(Newswire.net — March 30, 2020) — Choosing to go to college in New York City is one of the most exciting decisions you can make. Whether you’re attending Columbia, NYU, Fordham, or one of New York’s other reputable schools, preparing for student life in NYC can help you thrive during your time in the Big Apple and make the most of your college experience. With that in mind, here’s what you need to know before the start of your first semester.
Take care of yourself
If you’re not from New York, surviving in the Big Apple can seem overwhelming. To make it in New York, people are often forced to adjust a “just do it” mentality or a Type-A personality. However, working around the clock and sacrificing sleep can quickly leave you mentally and physically exhausted. To keep your grades—and your morale—high, it’s important to set aside time to take care of yourself.
Aim to set aside some time each day to do something you love. Whether you’re scheduling time to hang out with classmates, getting involved in extracurricular activities, or spending the weekend binging your favorite show on Netflix, focusing on your health can significantly improve your mental well-being.
In addition to creating time for yourself, consider investing in health insurance. Although many young and healthy college students view health insurance plans as too expensive or not worth the trouble, health insurance provides protection and quality care in the case of a medical emergency or illness. With many students qualifying for savings or coverage under a family plan, an investment in health insurance can help you avoid out-of-pocket costs and medical expenses. If you’re not sure where to start, read health insurance reviews on HealthSoul, an online directory of health insurance, to find a health plan within your budget.
Stick to a budget.
No college student wants to worry about money, but living in New York isn’t cheap. The costs of living in New York rise each year, so sticking to a budget is necessary, especially if you’re responsible for paying for tuition, room, and board.
Budgeting can help not only help you work toward long-term financial goals—like paying off student loans—it also makes it easier to track your overall spending. To start budgeting, download an app like Mint or You Need a Budget. Budgeting apps collect information from your debt and savings accounts to show you where your money is going every month. After downloading the app, you can create categories to track your spending for groceries, books, rent, etc.
If you’re a theater, journalism, or English student and currently enrolled in a full-time graduate program at an accredited university, the TodayTix 2020 Education Scholarship can help you cover the costs of tuition. To apply for the TodayTix Scholarship, simply write an essay about how the arts have impacted your life. Whether a teacher encouraged you to pursue the arts or a Broadway show inspired you at a young age, TodayTix can reduce your overall tuition costs and help you afford to live in New York.
Spend time off-campus
You’re living in one of the greatest cities in the world—so make sure to spend some time off-campus to take full advantage of it. Living in New York City is an education in itself, and exploring the city can help you make the most of your college experience and learn more about yourself.
If you have a free weekend, explore a new neighborhood, plan a drive upstate with your friends, or walk around Central Park. If you attend NYU, you’ll have a ton to explore in the Village, but try exploring other parts of Manhattan and the boroughs. During your time in college, get to know the city and its culture as much as possible to make the most of your experience.
Adjusting to life in NYC isn’t easy, but creating time for yourself, sticking to a budget, and spending time off-campus can help you become a true New Yorker while making the most of your college experience.