Housing Rates for Freshmen

<p>After perusing through the dorms listed at NYU's housing and from NYUlocal, there are a wide variety of choices to choose from. I think that I would best be suited for 3rd North, in the 3 double set up which according to NYUlocal, is roughly $11,370 a year. </p>

<p>My questions:
1. Is this accurate? I was quoted for having about $16,000 a year in room and board, so this option could reduce my total costs by a about $4,500.
2. Also, what's it like living there? I read the review, but I'd like to hear other people chime in.
3. What about meal plans? I'm a guy, so I tend to eat a lot. Is it smarter to buy groceries at Trader Joe's or Whole Foods than do the food courts? I heard food courts also have funky food - and not in the good way.</p>

<p>Thanks for reading -
-Wyatt.</p>

<p>1) It’s probably pretty accurate, might be a little higher now depending on how old the article is. On your bill, it’s going to say X amount before your room gets assigned ($16,000 in your case), and then it’s going to change to adjust to whatever your room ends up being. Even if you pay the $16,000 before they manage the change it, and it changes to like $10,000, they’ll give you back the $6,000 by taking it off your tuition. That happened to me once.</p>

<p>2) Third North is great. Pretty much everyone I know who lived there loved it. The apartment style housing is fun for freshmen who’ve never experienced it before and the fact that there’s a dining hall is awesome. It’s one of the best dorms.</p>

<p>3) The food at Kimmel and Palladium is excellent. Everywhere else is just slightly above average in terms of college cafeteria food - you probably wouldn’t find stuff like Insomnia cookies, multiple vegan & gluten-free options, and chocolate soy milk at other schools. If I were you I’d try being on the meal plan for the first semester because going to dining halls is a very social activity and as a freshman you’re not going to want to be left out of that bonding time. Plus it will help you learn how to manage your eating habits on your own. After that, I’d stay off of it.</p>

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<li>they estimate the 16k because that’s how much it usually is if you don’t do the lower cost (which is what you’re choosing to do with the 3 person suite)</li>
<li>I live in Third North and I absolutely love it. The bedrooms are a little bit smaller than average, but it’s worth it (and this is coming from a girl) because of the advantages of having a common room and a kitchen. Plus the dorm itself is super friendly and there’s always a lot going on.</li>
<li>As for the meal plan situation- all freshman are required to be on a meal plan. If you don’t have a kitchen (all freshman dorms except 3N do not), the minimum you are required to have is 175 flex/14 meals a week, which is a TON, and quite frankly a HUGE rip off. I had 175 flex last semester and I ended up with over 60 extra meals. And thats considering that I never cook in my dorm, I just never eat breakfast in the dining halls and I go out to eat sometimes. I’m not sure what I would go with as my first semester- it depends how frequently you plan at eating at the dining halls. None of them are to die for and you will never crave the dining hall food, so it’s not like you will be bummed if you can’t eat there anymore, but they are also super convenient. So maybe get a little extra the first semester and see how you do and then lower it if you want to? Especially if you say you eat a lot, the all you can eat dining halls may be right up your alley.</li>
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