New York, NY

[cath2024]

Live near a grocery store!

But seriously, check around the neighborhood you'll be moving into. I have like 4 within waling distance of me.

Also,I only buy about 1-2 bags of grcoeries (ie $20-$30 worth) at a time.

Freshdirect sucks because they use TONS of packaging (moving boxes) for just a few items.

[Veritas]

Hello all,

I'm in the middle of my undergrad and was thinking of a few schools to apply to for grad school(ND, Boston College, and Fordham). I was wondering if anyone had any info of the surrounding area for Fordham(Bronx), and how far, and difficult, it is to get to the city(Manhattan), and just getting around in general. Not very familiar with the trans situaton in NY. Thanks in advance for any help that can be offered, and good luck to everyone in their academic pursuits!

-Veritas

[kahlan_amnell]

I went to Fordham for my undergrad.

It is quite easy to get to Manhattan from the Fordham campus in the Bronx. There is the inter-campus van, called the Ram Van, that will take students between campuses. There is also Metro North, a commuter train, that goes from right outside the gates to Manhattan's Grand Central Station and various other places. There are two subway lines, the D and the 4 that are within walking distance of the Fordham Campus, and both go to Manhattan.

The area around the Fordham Campus is a bit run down, but it does have some great features. It is near the Little Italy of the Bronx, Arthur Avenue. There are wonderful restaurants and food stores there. Also, the campus is right across the street from the Bronx Zoo and the New York Botanical Garden, so there is a lot of green space around the campus. The campus itself is rather large, and quite lovely.

I hope that helps, please let me know if you have any other questions about Fordham.

[Veritas]

Hello kahlan_amnell,

Thank you very much; you've been most helpful. Is there any chance I could P.M. you if I have additional questions?

Thanks again,

-Veritas

[kahlan_amnell]

Hello kahlan_amnell,

Thank you very much; you've been most helpful. Is there any chance I could P.M. you if I have additional questions?

Thanks again,

-Veritas

Sure feel free to P.M. me, I'd be glad to answer any other questions.

[pea-jay]

My NYC cousins are clueless in this category so I will throw it out here:

I'm married, will be in my mid thirties and considering NYU for Grad school for 2010, but have an additional challenge to address: where are good-ok areas for elementary school children (10&7 next year)? I'm familiar with NYC geography having visited there on a number of occasions and have picked up some good residential suggestions on this site or by personal visits on a variety of other factors. But the school end of things not so much. My wife and I are familiar with urban living, having lived in Chicago (both of us), DC (me), Mexico City (her). Any thoughts...not asking for specific school suggestions but general advice. Also out of curiosity, how many NYU students are parents? It's not a factor that will sway me in anyway but just interested to know.

Thanks

[juilletmercredi]

I say this not as someone with experience - I don't have elementary school-aged kids - but just from what I know about living and growing up in and around NYC.

I don't know about NYU parent rates but typically the areas with the best elementary schools tend to be more affluent areas (just like anywhere else). So for Manhattan that would tend to be lower and mid-town Manhattan. For example, of the best-known elementary schools in NYC is PS 40, which is located on 19th St between 1st and 2nd Avenues - that's way down in mid/lower Manhattan on the east side. The Upper East Side is another place, of course, that is a source for good elementary schools - a lot of the "best lists" list schools in the high 70s and 80s on the East Side, like PS 6 and PS 290.

If you're more inclined to live in the outer boroughs, there are plenty of communities in Queens and Brooklyn with great schools. A lot of people with families move to or settle in the outer boroughs because they're less expensive and you tend to get more room for the same price than you would in Manhattan. Some places in Brooklyn and Queens have easier commutes to lower Manhattan than some places in Manhattan itself - particularly since NYU is so easy to get to, just about every train that goes through Manhattan stops near it. Little Neck, Bayside, Whitestone in Queens all have schools with good reputations. This area is pretty far out though; it's closer to Long Island than Manhattan and the commute into the city would be kind of longish. Flushing, Forest Hills, and Rego Park are a lot closer to Manhattan; they're in Queens and some of their schools are on the top list. Park Slope is a nice community in Brooklyn that's a whole lot closer to NYU. Dyker Heighs, Bay Ridge. Other places that have good reputations as places to raise a family (not too sure specifically about their schools) are Jackson Heights and Kew Gardens in Queens, and Williamsburg and Sunset Park in Brooklyn.

