<p>NMR, I think that Susan is correct about this. Unless something has changed (and that is entirely possible), the housing office will accomodate requests for two freshmen to be roomed together, but they will not accept requests for four. I know that when my D was a sophomore, the sibling of a friend of hers got into NYU, as did three of his friends. They requested to be placed together in an apt. style and were told that it wasn't possible for this request to be considered. They each could choose one other roomie, but that was it. In any case, two kids requesting each other as roomies are fairly certain to get it, however, this will have little, if any, effect on what dorm they get, on their list of priorities. Unless, of course, one of them is an E.D. kid, and in that case, they probably will get their first choice. As Susan said, it's best to give the housing office and call and get a definitive answer, though, if your D has three friends she wants to room with in the fall.</p>
<p>NMR....the key then, NMR, is if your D has a friend who got in ED like my D did, the likelihood of getting a first choice dorm is quite good (she got it). But just requesting roomies (which will get you the roomie you want likely) doesn't have an effect on what dorm you get on your list of preferences as a freshman.</p>
<p>OK, clarifying what "I" know as my D happens to be in this position (wanting to room with 3 of her friends) and called housing. </p>
<p>She was told to list the names and their NYU ID's on the application, and follow up with an email to housing. All her friends need to do this as well (send the email and list each other's names on the application). One catch, there are only 2 boxes for names on the application, and so the email is critical as everyone has to "cross reference" each other. The email (that is sent 4 times :)) should have the names of all four girls and their NYU ID's.</p>
<p>Oh, and yes, no guarantees...:D</p>
<p>I think there is a good chance the four will be put together. Last summer, just for summer housing, my daughter had some friends (not all attended NYU) who wanted to room together at an NYU dorm and they just all had to stipulate one another. Still, as I mentioned to NMR, this has no bearing on which dorm you get. However, given that YOUR D was admitted in the ED round, those kids get first dibs and so in my opinion, your D has a pretty good chance of first choice (or at least second choice) dorm and also of rooming with her friends as long as they all put down the SAME information (one another's names plus the same order of preference of dorms).</p>
<p>Sooziet my daughter did not get the dorm (She got the expensive one that her roomate cannot afford) she wanted with her roomate and they now want to look for a apartment. She mentioned Brooklyn was less expensive. But it worries me because of late night rehearsals. What do you think?</p>
<p>What year is she in? Funny you mention this. My D is a junior right now and lives at an apartment off campus but the set up she has is an unusual situation. She lives in Nolita. Next year, she is getting a new apartment (hasn't gotten yet) with a different roommate who graduated CAP21 in 2007 (whom she has known for many years prior to college). The roomie obviously is no longer in college. I was hoping my D would still live close to NYU but she tells me she is going to get an apartment in Brooklyn and is adamant about that. Apparently a lot of students do live in Brooklyn. She says it is just a few stops on the subway. I mentioned her very late night rehearsals she seems to have every night but she says that she already has to walk far or take a subway and so this is not going to be that different and that everyone does it. So, what can I say but that my D is in the same situation. They have not begun to look yet because my D has other FREE housing this summer in NYC and so it is early yet I think to line up an apartment for the next school year the way the listings go. I suppose they will look when she is there this summer. Maybe we can be in touch and compare notes as that is how far it has gotten with my kid.</p>
<p>PS...Brooklyn IS less expensive and you get more for the money (she told me all this and in fact, I looked up listings, for example on Craigslist and it is quite true).</p>
<p>My D is going to be a jr next year. Where is your Ds apartment now. (not a address but is it in the village?) Is Brooklyn deserted at night? One of the reasons I do not mind the village is because it is always crowded so I feel safer for her. This is really making me crazy. My D is young for her age and also young for her class but not as young as your D. I guess they have to grow up sometimes. My husband is really upset about this. We were warned about the housing situation before she applied but I always put it in the back of my mind. Are you going to let her live in Brooklyn no matter what?</p>
