<p>My D will be a grad student in New York City this September. She does not know anyone there and wants to try and connect with people so as to create a more comfortable social situation for herself when she moves in. Not necessarily looking for a best friend, just someone who she can go out to eat with, get coffee, not to be alone.</p>
<p>My D is looking for an apartment in Murray Hill, New York City and would like to share an apartment with one or more roommates (preferably in an apartment that is already lived in and someone is moving out). </p>
<p>Should she post a "looking to share your apartment" ad now or is it too early? If so, how early should she post? She wants to move in in August.</p>
<p>It seems that it is too soon to look at ads in Craigslist that are up now. She has answered ads on there but they all seem to be looking for roommates in May.</p>
<p>She should contact her school and other grad programs in NYC. They have lists, postings of people looking for roommates etc. I think you’ve already received this advice. </p>
<p>Quest, you keep posting. Kids who have ads up on Craigslist now, do so because they need a roommate in two weeks. Murray Hill is expensive (less expensive than the Upper East Side, more expensive than the Bronx or most neighborhoods in Queens.) It is a great neighborhood for students at NYU medical, it is not so convenient for the other colleges depending on which subway line she needs to use. Even if you think she can manage in NY without the subway trust me, she can’t. Yes, there are dicey wackos who post on Craigslist and also some nice normal people. If she is concerned about living with strangers she will do better getting referrals from the Dean of Students at her grad program or moving to the 92nd street Y than moving in with strangers.</p>
<p>The answers don’t change just because you’ve started a new thread.</p>
<p>S1 had an internship in NYC last summer and used craigslist to find a room in a great apartment. He was lucky enough to be an hour’s train-ride away and could check out the space and the apartment mates ahead of time, but it was a great tool for him. If he gets a full time job in NYC, he will use Craigslist again. S2 used it to find a rental near Microsoft this summer, as well. One just needs to be careful and google the related parties before signing on the dotted line.</p>
<p>My son lives in NYC and has been successful at finding housing through Craigslist, but I don’t know if I would feel as comfortable if I had a daughter. In any case, he tells me that you will never find anything this far out. He never starts looking until a month before he needs a place to live. It does cut things quite close, but that is how it works. I am not sure where your daughter is going to grad school but she might be interested in looking at International House, just north of Columbia, an international living community for graduate students and interns attending any school in NYC. Son lived there for one year and found it helpful to get him acclimated to the city while living in a safe and supportive environment. </p>