<p>I'm a high school senior living in a mediocre town in Texas whom is looking forward to attending schools in the east, particularly in New Jersey or New York. However, I realize the cost of living in NJ or NY is particularly alot higher than in Texas. I've also been told that the atmosphere and lifestyle is different then down here in Texas, where I could just drive and park anywhere I want. I am just nervous that if I go up there, I would struggle as I do not know anyone up there, and it is drastically different. I've applied to NJCU, Rutgers-Newark, and NYU. I've considered living at the dorms as an option. University of Houston in Texas is my back up school in case I decided not to go up there, although I really want to. Any thoughts or input from any students living in that region? Were you guys from out of state and empty handed like me? Any advice or tips would be very welcome. Literally, Any.</p>
<p>I’m not from NJ or NYC but I’ve been to NYC enough. And most of the mid-Atlantic is similar.</p>
<p>For the most part, all the states really aren’t that different. People in the Midwest and South seem much more friendly upfront, but people in DC are also quite friendly once they get to know you a bit.</p>
<p>Yeah you might have trouble parking in big towns and cities, but the nice thing about NYC is its public transport system is very expansive.</p>
<p>Most people in NYC will be a bit different from Texans, I’d think. I don’t know about the area where you live, but NYC is very left-of-center.</p>
<p>I’m from NJ and I live about 20 minutes from both Newark and NYC. I visit both very often. The northeast is pretty fast-paced. Everyone basically minds their own business. </p>
<p>I’ve never been to Texas, but I have family in Georgia, and ppl down south are definitely more friendly and polite than ppl up here. I’m not saying that NJ/NY ppl are mean, but a bit more effort is needed to meet new ppl. </p>
<p>Finding parking is difficult but as DCHurricane said, public transportation is really good. </p>
<p>P.S. Newark is getting better as a city and the mayor is doing a great job of improving it, but I still wouldn’t advise you to stay out after a certain hour ;)</p>
<p>I live in NJ (northern side) and just visited Texas this winter break. </p>
<p>IMHO, I definitely agree with the fact that the East coast is more fast paced. Texas seemed to me a friendly mellow place filled with a lot of polite people. Like my dad was saying, its fairly easy to change lanes in Texas simply by signaling. In the east coast, if you signal, the guy behind you is going to start speeding up and give you the finger - no joke, I always see this (at least from where im at).</p>
<p>Its super fast paced, especially in NYC. It is also extremely dense and very noisy (but I assume you expected that). I live around an hour or so away from NYC, but I have definitely seen some really bad parts and good parts. As far as I hear, NYU isn’t in a particularly bad location. My father attended NYU and told me that the dorms sucked though… But that was years ago. Other members of my family really enjoy the school and they have had lots of fun there. Unfortunately they are having financial problems right now and if you check a lot of threads involving NYU, you will hear of a lot of unhappy students…</p>
<p>I live about 30 minutes away from Newark, and IMHO, its a really unsafe city, especially at night. I get nervous just staying there. My brother attended Rutgers - Newark and we always got messages saying there was a shooting or murder. The education there is great, but personally, I would really advise visiting and checking it out first - its really nothing like Texas. Apologies if I offended anyone from Newark, my brother had an… unfortunate incident… occur as a student there, which has scarred my image of Newark.</p>
<p>Wow thanks alot guys, what about the financial aspects of going to school up there? The out of state fees will double my tuition rates and the living expenses up there are quite high vs down here as well.</p>
<p>You kind of just answered your own question. It’ll be more expensive for you to go to state schools in the Mid-Atlantic/Northeast, and it’ll be more expensive for you to live there. Wages and salaries tend to be higher to reflect that though.</p>
<p>Sorry, I kind of miswrote the question, I was trying to say was how does one pay for themselves while attending school up there. Financial Aid barely covers costs down here, so how can one cover costs of tuition over there?</p>
<p>Academic scholarships, athletic scholarships, ROTC scholarships, student loans, mom & dad…</p>
<p>I’m assuming your family can’t afford to pay for most of it. In that case apply for all the scholarships the school offers, apply for all the financial aid they offer, and worst comes to worst get a loan.</p>