Letter from the Editors

Hello and welcome to the 2013 Washington Square News housing guide. Life at NYU is more than taking classes, getting internships and exploring the city. One of the best, and sometimes worst, parts of being an NYU student is navigating the maze of on-campus residence halls and off-campus options. Each NYU hall has a unique vibe and neighborhoods near and far have multitudes of options for students.

Hopefully this issue can serve as a guide to settling yourself in for the coming year. There are profiles of each upperclassman hall, dining lists, neighborhood profiles and DIY tips.
Changes to NYU housing include the introduction of gender neutral room options, the return of Brittany residence hall as a freshman dorm and University Hall as an upperclassman dorm. The chart on the facing page has comparisons of hall features. Note that the costs listed are the expected ones for the 2013-2014 year but will not be approved until June.

Though the residence halls are spread out, we have grouped them geographically into three groups ­— South, East and North — based on their direction from Washington Square Park. Though some may seem far away from campus, each residence hall offers something different, occupying varying neighborhoods including SoHo and Chinatown.
If you choose to move off-campus, check out the hot areas for students in Manhattan and Brooklyn. There are ups and downs in leaving the university’s housing system. Leaving the NYU system means more independence, no meal plans and potentially cheaper housing in a neighborhood where NYU does not have property. Our pages focus on six neighborhoods and highlight key features, average prices and campus accessibility.

Make sure you don’t miss the two phases of the re-application process for NYU housing, which begins March 11. Regardless of where you choose to live, there are some consistencies including decorations and grocery tips. If you’re curious about housing at study abroad sites, check out our online housing content at www.nyunews.com.
Having so many choices can be overwhelming, so take the time to explore your options in the pages of this issue.

- Emily Bell and Angel Chang