Here's a list in New York Mag: http://nymag.com/urban/guides/family/sc ... ntary1.htm

[d6herzer]

can anyone tell me anything about going to school in Tribeca NYC?....such as good neighborhoods to live in for cheaper nearby, transportation, safety, etc.

[juilletmercredi]

Tribeca is an expensive place to live. It's all the way in downtown Manhattan, below Canal St (hence the name - TRIangle BElow CAnal) which is generally much higher in price than living farther uptown. However, downtown Manhattan has the benefit of being right across the bridge from Brooklyn, which has cheaper housing. You'll probably find it more economical to live in a Brooklyn community like Brooklyn Heights, Carroll Gardens, Red Hook, Williamsburg or around Prospect Park - those are nicer areas. Bedford-Stuyvesant is also close but has a reputation for being a not-so-nice area. Brooklyn has it's own flavor and culture, and most of my friends that I know that live in Brooklyn don't want to move from there - one person I know had to move (I go to Columbia and the commute is long, and she had a baby) and mourns it.

You could, of course, look for apartments in the Tribeca area, but all of those neighborhoods - Tribeca itself, SoHo, the Financial District, Battery Park City, Greenwich Village - are expensive. The West Village is a little less so, as is the East Village, and East Village is a nice funky place to live with a lot to do around there - but I don't know what the housing prices are, just that it would be less expensive. I also have a friend who lives in Chelsea, which is a beautiful area - expensive, but you can find some deals on studios I would expect, and it's probably like 15-20 from Tribeca on the subway. Midtown is probably worse than Tribeca, but moving upwards, there's also some affordable housing in the Upper West Side for students (by "affordable" I mean you're paying like $1100-1300 for a studio). But in the Upper West Side you're getting to the point where you're farther from Tribeca than the places in Brooklyn I named, and probably paying more.

Tribeca is a pretty safe neighborhood far as I know, as it's trendy to live there now and is expensive. Transportation is easy - everything is the subway. $2.25 for one way and you can buy a $89 unlimited Metrocard, that allows you to ride the subway as much as you want for 30 days. It's worth it if you go to school most days out of the week and also hang out a lot on the weekends or whatever. The subway stops roughly every 10 blocks, with the exception of express trains which stop less frequently. Most trains (express and local) service Canal St; check out Google Maps' map of NYC, which has the subway stations. If you click on a station it shows you the line that serves that station and where that line runs to, and you can also use Google maps to plan out public transit directions and approximate travel times.

[luckylissette]

Anyone know of a good way to find a share without getting stuck with a bunch of psychos? I've heard it could be pretty touch-and-go. I'm starting the applications for NYU & Columbia and housing is obviously a concern.

[greenpointgrad]

Anyone know of a good way to find a share without getting stuck with a bunch of psychos? I've heard it could be pretty touch-and-go. I'm starting the applications for NYU & Columbia and housing is obviously a concern.

Craigslist. In NYC, craigslist doesn't carry the "creepy" connotations that it does in other areas, at least in terms of housing. I've used Craigslist - in the sublet and rooms shared categories - to find housing in Brooklyn on three separate occasions. Each were positive experiences and I payed alot less for rooms than most of my friends.

[pea-jay]

Craigslist. In NYC, craigslist doesn't carry the "creepy" connotations that it does in other areas, at least in terms of housing. I've used Craigslist - in the sublet and rooms shared categories - to find housing in Brooklyn on three separate occasions. Each were positive experiences and I payed alot less for rooms than most of my friends.

