer given their age.

NMR...you are right....once you leave NYU Housing, it is hard to get back in. My D is living in NYU Housing this summer, even though she was off campus this past school year but she is being given housing for free and under a special circumstance. I doubt she could have gotten summer housing if the regular way.

lindyloohoo

Susan, did your d have a meal plan at anytime, or is it better to get apartment style and make your own meals(my d loves to eat healthy food)

NotMamaRose

Great question, lindyloohoo. My D is rooming (or requesting to room with) a girl who was ED, so they may well get the dorm they are asking for. It's apartment-style. One big benefit of that is that they will have a kitchen (albeit a teensy tiny one ... come to think of it, it's probably the size of the one in our home! ) and can prepare simple meals there when they have time. (And when I say "simple," I mean "simple," as in cereal, eggs, sandwiches and salads.) But I think it might also be a good idea to buy a very basic bare bones meal plan which would allow her to eat dinner out. Love to hear others thoughts on this. I hear our theater/drama students will be very, very busy so they won't have a lot of time to be cooking and shopping.

soozievt

As a freshman, my D had a meal plan (it was a pretty big meal plan). After one semester, she wanted us to change it to ten meals which also had more flex points or whatever they are called that can be used more flexibly. But after freshman year, she no longer wanted ANY meal plan as not only didn't she have much time to go to dining halls, but she also cares about eating healthy and less fattening and so we give her the amount of money that the big full meal plan costs to buy her own food. She has been in apartment style dorms her first two years and then her own apartment in the city this year and just got a new apartment for next year (today) in Brooklyn and so she has always had a kitchen. However, I would say that my D is pretty much out all day and all evening until very late and picks food up like salad bars and such on the fly and doesn't cook much given the packed schedule and the distances involved. This is particularly true if in shows which have rehearsals at night which may start soon after studio and so she is not home much. Hope that helps.

PS, cross posted with NMR....be aware that in Union Square where many of the apartment style dorms are (and where my kid lived for two years and also two summers), there is a Trader Joes and Whole Foods.

lindyloohoo

We love Trader Joes! we don't have one in Vancouver, I've only been to the one in L.A.
So if it's not mandatory should we opt out of the meal plan?
We are also looking for the most cost effective housing, can you recommend the best choices?
(and ps. are the N'Harmonics auditions in the fall and are they posted for all the kids to see?)
thanks so much

NotMamaRose

lindy, I think that when your D signs up for housing, she is automatically enrolled in the meal plan (something like 14 meals a week) but that she/you guys can then alter that online in the beginning of August when she gets her housing assignment. I am not sure if freshmen can opt out of the meal plan altogether, though. I will check and get back to you.

soozievt

I THINK freshmen can opt out of a meal plan all together only if they live in one of the two apartment style freshmen dorms (Third North or University Hall). We chose a meal plan to start and I explained how she wanted less meals and more flex plan and then no plan at all after the first year. We just felt our way through.

Lindy....we don't have Trader Joes here in Vermont but last summer and this summer, my D lived upstairs from one in Union Square (the most opposite extreme from where we live as you can get).

As far as cost effective housing, I would have to look up the freshmen dorms (you can do this if you go to the housing site) and find which are the cheapest.....one or two are lower cost. The apartment style dorms are the most expensive. My D wanted apartment style.

N'Harmonics holds auditions at the start of the school year for new openings in the group. I believe at least this year, at the start of second semester, they held some auditions for some replacements due to a couple having to leave for mid year graduation, abroad, or got cast outside of school and took a leave. I don't know if that is typical but i know for sure that at the start of the year, there are auditions and they are well publicized. That is when my D got in (start of freshman year). Also, each year during orientation, the N'Harmonics perform for the freshmen (that's how my D learned of them and then was dying to get in it)....I know the first couple of years she was there, they performed at the big welcome event that all 8000 students had to attend but last year, they performed at an outside venue and took turns with the Spring Awakening Cast during Welcome Week. I honestly do not know what is on tap for this year except I am sure they will perform in some capacity during orientation. For anyone who is near NYC, they will perform next at Joe's Pub on May 11. In any case, I am sure your D will hear of it and should keep her eyes and ears peeled for some sort of performance during orientation and flyers and what not about auditions. It is rock/pop, NOT musical theater. You do not have to be in Tisch to get into the group either.

NotMamaRose

From the NYU housing site:

Residents of traditional-style halls (Brittany, Goddard, Hayden, Rubin, and Weinstein) are required to be on a minimum 10-meal plan. Apartment style hall residents may select any of the meal plan options or choose not to participate in a University meal plan. Students enrolled in a meal plan, use their NYUCard as their dining card.

lindyloohoo

Does anyone know about Rubin?
My d is soo excited about auditioning for N'Harmonics!

NotMamaRose

lindy, go to the regular New York University thread (under the alphabetized list of colleges on CC) and some kids have posted there about various dorms. You can also look on the NYU Housing site for photos, etc.

lindyloohoo

Thanks, It's very helpful to see pictures.
Is it better to rent a fridge and microwave or buy your own?

NotMamaRose

I think if they get UHall or another apartment-style dorm, a fridge is included in the room as part of the kitchen. Microwave, too. But that's a good question when it comes to the dorm style dorms .... maybe NOCCA Jr can answer. Also, look here:
nyuhousing » home

NOCCA Junior

I know for certain that a fridge is included with part of the kitchen...I REALLY want to say a microwave is not included but strangely I can't even remember even though I've been in U-Hall and Third North enough times to remember...but I really think that the microwave is not included.