Teaser: New York Guide!
Not your dusty exchange brochure. This is what really goes down — rooftop kickbacks in Brooklyn, $1 slice runs at 2AM, and running club in Central Parc.
🏠 Housing (Preview)
Dorm in Midtown? Brownstone in Harlem? Bushwick loft with 5 other exchange students?
We break down the real deal: where the exchange students actually live, which spots are overhyped, and how to survive rent prices that’ll make you cry.
“We had a 4BR in East Village. Sketchy landlord, broken AC, but the roof? Legendary.” — Alex, NYU
“Student housing is overpriced, but at least it’s safe and central. I met most of my friends in the common kitchen.” — Lina, Columbia
📚 Uni Life
Columbia, NYU, Fordham... same city, totally different vibes. We cover the class hacks (hint: Friday classes are optional), professors that care, and how to build a chill schedule in the city that never chills.
“Columbia’s campus is gorgeous but intense. Take a mix of electives to breathe a bit.” — Matteo
“At NYU, I had Mondays off and did all my work from cafés in Soho. That’s the dream.” — Amandine
🎉 Going Out
Forget the tourist traps — we show you how to party like a local student. Bushwick warehouses, LES dive bars, $5 comedy nights, and secret rooftop speakeasies.
Your week might look like this:
🍕 Tuesday pizza + beers in Williamsburg
🍸 Thursday drinks at The Garret
💃 Saturday rave in a converted church in Brooklyn
✈️ Travel Tips + Weekend Escapes
Boston? Philly? Niagara Falls? Or quick flight to Miami?
Whether you’re catching a bus to DC for $15 or planning a spring break in Puerto Rico, we’ll show you where to go, when to go, and how to do it without maxing your credit card.
Spoiler: The Amtrak is cool, but Flixbus and JetBlue sales are your real best friends.
Student Reviews
NYU
🇺🇸 Exchange in NY
🏠 Housing
Landed a sublet in East Village through a Facebook group. €1,100/month, tiny room, four roommates, but the rooftop and the location? Unreal. Lived two streets from a 24/7 bagel shop and a thrift store that turned into a party on Fridays.
🚗 Getting to Campus
Walked 15 minutes max to class. You don’t “commute” in NYC — you just vibe through the city with a coffee and noise-canceling AirPods.
✈️ Travel Life
Took a $30 bus to Boston, flights to Miami and Chicago for under €100. Planned trips around long weekends and skipped Monday lectures more than I should’ve.
🎉 Social Life
Tuesday karaoke in Koreatown, Thursdays in Bushwick warehouses, Saturdays bar-hopping in LES. Always something happening, even a random chess tournament in Central Park once (don’t ask).
📚 Classes
Had amazing professors but also wild flexibility. Attendance wasn’t strict, and I did a lot of work from cafés or on the subway. Big tip: take classes that match your time zone back home for easier coordination.
🦙 Other
NYC will break your bank and fix your soul. Bring sneakers, a MetroCard, and your best fake “I know what I’m doing” face.
🇺🇸 Exchange in NY
🏠 Housing
Stayed in an apartment in the Bronx, 10 min walk to campus. Found it through a Facebook sublet group, $1,000/month with two other exchange students. Honestly? Not fancy, but safe and full of life. Bodega downstairs knew my name by week 2.
🚗 Getting to Campus
Walked most days. Took the subway for classes downtown. The MetroCard is your lifeline, $130/month unlimited and worth every cent. Don't Uber unless you're late or rich.
✈️ Travel Life
New York is the main character, but I still managed weekend trips to Philly, Boston, and one big spring break in Miami. Flixbus and JetBlue are your budget besties.
🎉 Social Life
Bushwick parties, speakeasy bars in the East Village, student nights in Brooklyn. Fordham had mixers too but tbh the real fun’s in the city. Don’t be shy, DM people, say yes to everything.
📚 Classes
Pretty chill if you don’t fall behind. Professors are helpful, and there’s less micro-managing than in Europe. I had one class at Lincoln Center, best excuse to hang out in Manhattan.
🦙 Other
If you can survive the rent and the bagel temptation, you’ll come out with insane stories and friends from everywhere. NYC doesn’t slow down, and you won’t want it to.