I've been told to view Craigslist more cautiously when trying to rent apartments (not sublets or sharing) as there are brokers that troll through there with their listings. That said, I have had some success with CL in the Chicago area (apartment rental) and San Francisco area (merchandise).

[Shaky Premise]

Any chance of reviving this thread? I notice the New York City thread is pretty active, but it seems to be directed in the main to those considering NYU and Columbia. I've just been admitted to the English PhD program at Fordham and would love to attend. My biggest concerns are being able to survive on the stipend, finding a decent enough place to live, and the general transistion from the south to the northeast. Where do Fordham's grad students generally live? Is it insane to consider bringing a vehicle? I'm admittedly entirely unfamiliar with NYC, so really any information would be helpful.

[Kam]

I'm also interested in any information regarding Fordham and the surrounding area...

[kahlan_amnell]

I went to Fordham for undergrad, and do know some people who have gone there for grad school (including some people in the English department). Also, I grew up in NYC, so I know the city fairly well.

On the housing topic: Grad students tend to live near campus in various apartment buildings. I'd recommend you contact current grad students to find out which ones are better than others. Do keep in mind that places very close to campus can be a good idea, because long walks at night can be a little scary if you aren't used to the area. (Even then it is a good idea not to walk alone. It is not a terribly dangerous area comparatively, but crime does happen.)

On the cost topic: The Bronx is much less expensive than Manhattan. I don't know how much funding you are being offered, but I imagine it might be manageable. However, Fordham is somewhat notorious for problems with financial aid, at least at the undergrad level. I don't know if the problem has spread to the grad level, though I've heard some rumors that it may have begun to.

On the car topic: I'd say bringing a car would not be a good idea, nor would it be that helpful unless you want to travel outside of the very large area that public transit for the New York City area covers. Most parking in that area is on street parking, as I understand it. Unless your car is not particularly valuable, I wouldn't recommend overnight street parking in the Bronx. Parking on the Fordham Campus is limited. Undergrad resident students are not allowed cars on campus for this reason. I don't know what the situation is with grad students, but I doubt overnight parking is allowed.

However, you really don't need a car in NYC. Public transit can get to you to any of the five boroughs of New York City (bus, subway, and Metro North railroad), Long Island (Long Island Rail Road), to various locations in elsewhere in New York state (Metro North), many places in Connecticut (Metro North), and New Jersey (New Jersey Transit trains, and PATH trains). You can also take a Greyhound Bus or Amtrak train to almost anywhere on the East Coast and beyond from NYC. Transit that is available within walking distance of Fordham includes: many bus lines, two subway lines, a good number of Metro North lines (though some destinations will require a trip to Manhattan to transfer), and Fordham's inter-campus van (the Ram Van).

Hope that helps! I'd be glad to answer any other questions you have!

[Venetia]

Thanks for the insight, kahlan_amnell! I was really excited to get into Fordham, but was both excited/apprehensive about living in NYC. My Dad did his undergrad there, but that was quite a while ago...lol. What's this about problems with financial aid? The funding package they offered me unofficially seemed pretty generous- I wouldn't like to hear that it would be hard to get it...

[kahlan_amnell]

Thanks for the insight, kahlan_amnell! I was really excited to get into Fordham, but was both excited/apprehensive about living in NYC. My Dad did his undergrad there, but that was quite a while ago...lol. What's this about problems with financial aid? The funding package they offered me unofficially seemed pretty generous- I wouldn't like to hear that it would be hard to get it...

A lot of my information on financial aid is five years old by this point, so it probably has no relevance. However, Fordham had a bad habit of loosing people's financial aid paperwork or being really slow to get aid out. Also reducing people's aid after the first year without good reason, in some cases so much that some of my friends could not continue there. Again, this was only undergrad stuff. I heard a few grad students talking about their funding being reduced, but that was a while ago. If the package you got looks good, it probably is.

