#dumbtexas

I love Gothamist. They’re great with news and they post pretty regularly about interesting things that are going on in the city. Time Out NY and Eater NY are both good to look at when you trying to find places to go to and things to do if you’re unsure where to start. 

Regarding getting around, mta.info is the best place to go to to see what’s in service and what’s not. There are subway and bus maps up as well as the current service status of everything, so checking that can help you figure out how to get around. I also swore by HopStop when I lived in the city. It gives you directions from place to place and I loved that it takes current construction in account as well, so if a certain subway line isn’t running, they won’t tell you to take it.

As for getting around campus and the Village, you’ll get the hang of it pretty quickly. I used Google Maps a lot to find addresses and where things are and, since it’s a grid system for the most part, it’s pretty easy to get where you need to go without a huge problem. NYU also has an interactive campus map online (you can download a PDF as well) that you can peruse.

This blog also has a running “what to bring” tag. So, if you’re trying to figure out what to bring to the city and for your dorm or apartment, check that out. I’m not sure if you’re familiar with the NYC weather, but if you’re not, you can also take a look at this post about what kind of clothing/accessories I suggested.

Personally, I get kind of obsessive about things that I plan, so I check out every detail to the fullest extent. Because of that, I looked up everything I could about my dorm before I moved in each time. You can find specific details and some photos of the residence halls on NYU’s website as well as if you Google your residence hall. Some of them are also on Tumblr, so check on that too! You can also find the photos from my rooms in Third North and Gramercy as well as other links about housing here!

After all of this, I also just wanted to say that you’ll be totally fine. Don’t be afraid to say yes when people ask you do things and go places you’ve never been (or no if you don’t want to or are uncomfortable). Comfortability will come with time and you will soon get used to living in the city and have your own go-to places and cheap foods (get 2 Bros ASAP, just a tip). Let things happen and you’ll learn as you go. :)