New York City has been portrayed as the best place to live and go to school. A lot of movies and T.V. shows show Students living a fabulous life while chasing the dream of graduating with honors.
Students from all over the globe dream of coming to study in New York City. They dream of the dorm life they see in the movies; hanging around with friends on the quad, doing homework in each other’s dorm rooms and all the perks of living on campus.
Sadly, the reality is a little different. There isn’t enough space to have all the students of a university stay on campus, and most of these dorms have specific criteria about who can live in the dorms.
Some universities make it mandatory for all freshmen to stay in the dorms, and some do not allow students with children to live in dorms.
So what are the alternatives to dorm living? Different people will have a lot of different answers to this question.
In this article, we’ll talk about some of the many alternatives to staying on campus to enable you to choose one that is well suited to you and your budget.
Live at Home
A lot of college students will turn their noses down at the suggestion of this as an alternative means of housing, but it is an option if your parents live in the same city as your school.
Living with your parents means that you save money on rent and utilities and transportation. It also means that you only have to worry about your school schedule and picking up after yourself.
If you’re moving to another state and you have family living in that city, you can live with them. Living with a sibling or a family member that lives in the same city can help you save on rent, and is a great alternative to living on campus.
You’ll have the coziness of family, along with the freedom of being able to be your own person. Don’t forget to chip in and help around the house when you can.
Rent a Room in a Private Home Near Campus
Renting a room in a private home affords you the option of privacy, while still giving you the coziness of living at home. Most of these families have extra rooms, and are looking to help students in need.
This is a popular option with grad students as most of them have other jobs while going to school.
With this option, you pay less for rent and utilities, and you can have your own space to yourself.
You can also save on transportation costs and food, if the family decides to provide meals as well.. You can decide to walk or ride your bicycle to school if the distance is a few blocks or less.
Most of the people willing to rent rooms in their houses are people who work at the universities or are connected to them in some capacity, so you’ll gain the advantage of forming close relationships with faculty of your school.
You will have to do your research, and find out if the people you’re renting from are trustworthy.
A Room in an Extended Stay Hotel Near Campus
An extended stay hotel is a hotel that lets you stay for long periods of time.
This can be anywhere from one week to several months.
Extended stays have all the basic amenities and facilities, and they are a great choice for travelers because they cost less than renting a house. This is because extended stay hotels discount your stay, so you end up spending less than you would have if you were paying per night in a normal hotel.
The advantage of staying in an extended stay hotel is that you get all the amenities and you don’t have to worry about things like utilities and buying groceries, and you can stay as long as you like.
It would be ideal to pick an extended stay close to your campus so you can also save on transportation costs.
Renting An Apartment Close to School
This is a great option for people who like a bit of stability. There are lots of options for renting an apartment in New York City.
You can decide you want to go with a studio apartment or a converted warehouse loft, which is popular in Manhattan and the Upper East Side, or you can decide to go with a traditional apartment.
Depending on the number and budget of the people that want to rent a house, you can splurge on a brownstone in the city center.
If renting is your preferred option, there are companies like SharedEasy offering cheap New York City student housing rentals. Bear in mind that a number of factors, like size, location, and age of the building might affect rental prices.
It is also advisable for you to do your own research concerning the area. Map how far it is from school, and how long the commute will be everyday.
Ideally, the apartment you choose should be near enough that you can catch a bus, a train, or walk to school. It should also be close to a grocery store to save you from paying to get to a store and adding to your grocery bill.
Conclusion
These were just some of the alternatives to living on campus as a student in New York City. I hope the information was helpful and has set you on the right path to choosing a place to stay throughout your time studying in New York City.
Don’t forget that whatever choice you make, it is important to do your research. Look beyond the appealing visuals, and ask questions about the safety of the neighborhood, and the amenities and utilities available to you with each option.
Don’t be afraid to have an idea of what you expect, and don’t be afraid to ask questions. We hope you have a fruitful time, and you get a living space that you’re fully comfortable with and feel confident in.
