Pros and Cons of Going to College in NYC

"Going to college in New York City is not just an academic experience. It's a full-body, sensory, financial, and emotional sport. If you haven't cried on a sidewalk, eaten pizza bigger than your head at 2 a.m., and contemplated your existence while a rat makes direct eye contact with you, are you even a New York college student??? The Pros: The Energy Is Insane You step outside and immediately feel like the main character."

"Just on your 10-minute walk to class, you see a saxophone player performing like it's Madison Square Garden, a protest happening three blocks away, and a Parsons student wearing something you could never explain to your parents. There is always something happening. Always. You cannot be bored. Overstimulated? Yes. But bored? NEVER. Public Transportation = Independence You don't need a car. You just need a MetroCard and emotional resilience. The subway will take you anywhere."

"The Pizza Is Bigger Than Your Problems The slices are huge. Like, physically overwhelming. You walk in thinking you'll have "a quick snack," and suddenly you're holding a triangle the size of your laptop. Best part? It's one of the cheapest options in the country. Cheap eats are everywhere:* $1.50 pizza slices* $3 bagels the size of a newborn* Bodega chopped cheese at 1 a.m.* Halal carts under $10"

College life in New York City blends academics with intense sensory and emotional experiences and persistent activity. Street performers, protests, and eclectic fashion create an environment where boredom is rare but overstimulation is common. The subway affords independence without a car, enabling spontaneous travel across boroughs. Large, inexpensive pizza slices and myriad cheap food options make late-night eating accessible. Students live amid artists, activists, cinephiles, and varied subcultures, producing lively, politically engaged conversations. Daily life combines cultural richness, constant events, and practical challenges such as crowded transit and the need for emotional resilience.

Read at Her Campus