Advice:College Student Moving to NYC (New York, York: lease, insurance, student loans) - New York City - City-Data Forum

ninob1213 · 02-21-2009, 10:10 PM

Ok, so here's the deal. I'm a 20 year male old living in Florida attending community college. I have plans to attend a CUNY school in fall of this year, most likely a community college because it will be cheaper for an out-of-state tutition. I realize I will have to get my grind to land a job so I will start looking in May-June. I do have a few grand saved for emergency reserve. As far as a place to live, I will be using a student loan to cover the costs of renting a room from craigslist another website. Essentially it's better than renting a dorm in my opinion. I have a car and will bring it ,along with all my belongings via U-haul . Based on the information given is this feasible ? Throw me some constructive criticism. In order be proactive youz guys can gimmie the run-down so I know what to expect . Life is short, the hell with waiting for that post graduate job to move , I'm following my dreams. Only god can stop me, skys the limit

amd1588 · 02-21-2009, 10:34 PM

Just a bit of advice, you may want to reconsider. You do NOT want to have to survive in New York on a loan. You should consider moving to NY for grad school, since you're already in community college please just finish at a local state university, and apply to a graduate program at City college/university or even NYU.

Take it from someone who experienced it. I moved to Chicago under the same intentions as you, and you can rest assure, I was back home in the course of a few weeks!

It is absolutely impossible to survive in a city on your own with NO employment and only on Financial Aid. I think waiting to graduate school would be more wise in your case. The reason being is that you may need some emergency money, and end up using your loan. And loan money doesn't come around until the next school term, so you would be Mod cut: languageout of luck.

Trust me, I moved to Chicago last year, and failed miserably to make it. I don't want you to experience the horrors I did !

FXNT · 02-21-2009, 11:28 PM

Which CUNY are you attending?

ninob1213 · 02-22-2009, 12:01 AM

I applied BMCC, Laguardia,Hunter, and City Col. Laguardia might be my best option financially . It's cheap, has a good rep for a com. college and is in an outer borough so I will prob look for a room in LIC,Astoria,Greenpoint etc. Somewhere close ya know. Now with the other schools which are all in the city, I'd have to catch the train throughout the week. This would be a tangent of my game plan,which consists of a car for daily use. The thing is i'm not down to pay insurance on a vehicle I won't regularly use. Queens college is definitely in option as well

tpk-nyc · 02-23-2009, 09:27 AM

I've taught at LaGuardia and, with apologies to those who have gone there, it is not a good school. It is definitely not worth going into debt to attend. Hunter's better, but not tremendously better.

I agree with amd1588 that it's likely to be a struggle.

New York is brutally competitive, especially when it comes to education. You'll be competing with people who have very good degrees.

ninob1213 · 02-23-2009, 09:38 PM

The tuition for a community college is not expensive in my opinion. I come from a lower-middle class home (by NY standards) and financial aid is considerably generous. As far as LaGuardia is concerned, people seem to either love it or hate it. I hear it is the home base for foreigners persuing higher education. Honestly that is great for them.But hopefully the cirriculum is not dumbed down for that reason. Hunter is the top-tier CUNY school. If accepted do my will do best to attend.

amd1588 · 02-23-2009, 10:24 PM

I still think its dangerous to move all the way to New York, with Student Loans as your ONLY source of income.

Henna · 02-23-2009, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ninob1213

I applied BMCC, Laguardia,Hunter, and City Col. Laguardia might be my best option financially . It's cheap, has a good rep for a com. college and is in an outer borough so I will prob look for a room in LIC,Astoria,Greenpoint etc. Somewhere close ya know. Now with the other schools which are all in the city, I'd have to catch the train throughout the week. This would be a tangent of my game plan,which consists of a car for daily use. The thing is i'm not down to pay insurance on a vehicle I won't regularly use. Queens college is definitely in option as well

If you end up coming here, you should not under any circumstances bring a car with you!

Why are you even considering it?

baxter the putz · 02-24-2009, 12:46 AM

I've been reading this forum for months now. Never registered, just browsed. This post sparked me. I'm in the exact same situation with a few differences. 21 yr. old from Miami moving to Manhattan. Applied for BMCC along with Financial aid. Im a full-time student & a full-time employee. I work for one of the larger banks. Applied internally in the company, was able to land a possition which is geared towards my major with a 15k pay increase. My car lease is up next month, so there goes 1,020 (lease,gas & insurance). I've also got the room mate situation half way done.

I've landed a 45k yearly job (yes I'm aware i'm the working poor, i read the 100 page post), don't have a car (anymore), going to school (some online courses), 1,100 UWS shared room w/ utilities. It's gonna be a tight squeeze.

Just thought the OP's situation was really similar to mine.

ninob1213 · 02-24-2009, 09:02 AM

OK let's get this straight , loans would not be my only source of income. My ass doesn't work a part time shift as a money printer so I have to find a job like everyone else lol. It will be hard to find a job though. Hell it's hard to a job here. I got fired in Jan. due to Florida employers having the ability to fire me quicker than George Jetson. I was in the hospital UNEXPECTEDLY sick for 3 days but they still gave me the boot. So how am I supposed to call in when it was UNEXPECTED. My situation is an interesting one to say the least but If the poster above me can do it thats just some more motivation.

BTW I want to bring the car for numerous reasons. I've been walking all my life from NY to FLA and just got a car this month. It's paid off, I'm not going to sell off my accomplishment if I don't have to. I worked hard for it.