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Help Yourself to Housing
International Students' Guide to Living in New York City
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Help Yourself to Housing
Table of Contents
Arrival
Getting Around
Finding Housing
Safety
Managing Money
Shopping
Climate and Dress
Staying Healthy
Staying in Touch
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Legal Holidays
Hints for Having Fun
Bringing Your Family
Financial Aid for International Students
Immigration Information
Getting Ready to Leave New York
Resources for International Students

Finding Housing
Comfortable, safe housing is an important aspect of your stay in the New York City area. Finding a suitable place to live can be a challenge for students in New York, especially at colleges or universities that do not offer campus housing. If your school does have residence halls, you probably received information about them before you arrived; as you may have learned, dormitories can fill up quickly, and rooms must often be reserved far in advance of the beginning of the academic year. Some students simply prefer to live off campus.

If you do choose this option, residential hotels, a room in a private home, or a shared apartment with another student are all alternatives to looking for an apartment by yourself. Here are some points to consider before you begin your search for housing:

How much can you afford to pay? Determine a monthly budget for yourself before you go looking for housing, so that you know exactly how much you can spend.
 
How far away from school are you willing to live? Your rent could be considerably lower if you are willing to commute, especially if your school is located in Manhattan. Neighborhoods such as Astoria, Queens and Hoboken, New Jersey are generally safe, comfortable areas with lower rents and excellent access to subways.
 
How much space do you need? Assess your possessions and your lifestyle, and try to decide what size space would be best for you. A one-room or studio apartment may be suitable for one person, but two people living in such close quarters may find the situation unmanageable.
 
Do you prefer a furnished room or apartment? If you are only in the U.S. for a short time, it may be easier to rent a furnished apartment rather than purchasing your own furniture; on the other hand, it may be more expensive.

Metro International has published a comprehensive, easy-to-read book entitled Help Yourself to Housing, to assist international students in finding a place to live in the New York area. To order a copy of this book, contact Metro International at (212) 431-1195, or order online.


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