<p>As I mentioned, my D lives in Nolita....that stands for north of Little Italy...she lives on The Bowery....she can walk to Tisch but she also uses the subway. Her apartment is not the norm for students. She is rooming this year with someone whose parents bought her a million dollar condo for her years at NYU (nothing I can remotely relate to). My D knows that if she wants to live off campus, that's fine but we are willing to pay the same as we had to pay for a NYU dorm (which as you know, ain't cheap...she lived both years in apartment style dorms). The other family was willing to have us pay rent in the amount we pay to NYU and just for the school year and no 12 month lease (which I am SURE is not half of the carrying costs for this place). My D's current apartment, which is fully furnished beautifully by the other family (so we did not have to buy anything) is two bedrooms, two full baths, living/dining room and kitchen, with a huge private deck, as well as a doorman, and laundry in the building. So, like I said, atypical. </p>
<p>For next year, I thought maybe she'd get an apartment in the East Village or some such but she is adamant about Brooklyn. I am willing to pay the same amount as the apartment dorms at Tisch (for the school year and not in summers). I suppose we will let her. She is very strong willed. My husband has no problem with it and so, what can I say? I do see my D's point that if she lives in the section of Brooklyn that is closest to Manhattan, she'd be a couple subway stops away from Union Square, not much different than now. I am always nervous about how late at night she gets home from rehearsals and such even now, alone. As she says, the streets are full of people at all hours. She says so many do this in Brooklyn too.....lots of students. I haven't been there myself. When she lives in NYC this summer, and has to look for a place for the fall, I am sure I will have to go see for myself, let alone I am sure I will have to sign for it given that she is a student. It sounds like your D was willing to live in an NYU dorm but had a roomie who was not able to afford certain NYU dorms. My D no longer wanted to live in the dorms after the first two years but we were willing to pay for the apt. style dorms as were her roomies and so that situation did not arise and that is tricky in the housing lottery then. My D lived in Carlyle last year which has a great location. Of course, now having her own bedroom and bathroom in a gorgeous apartment is no comparison.</p>
<p>I have no clue what next year holds. I only know she has someone to room with and they want to live in Brooklyn. The other girl is currently in an apartment....not sure where, may be East Village, but her lease will be up. We haven't discussed this in a while (who can when every call they are on the run and so much else is also going on in their lives to talk about) but this is the general plan as of now and since both she and her roomie for next year each have a place for this summer, there is no apartment hunting yet. I haven't been through apartment hunting with her in NY ever because she lucked out with just moving into this other girl's condo this year which she already lived in and owns. My D is also saying that Brooklyn is cheaper (though I would have paid her current rent again) and that she is looking ahead since after next May she is on her own to pay her expenses and so would want to live in Brooklyn as it is cheaper (and her roomie is already on her own and out of college....the other girl is two years ahead of her in college but about four years older but my D has always had older friends and they have known each others since they were much much younger and went to theater camp together, then CAP and were also in the same a capella group at NYU). My D is truly the age of a college freshman but is a junior in college as she is two years ahead in school now. As far as the "young" thing....I'm over it as it has been three years already in NYC.....it was a bigger deal in my head when she started there still only 16.</p>
<p>There are definitely some areas of Brooklyn which would be less expensive than what NYU charges for dorms. What you have to be careful about is which area you choose. The less expensive areas also tend to be the less nice areas. Not always the case but, in general, yes. The apartment vs. dorm debate is always an interesting one and you'll get many different opinions. I think that most college age kids can certainly handle the challenges of being responsible for their own apartment, but I know that many parents don't agree with me. One thing to keep in mind when comparing costs is that you will be responsible for the costs for the entire year and not just for the months that school is in session. Additional costs like utilities, cable, phone, transportation, may enter the equation. There are usually broker fees, in addition to first and last month's rent, when an apartment is located. Lots to consider and not necessarily always the least expensive option. </p>
<p>There are pros and cons to both but I wouldn't assume that living in Brooklyn, or Queens, or Hoboken, or Jersey City is always going to be a cheaper option. It's really too early now to be looking for an apt for September, which is another potential problem, if they're not within easy access to the city over the summer. The other issue is that once you're out of NYU housing, it's difficult to get back in, if you change your mind.</p>
