NYC Student Housing

Parent Cafe
1

My DS is looking at 3 art colleges in NYC. We will be visiting next month the schools and wanted to see what were the options as far as housing is concerned. Any suggestions on student housing, other than the college’s dorms?

2

International House.

3

I go to school in Manhattan. My friends here and other schools that live off campus almost all live in Morningside Heights/Washington Heights/Harlem. Some in the lower east side depending on the commute. Those are the only two semi-affordable places in Manhattan near schools. Not sure where NYU off campus students live, since I don’t know people there that live off campus.

4

I’d start with the dorm freshman year for reasons including it is a good way to meet people and feel a part of campus life, there is some oversight from the school, the dorms come furnished, there is probably a meal plan to start him with, a dorm in NYC will likely be cheaper than an apartment elsewhere, it will give him time to learn the surrounding area of the school and see if there is anyplace else he’d rather live.

5

I agree. An off campus apartment is only cheaper with a roommate (usually people get 1 bedroom apt to share with someone). The best way to find a roommate is by living in school for a semester or year.

6

Some of the colleges have good websites dealing with this. Here are a couple of links:

http://www.nyu.edu/life/living-at-nyu/off-campus-living.html

http://www.newschool.edu/student-housing/off-campus-housing/

7

He attended a Pre-College program this past summer at one of the schools so he already has at least 1 friend that is interested in sharing a place. I would rather have him on campus also but am looking for the safest and less expensive option…

8

The least expensive options in NYC will put safety in jeopardy, plus you need to commute to school even you can find one, so, on campus is the best bet for the first year. After he is acclaimed into the surrounding, he can take his time to find the best for him.

9

I’ll second International House, if its convenient to the school, but it’s not cheap. However the location (quick hop to the subway), security, decent cafeteria, laundry facilities, gym, building filled with hundreds of grad students, and numerous organized activities for residents make it very appealing. Note that the number of domestic students allowed to live there is limited, so there’s an application process with an essay.

10

I second dorm. To me living on campus, eating in the cafeteria with groups of friends are part of the collegiate experience that should not be missed even if the parents have to tighten their belts, at least for one year.