As University students move forward with their college careers, they are faced with what it means to experience and cope with change. Whether students are moving away from home, relocating to a city where nobody knows their name, or learning how to manage independence, these adjustments are what students attempt to deal with in addition to other responsibilities. The college experience is a purposeful time for students to focus on further education, as well as personal development.
Living on campus is an easy way for students to immerse themselves in opportunity. Campus living provides the perfect introduction for students to learn how to live independently. The New York City Campus offers four residence halls—182 Broadway, 55 John Street, 33 Beekman, and Maria’s Tower.
After taking advantage of what campus life has to offer, some students tend to move off-campus and become commuters. Either by moving back home or moving into their own apartment with roommates, the average college student can seriously benefit by living off campus. While there are no right or wrong ways to go about moving off campus, the transition is an adjustment many University students decide to take on.
University junior Amanda Velazquez lived in 33 Beekman during the Fall 2017 semester. She decided to commute from her home in Staten Island during the Spring of 2018. “While I had a great experience in the dorms, I decided to take the step of becoming a commuter because I knew it was most logical to my lifestyle. I still came into the city for classes, but I needed this semester to live at home. Now, I live in an apartment with roommates in Manhattan. I am happy with the decisions I made that lead to this point.”
Students have rented apartments in the outer boroughs, New Jersey, or within Manhattan while splitting the finances with roommates. If a student is looking to move off-campus, they should do research before diving into the apartment hunting process. University junior Xheklin Nano currently lives in Brooklyn with her boyfriend after living in Maria’s Tower. She says, “Commuting to class offers a whole new form of branching out. Instead of remaining on campus, some students like the adventure of commuting to school and exploring different areas of the city. [They] learn to balance college and manage their time while living on-campus, as commuting can open even more doors.”
According to StreetEasy, a service that provides information and availability on NYC rent and housing, the best time to look for apartments to rent is in the summer months because of the wider variety of choices. However, StreetEasy also states that less expensive housing is offered throughout the winter season due to discounts and the various landlords who are “more willing to negotiate” when it comes to the cost of rent.
Selina Kamo, University junior, states, “Students decide to commute after living in the dorms because, sometimes, they want to separate their school/work life from their personal lives.” If a student is looking to move out of their dorm and into an apartment, they should begin by scoping out prospective neighborhoods months before they make a decision in order to determine which location is most convenient for them. However, students should move fast once they find their desired apartment because apartments, especially conveniently-priced ones, do not stay on the market for long.
When considering where to live off campus, one should consider how far the subways are, what other public transit is offered, what neighborhoods are most logical to their budgets, and if they are willing to relocate to a different borough or New Jersey. Students learn a great amount while living in a college dorm, but exploring housing options all over the city is a healthy and normal action for college students to eventually take.
Visit the StreetEasy website for more information!