Anyway, NYC can be a great place to go to school for undergrad or grad school, and Fordham is a good school. Particularly for Medieval Studies, Fordham is known for that!

P.S. I like your signature line Venetia! Yay for Discworld!

Edited February 28, 2010 by kahlan_amnell

[Shaky Premise]

Thank you very much for the information! Fordham appears to be a quirky place in a lot of respects (Graduate Assistants work for a good chunk of the Christmas Break and all of Spring Break, even when classes are out?), but the moving to the city part is still the most formidable. I've since found more information about housing via the Fordham website, but I thank you for adding your perspective. Big decisions ahead...

[nybound]

My husband & I (20 & 30-somethings, 2 cats, no kids) are relocating to NY this summer for him to attend CUNY Grad Center. I'm currently searching for a job/paid internship, but there is a chance we'll be moving with me still hunting. We know the city, particularly Manhattan, & to a lesser extent the other boroughs. We love the city & are prepared to make some sacrifices to make this dream come true.

-Any tips on apartment hunting from out-of-state is greatly appreciated, particularly places that are grad-student (no guarantor) friendly.

-Are there neighborhoods particularly popular w/CUNY Grad Center students?

-Any other biggies we should know that don't usually get mentioned?

I found the 2006 New York thread (starting to read it now), but am hoping to get more current/since the recession info. Thanks!

[britboi04]

So much to my surprise, I was accepted to NYU for a Masters program. Aside from an awesome program for what I want to do, living in NYC would be a dream compared to where I've been stuck for so long. But, after looking at what apartments/studios go for up there, it might just be that...a dream.

I was reading NYU's off-campus housing guide and it mentioned having to have 40-50 times 1 month's rent (average $1500) saved up just to be eligible for most places. Fresh from undergraduate and with debt already (and the very real prospect of so much more from grad school), I don't see how that can be possible for most students to have.

How is it done? I mean, I know I've been living in a very comparatively cheap place to live after looking at these rates, but how do so many students afford housing on top of having to pay for tuition?

Any advice is appreciated as I have until April 15th to decide where I'm going to go.

[nyuma]

So much to my surprise, I was accepted to NYU for a Masters program. Aside from an awesome program for what I want to do, living in NYC would be a dream compared to where I've been stuck for so long. But, after looking at what apartments/studios go for up there, it might just be that...a dream.

I was reading NYU's off-campus housing guide and it mentioned having to have 40-50 times 1 month's rent (average $1500) saved up just to be eligible for most places. Fresh from undergraduate and with debt already (and the very real prospect of so much more from grad school), I don't see how that can be possible for most students to have.

How is it done? I mean, I know I've been living in a very comparatively cheap place to live after looking at these rates, but how do so many students afford housing on top of having to pay for tuition?

Any advice is appreciated as I have until April 15th to decide where I'm going to go.

Hi, don't know what exactly your situation is- are you willing to have roomates or share? I've lived in NY since graduating from undergrad ten years ago and will be glad to give you realistic estimates for rent/cost of living expenses. Bottom line is basically - you can share in brooklyn/queens/inwood/jersey for much less than you might expect - under $1000/month. Now, I'm trying to figure out how/if I can juggle a full time job to still pay my rent while attending NYU myself, but just so you know, if you're willing to not be in luxary accomodations, fairly reasonable rent is possible - if you look around (I also personally might be able to hook you up w/ potential roomates/places to stay if you end up coming here - been here awhile and have lots of friends in the area). Feel free to message me if you want specifics

[britboi04]

<br>Hi, don't know what exactly your situation is- are you willing to have roomates or share?&nbsp;&nbsp;I've lived in NY since graduating from undergrad ten years ago and will be glad to give you realistic estimates for rent/cost of living expenses.&nbsp;&nbsp;Bottom line is basically - you can share in brooklyn/queens/inwood/jersey for much less than you might expect - under $1000/month.&nbsp;&nbsp;Now, I'm trying to figure out how/if I can juggle a full time job to still pay my rent while attending NYU myself, but just so you know, if you're willing to not be in luxary accomodations, fairly reasonable rent is possible - if you look around (I also personally might be able to hook you up w/ potential roomates/places to stay if you end up coming here - been here awhile and have lots of friends in the area).&nbsp;&nbsp;Feel free to message me if you want specifics <img src="http://forum.thegradcafe.com/public/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif" class="bbc_emoticon" alt=""><br>

Thanks nyuma! I certainly would be able to forgo luxury living arrangements for a chance to go to my dream school and start a new chapter in my life.

