Image credit:
https://media.timeout.com/images/ 102906033/225/169/image.jpg
When looking for an apartment, another important aspect to remember is the neighborhood you’re going to live in. This will not only help narrow down your search by limiting where you’ll be looking, but it will also give you a better idea of what you’re looking for in off-campus housing. At the top of your list of considerations should be how far your neighborhood is from your school, what kinds of public transportation is available, what amenities are in the area, and the safety of the neighborhood. You should ask yourself, will you feel comfortable walking alone in your neighborhood after dark? Will you be able to find food and household supplies easily? How far away is the bus/subway and does it run regularly?
While you may think you’re saving money by opting to live in a neighborhood that’s a little far from your school but with lower rent, remember that a monthly metro card in New York City is currently over $100. And you don’t want to live in a place that’s so far from your classes that it’s a struggle to be on-time. Narrow down your choices before you start hunting, as this will make things easier when you’re ready to look at apartments.
I would love nothing more than to list every neighborhood in the five boroughs and give you a detailed list of statistics about them all, but the truth is neighborhoods are always changing. If you try to stay completely current based on literature your head will spin. The best thing to do is talk to your friends who live in different neighborhoods and get their opinion. And be sure to visit neighborhoods yourself. Statistics offer some information, but the best information you can get will come from hands-on experience.
By Alex Agahigian
Alex Agahigian was one of the Campus Clipper’s talented publishing interns, who wrote an e-book on how to find an apartment in NYC. Follow our blog to read more chapters from Alex’s e-book and use her advice to make your own apartment-hunting more fun and easy. For over 20 years, the Campus Clipper has been offering awesome student discounts in NYC, from the East Side to Greenwich Village. Along with inspiration, the company offers students a special coupon booklet and the Official Student Guide, which encourage them to discover new places in the city and save money on food, clothing and services.
At the Campus Clipper, not only do we help our interns learn new skills, make money, and create wonderful ebooks, we give them a platform to teach others. Follow each new blog post to read a chapter of our various books and to learn how the Campus Clipper can help you follow your dreams!
Stay tuned for more tips from Alex on apartment hunting, check our website for more student savings and watch our YouTube video showing off some of New York City’s finest students during last year’s Welcome Week.
Become a fan on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and Instagram!
Tags: living off-campus, neighborhood, public transportation, safety