<p>AlwaysAMom brings up excellent points. One thing my D lucked out on this year is that she did not have to sign a year's lease and so we are just paying for the school year but that is very unusual. And as I said, I didn't have to buy any furniture at all and when she gets an apartment for next year, she won't have furniture. Also add in any extra charges when figuring out the total expenses. My D has free housing for this summer and so will be in NYC and can look for an apartment for next year. Signing a year's lease won't be a big deal this time because she will be graduating and staying in NYC. But otherwise, had she not been a senior, she'd have to get a year's lease, although many are able to sublet their apartments to friends for the summer. In our case, I am unable and unwilling to pay for summer housing when my kids are in college. But you should look at those issues. As far as transportation, my D needed a subway pass this year already with her apartment and so that won't be new but she didn't when she lived in a dorm. My D said she was interested in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn and also that is closer to the city and certain train lines. It all remains to be seen. I have no trouble with my kid living in an apartment that is not school housing. It is not that different than dorms at NYU as there is no campus anyway. You have to take the subway for certain upper class dorms at NYU anyway. She is also getting more for the money. She also is no longer a freshman new at college or new to the city. </p>
<p>Just to mention, not all apartments have broker's fees. </p>
<p>My D's reasons for wanting Brooklyn are not solely on cost because she already knows we will pay what we pay now and she could find an apartment I bet in East Village for this amount. She seems to prefer Brooklyn for several different reasons. Even if it is not cheaper, she says you can get more for the money....like bigger place. She says it is hip and lots of young people live there and she likes the idea of getting away a little. It likely is not what I would have picked. However, we support our kids' decisions and feel they often do pick what is right for them and I often am able to see eventually how they were right about it. While it is true that I am paying (now), I do feel that they are young adults and need to have decision making power in their lives about a lot of things.</p>
<p>Thanks for the info. I talked to a mother who is going through the same thing in my exercise class and it seems that the williamsburg area is the place to go. I told my daughter she won't be saving any money because she will have to get a years lease and buy furniture. She is doing a summer apprenticeship at Berkshire theatre festival and it runs from May 31 to August 31 so we would have no time to figure this out before school starts. She would have 24 hours to move. I think this year it would be a bad idea. Your daughter is so lucky!!!! She sounds very mature and talented!!!They are young adults but we are still paying the bills and picking up the pieces when things don't work out.</p>
<p>At the Tisch accepted students' event last weekend, we were told that the University guarantees dorms/housing for all four years as long as kids put in their paperwork in time. However, they warned the kids that once they opt out of the system (by getting their own places), it's difficult to opt back in and they would have to be put on the waiting list, which is not a good way to go.</p>
<p>actressmom,
Your D was in a tough situation as she entered the NYU Housing lottery with a roomie who was unable (understandably) to accept all the dorm options on their list, even though your D could. </p>
<p>It will be hard for your D to apartment shop given her summer plans. But maybe the roomie can scout apartments after both list their personal criteria and then your D might be able to do a day trip down to confirm or maybe you could. You are right about the constraints of signing a year's lease...something that gave me pause last year but turned out to not be the case for my D because of the unusual apartment arrangement she went into (as I described earlier) and so we only had to commit to the school year and were able to stipulate my D's start and end dates as we needed (not first or last days of month either!). But many students who have a year's lease either work in NYC in summers (your D could next summer) or sublet out to friends who do. I guess it is common but it is one more thing to deal with. My D won't have that issue next year as she will graduate (hard to fathom!) next May and will be staying on in NYC (which is one reason she wants Brooklyn as she thinks she may be able to afford that apartment on her own at that point compared to some others in the city). </p>
<p>I completely agree with you that we are the ones paying the bills and picking up the pieces. I only meant that at this point in my kids' lives, they are making decisions that affect them and I tend to discuss it with them and support them but it doesn't mean I don't advise them or in some cases, have to stipulate what we can or will pay for. But for many things that I may not choose if it were me, I do let them choose what they prefer given their age. </p>
<p>NMR...you are right....once you leave NYU Housing, it is hard to get back in. My D is living in NYU Housing this summer, even though she was off campus this past school year but she is being given housing for free and under a special circumstance. I doubt she could have gotten summer housing if the regular way.</p>
<p>Susan, did your d have a meal plan at anytime, or is it better to get apartment style and make your own meals(my d loves to eat healthy food)</p>
