Hi all,
To echo more seasoned posters, you def don't need your car. While I'm no expert on NYC, I can say that as much as I've been there, and for all my family that live and work there, a car is more of an inconvenience and will be a greater burden than if you use mass transit.
I live in NJ, and don't know the city entirely, but mass transit is easy to use, the subway system takes a little bit of getting used to, and buses are also pretty good, those going in and out of the city aren't bad either.
Jersey is also a hop, skip and pathway train away. You can take the Jitney bus from 42nd Street, (BROADWAY!) Port Authority, a Path train into Hoboken, or a Ferry (which is my fave).....all into and coming from NJ.
My uncle has been a realtor for over 25 years in NYC and even he well advises to utilize campus housing. Even I, who can live with my grandmother across the Hudson in Jersey (10 minutes from the city) have decided to bite the bullet and pay the extra expenses for housing. I think in the long run, it will be well worth it and I'll avoid the stress of the morning commute.
I also have family that live in Hoboken, Fort Lee, Jersey City and Guttenberg, all on the Hudson, with the city in clear view. For me to live with them and commute into NYC, daily, it can take up to an hour and half, by bus....it's just that crowded.
For those intending to find cheaper housing, you won't find much cheaper housing in NJ across the river, in fact Hoboken is just as bad as midtown, NYC at rent close to almost and exceeding $1,000 a month. Eeeks. Friends of mine who both teach in NYC pay $1,200 a month just for housing, excluding utilities, that's per person and way too rich for my blood.
Midtown is pricey as well, I have a cousin who lives there and most in the area are working professionals, some grad students, but very few in his apt. I consider Midtown anywhere between about 59th street (Queensboro Bridge) and upward.
There is also housing in Queens, Brooklyn, and the Bronx...which are a bit of a ways away, but not much. Cheaper options may be available there, but safety and transportion may be an issue. I wouldn't consider living in either area without roommates. Sunnyside Queens has some nice sections...all are options to "google" and use craigs list for...I hope this helps.
I'm not super familiar with the center of the NYU campus, but my friends who've attended there say the NYU busing system is fantastic, and and the furthest dorm is within a 10-15 minute bus ride. I think poster Joe S mentioned this too. The Washington Square section is by far one of the prettiest parts of NYU...I always see all the purple NYU flags outside of buildings.
And, consider clinical sites. All the hospitals in NYC are amazing. I know they use NYU Medical Center, Columbia Presbyterian, Monte Fiore (in the Bronx....which is one of the largest bed-sized hospitals in the Northeast...maybe near 500 plus beds) and maybe Bellevue, closer to Harlem, but don't quote me on that one. If you search these and a map of NYC you will see all can be accessed without a vehicle, in fact, I would not reccomend driving in NYC unless you must.
I hope I've been of some help, if any.
And if anyone every needs to escape the city, you can always come to my home. I'm just an hour my train and surrounded by suburbia.
PM if anything!
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