Moving to New York City can be one of the most exciting times in your life, but it can also be one of the most overwhelming. I moved to New York myself in my early twenties, and there are a lot of things I wish I had known ahead of time about what to expect. That’s why I’ve helped create the What If NYC blog to help you through the same transition.
Many people who come to New York are coming from other cities in the United States, so it might seem like the change would not be so dramatic for them. Perhaps they’re already used to using public transportation or being in crowded places every day. But NYC is so unique that I think even those who are already used to city life will find that it’s quite a lot to get used to, and people who are coming from small towns or rural areas are likely to experience an even bigger shock. Relocating to New York is entirely worth it, at least in my opinion, but I hope that this blog can help you be as prepared as possible when it comes time to make your move.
People who are thinking about relocating to NYC are often dealing with several significant changes at once. This also goes for those who have already decided to relocate and are now planning a move. If that’s the position you find yourself in, you might be looking for a new job, a new place to live, a new group of friends, or maybe even all of these things at once.
When I moved to New York myself, I had an offer of admission from a graduate program and almost nothing else. I had no friends here, and no apartment lined up. I had never even ridden a subway before and found the enormous MTA maps confusing. I also needed to find a part-time job to supplement my income. And I needed to do all of this as quickly and inexpensively as possible because I had very little money in savings to live on while I figured everything else out. But I did figure it out, and now I’m ready to help you figure it out as well. Welcome to New York City! Let’s get started.