As it is, I'm not really high maintenance when it comes to my living accommodations. I value the resources a city has/my schooling a lot more than where I lay my head at night. And as for roommates, I pretty much figured that would be a must. I've had roommates all throughout my college career so it'd be nothing new for me.

I should be receiving NYU's decision on financial aid soon so I hope to be more certain of what I want to do once I am in receipt of that. I do have family in NYC so hopefully through kind people like you on this forum and them, I'd be able to make the dream a reality. It's just a daunting process when you first sit down to look at the numbers being so fresh out of school!

Anyways, thanks again. &nbsp;Hope to stay in contact as I hear back from NYU

Edited March 23, 2010 by britboi04

[pea-jay]

So much to my surprise, I was accepted to NYU for a Masters program. Aside from an awesome program for what I want to do, living in NYC would be a dream compared to where I've been stuck for so long. But, after looking at what apartments/studios go for up there, it might just be that...a dream.

I was reading NYU's off-campus housing guide and it mentioned having to have 40-50 times 1 month's rent (average $1500) saved up just to be eligible for most places. Fresh from undergraduate and with debt already (and the very real prospect of so much more from grad school), I don't see how that can be possible for most students to have.

How is it done? I mean, I know I've been living in a very comparatively cheap place to live after looking at these rates, but how do so many students afford housing on top of having to pay for tuition?

Any advice is appreciated as I have until April 15th to decide where I'm going to go.

How some NYU'ers do it: Rich parents or trust funds. Of course not an option for many folks. Far more realistic is splitting a unit or subletting with someone...should get you around the credit check deal, especially if other person is in already. Don't forget that while HOUSING is more expensive in the city, transportation is cheaper, far cheaper if you ditch your car (assuming you have one). We have two cars and even with a modest amount of driving, they're still pricier than a month pass on the subway, a share in ZipCar and the occasional bus and train tickets. So we're going to sell both and stick that money in the growing savings account.

[nyuma]

Thanks nyuma! I certainly would be able to forgo luxury living arrangements for a chance to go to my dream school and start a new chapter in my life.

As it is, I'm not really high maintenance when it comes to my living accommodations. I value the resources a city has/my schooling a lot more than where I lay my head at night. And as for roommates, I pretty much figured that would be a must. I've had roommates all throughout my college career so it'd be nothing new for me.

I should be receiving NYU's decision on financial aid soon so I hope to be more certain of what I want to do once I am in receipt of that. I do have family in NYC so hopefully through kind people like you on this forum and them, I'd be able to make the dream a reality. It's just a daunting process when you first sit down to look at the numbers being so fresh out of school!

Anyways, thanks again. &nbsp;Hope to stay in contact as I hear back from NYU

I'm waiting on the financial info from NYU too - its killing me - I'm excited to go, but want to start figuring out just how much debt I'll be sinking into . Good luck w/ it all, keep me posted!

[britboi04]

I'm waiting on the financial info from NYU too - its killing me - I'm excited to go, but want to start figuring out just how much debt I'll be sinking into . Good luck w/ it all, keep me posted!

Yeah, I called financial aid dept. yesterday and the girl told me the letters haven't been sent out yet. They hope to have them sent within the next 2 weeks. That is awfully close to April 15th!

She said the key thing was that the FAFSA had already been completed and that we will be notified whether or not we receive aid.

Best of luck to you too!