<p>Great question, lindyloohoo. My D is rooming (or requesting to room with) a girl who was ED, so they may well get the dorm they are asking for. It's apartment-style. One big benefit of that is that they will have a kitchen (albeit a teensy tiny one ... come to think of it, it's probably the size of the one in our home! ;)) and can prepare simple meals there when they have time. (And when I say "simple," I mean "simple," as in cereal, eggs, sandwiches and salads.) But I think it might also be a good idea to buy a very basic bare bones meal plan which would allow her to eat dinner out. Love to hear others thoughts on this. I hear our theater/drama students will be very, very busy so they won't have a lot of time to be cooking and shopping.</p>
<p>As a freshman, my D had a meal plan (it was a pretty big meal plan). After one semester, she wanted us to change it to ten meals which also had more flex points or whatever they are called that can be used more flexibly. But after freshman year, she no longer wanted ANY meal plan as not only didn't she have much time to go to dining halls, but she also cares about eating healthy and less fattening and so we give her the amount of money that the big full meal plan costs to buy her own food. She has been in apartment style dorms her first two years and then her own apartment in the city this year and just got a new apartment for next year (today) in Brooklyn and so she has always had a kitchen. However, I would say that my D is pretty much out all day and all evening until very late and picks food up like salad bars and such on the fly and doesn't cook much given the packed schedule and the distances involved. This is particularly true if in shows which have rehearsals at night which may start soon after studio and so she is not home much. Hope that helps.</p>
<p>PS, cross posted with NMR....be aware that in Union Square where many of the apartment style dorms are (and where my kid lived for two years and also two summers), there is a Trader Joes and Whole Foods.</p>
<p>We love Trader Joes! we don't have one in Vancouver, I've only been to the one in L.A.
So if it's not mandatory should we opt out of the meal plan?
We are also looking for the most cost effective housing, can you recommend the best choices?
(and ps. are the N'Harmonics auditions in the fall and are they posted for all the kids to see?)
thanks so much:)</p>
<p>lindy, I think that when your D signs up for housing, she is automatically enrolled in the meal plan (something like 14 meals a week) but that she/you guys can then alter that online in the beginning of August when she gets her housing assignment. I am not sure if freshmen can opt out of the meal plan altogether, though. I will check and get back to you.</p>
<p>I THINK freshmen can opt out of a meal plan all together only if they live in one of the two apartment style freshmen dorms (Third North or University Hall). We chose a meal plan to start and I explained how she wanted less meals and more flex plan and then no plan at all after the first year. We just felt our way through. </p>
<p>Lindy....we don't have Trader Joes here in Vermont but last summer and this summer, my D lived upstairs from one in Union Square (the most opposite extreme from where we live as you can get). </p>
<p>As far as cost effective housing, I would have to look up the freshmen dorms (you can do this if you go to the housing site) and find which are the cheapest.....one or two are lower cost. The apartment style dorms are the most expensive. My D wanted apartment style. </p>
<p>N'Harmonics holds auditions at the start of the school year for new openings in the group. I believe at least this year, at the start of second semester, they held some auditions for some replacements due to a couple having to leave for mid year graduation, abroad, or got cast outside of school and took a leave. I don't know if that is typical but i know for sure that at the start of the year, there are auditions and they are well publicized. That is when my D got in (start of freshman year). Also, each year during orientation, the N'Harmonics perform for the freshmen (that's how my D learned of them and then was dying to get in it)....I know the first couple of years she was there, they performed at the big welcome event that all 8000 students had to attend but last year, they performed at an outside venue and took turns with the Spring Awakening Cast during Welcome Week. I honestly do not know what is on tap for this year except I am sure they will perform in some capacity during orientation. For anyone who is near NYC, they will perform next at Joe's Pub on May 11. In any case, I am sure your D will hear of it and should keep her eyes and ears peeled for some sort of performance during orientation and flyers and what not about auditions. It is rock/pop, NOT musical theater. You do not have to be in Tisch to get into the group either.</p>
<p>From the NYU housing site:</p>
<p>Residents of traditional-style halls (Brittany, Goddard, Hayden, Rubin, and Weinstein) are required to be on a minimum 10-meal plan. Apartment style hall residents may select any of the meal plan options or choose not to participate in a University meal plan. Students enrolled in a meal plan, use their NYUCard as their dining card.</p>