NYU Stern Housing $1,680/Month

Question

Okay yeah I know NY is expensive. But the housing that NYU offers for students is a tiny little studio apartment that costs $1,680 per month. For some reason I thought they might offer some sort of subsidized housing option.

Seeing as how busy I'll be at school, it would be nice if I didn't have to worry about finding an apartment with a lease running from Sep-May, and it would also be nice to not have to worry about roommates. So the University housing would be great, but dam, a little expensive.

Anybody going to Stern or Columbia looking at other housing options? I have a friend who goes to Stern who lives out in Brooklyn and rents are much cheaper.

Ozmba · Answer

I met few Stern students who live in Queens/Long Island and Brooklyn and White plains ..NYC has the best Public transport and they are ok with that choice...Most of them are married and need bigger space and i guess the single crowd prefers the city

The first 6 months of the program is hectic and after that Travel wont be an issue

johnnyx9 · Answer

Maybe doing the school housing the first year would be the way to go. 

You're right, the subways in NY are so easy it wouldn't be a big deal to shoot in from another borough each day.

3underscore · Answer

We will be doing something private, and probably less expensive (I am looking for a sub $2k 1-br in certain parts of town. We should manage it).

Mind, the Good Lady is sure to begin convincing me how we can afford more so she can live somewhere better (depends on her earnings right enough, so we will see!).

I wouldn't want student accom myself, but I am jaded through experiences in the UK. And with there being two of us, and having my brother to (hopefully) stay with while we look it should be possible.

Obviously, I understand such facility isn't available to everyone. A lot of people are looking to do the student accom 1st term, so they can get to grips with things.

died4me · Answer

this is exactly why I didn't even apply to Columbia/NYU although they are darn good schools. :lol:

johnnyx9 · Answer

I've heard Columbia has subsidized student housing. Probably has to do with the fact that it's located in Harlem.

The convenience of student housing would be great. But the fact that it comes with a standard issue twin-bed is not so cool. And you're not allowed to bring in your own furniture.

pelihu · Answer

Columbia does have subsidized student housing, but you must enter a lottery to get it. It's assigned based on how far from NY each person is.

I had a friend that went to NYU law school. The student was really cramped. Barely enough room to turn around between the bed and the desk, but of course you do get to live in lower Manhattan within walking distance to the meatpacking district.

kidderek · Answer

Columbia housing is better, but NYU campus experience is unparalleled. You have access to the village which is the heart of NYC.

If you're so inclined, try looking at Williamsburg, Brooklyn. It is 3-4 stops away on the very reliable L train. The price of places might not be much lower, but you'll get something bigger than a dinky little studio.

johnnyx9 · Answer

Cool Kidderek, thanks for the info, I'll check that out.

By the way, what's up with your avatar, I known Permian is one of those crazy powerhouse football teams in TX, you play?

rustmonster · Answer

When I was at Columbia Law School many moons ago (I'm an old fart), I lived in subsidized student housing. My room during the first two years was 110 square feet. Yes, folks, 10 by 11. My rent was $900/month (subsidized).

My last year I moved into a business school dorm. When I opened the door and saw 125 square feet, I thought I had never seen anything bigger. I was so happy. 

Neither had central air conditioning, so it could get HOT.

I'm sure its more expensive now and I doubt the rooms are much bigger. So, yeh, even though subsidized, you are dealing with s-m-a-l-l. It's like being a college freshman all over again. 

I did not apply to either Columbia or NYU and that was a major, but by no means only reason.

In fact, I bet the mortgage payment + property taxes on my 3000 square foot house in a good neighborhood of a nice NC city is hundreds of dollars cheaper than the current rent on my old 110 square foot law school dorm room. Aye carumba!

PS In fairness though, I didn't have to pay any utility bills on my old dorm rooms, but I do on the house. One of my best investments was an AC window unit. With CU paying the bills, I lived in a refrigerator. Muahaha.

kidderek · Answer

kidd + derek (luke) <-- the actor = kidderek

Nsentra · Answer

it looks like the character from 'friday night lights' movie.

aaudetat · Answer

I'm not actually cool enough to even walk through Williamsburg. Ya gotta be pretty hip to walk those streets.

riverripper · Answer

My brother has lived in NYC for a pretty long time now, I never have but I have spent a lot of time visiting him at his various places. NYU is one of the schools I have been looking at applying to and picked my brothers brain recently on city life. Overall NYC seems very expensive but if you are willing to have a broad search and know what you want there is probably a neighborhood for you. Here are my opinions of his last few apartments.

Williamsburg: Nice area, easy ride into the city, seemed fairly quiet and safe. Apartment was a big one bedroom loft type. High ceilings, large open floor plan for a one bedroom. The bedroom was still pretty small though. 

E 2nd: Walking distance to NYU, expensive for what you get, lots of good places to eat, and interesting places to go out. Small two bedroom...both bedrooms were not much bigger than my walk in closet. The kitchen and living room area was small and its a good thing there was lots of good takeout cause I donâ€™t think you could cook in the kitchen since there was no counter space, and all the appliances were half scale. 

Current place is a three floor brown stone right near Prospect Park in Brooklyn. By far the best place...though rent is a lot more than your range some of the buildings in the area are broken into three different units, or one two floor with a single floor unit on top. Or if you decide to get roommates. They have a yard which was a must since his fiancÃ© has a big dog. If I was moving to NY and had the means its a great area and would be my top choice since its quiet and actually reminds me of some sections of Boston.

Manhattan is over priced but if go outside of the city your money will get you a lot more of an apartment. Its shocking at first to see that a nice one bedroom will cost the same as the mortgage on a nice house in most of the country.

wshaffer · Answer

I've lived in Manhattan for a few years and, honestly, if I could find any studio for $1680/month in the village, I would jump at it immediately. In my experience, celebrities and wealthy folks drive up housing prices on an island without much space for development. There are neighborhoods in Brooklyn that are quite nice, but even Williamsburg and Brooklyn Heights have their limitations. For example, earlier this year, the L train from Williamsburg to Manhattan was under construction and not running on weekends for several months. If you lived in Williamsburg during that time you could forget getting to Manhattan/NYU in less than a few hours. You'd have to have taken another train farther out into Brooklyn and switch lines to get back in to Manhattan. If you're living in Manhattan, you're paying for convenience. It's up to you to decide how important it is to you/how much that's worth.

GMATT73 · Answer

WCS ---> craigslistnewyork

johnnyx9 · Answer

Thanks for all the info guys.

AAUDETAT - You're right about Williamsburgh, I think I would have to grow one of those trendy massive alterna-beards that everyone there sports if I had any chance of fitting in.

aaudetat · Answer

And wear skinny pants. Do you have any skinny pants?

johnnyx9 · Answer

I do actually, my girlfriend got me an embrassingly expensive pair of jeans for xmas that would fit the bill, make me look like a Brit-rocker or a lost member of the Strokes, but I've only worn them in NY cuz they're too hip for anywhere else.

lepium · Answer

Don't worry, Johnny, you can come visit me at Cambridge where your NY-style will fit.

Cheers. L.

NYU Stern Housing $1,680/Month

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards