Whether you’re getting used to campus for the first time or you’re an old pro by now, you know that going to school in NYC has both its ups and downs. I am the biggest advocate for this beautiful city, but even I admit that going to school here can sometimes make things difficult. So here’s my list of 5 things one must be wary of when going to school in NYC.
1. To spend, or not to spend…
Learning how to live on a college budget is arduous enough and living in NYC most definitely doesn’t make things easier. If you’re a freshman, you’re dealing with the struggles of having a meal plan and trying to use up all of your swipes before the semester’s end. And if you’re an upperclassman, you’re most likely doing your best to live a very domesticated lifestyle. Truth is, we all have hectic schedules and the more convenient, the better. It can be hard to avoid that morning Joe’s coffee, that Milano’s H17, or even that Chipotle bowl that you’ve been craving for the past week. My advice? Do your best to balance things out. Eating dinner out every single night may not be feasible. Sometimes just thinking it all out ahead of time prevents you from impulsively settling for an expensive dinner that you know you could have made yourself. Finding that balance is crucial to your overall living experience at school.
2. Transportation.
Here’s another thing that adds up before you even realize it. One of the things I love most about living in this city is that most things you need are within walking distance. You can roll out of bed and out your door and have the entire city at your fingertips. However if you’re leaving campus on a more regular basis, then the Metro is your best friend. Learning how to use the subway system is seriously an acquired skill and one that I’m still not confident I’ve mastered. If you don’t already have HopStop downloaded on your phone then I suggest doing that as soon as possible. Although, do be mindful of when you’re taking a subway alone. If it’s after 10 pm and you’re traveling alone, then a cab might be your best bet. Safety comes first.
3. Breaking News: Students find out that the city extends below 110th street.
I am extremely guilty of this statement. I sometimes get so wrapped up in the semester that I forget to leave Morningside Heights unless I actually have to. But sometimes your mind needs a break. Campus can be a reminder of the stresses in your life – that paper due tomorrow or that 100 page reading you have to do when you get back from a full day of interning. I find that leaving the “bubble” is both healthy and therapeutic. You’ve probably heard this a million times, but it’s still easy to forget: the city is your playground. Last semester I took my econ textbook and escaped to Bryant Park to do some reading and I’ve never enjoyed my econ reading more. So get out of MoHi every once in awhile. No excuses just go!
4. Take advantage of our quaint, but really great campus.
Whenever I have friends coming to visit the first thing out of their mouths is always, “wow you would never know you were in NYC with this campus.” And it’s the truth. Unless you’re in the middle of a park, it’s not easy to find a lawn on which you can sit down and read a book. We’re pretty lucky to have the best of both worlds in that sense. We have a campus, which is not something many students going to college in a city can say. So take advantage of that when the weather permits. If you don’t, you’ll regret it later.
5. Know yourself and what makes you happy.
As I enter my junior year of college, I’ve come to realize a lot of things about myself. One of the most important things I’ve learned is that I’m here for me and not anyone else. As I’ve said before, having the entire city at your fingertips has its perks and downfalls. There is this underlying pressure to do it all—well—because you can. If you have an afternoon free in your schedule, you’re most likely wondering if you should fill it with another club, an internship, or maybe even a babysitting job. And don’t get me wrong all of those things are great. However when you’re doing them all at once, you tend to lose the fulfillment and are instead left with burden. I get it; it’s exciting. There is so much to do and frankly, so little time. But that doesn’t mean you have to push yourself. Just because your roommate is filling up his/her schedule doesn’t mean you have to do the same. Do what makes you happy and don’t lose sight of the fact that you are in college. This is a time to learn, grow, and thrive. I promise, you don’t need to have an internship to make the most out of your college experience. However, you do need to be happy.