am i romanticizing new york or is it really that great?

Step one yes you will need to get rid of your vehicle. Parking on the street is a nightmare (have the time you won't get one and the other half you spend circling around trying to find one). If you opt for a garage, you're going to pay heavily for it (starting at $300 and they go up from there - check this link if you want an idea: http://www.centralparking.com/nyc-monthly-parking....

Step two all depends on where you've called home in the past. If you are from extreme Southern CT (Fairfield County) or Central or Northern NJ, you won't have much of a transition probrlem, it will be practically seamless except for the car aspect. If you're relocating from another major city such as Philly or Boston or Los Angeles, again, you'll shouldn't have too much trouble adjusting - the biggest difference is that NYC isn't overly friendly and it is very rude at times. If you're coming from a mid-sized city or smaller town or rural area - well, start preparing yourself for major culture shock. Everything and I do mean everything will cost you money - transportation (unless you walk every where - that gets old fast - especially when you're dragging groceries home), rent is high and don't expect apartments you see on Friends or other TV shows or movies to be cheap - want an idea of what rent REALLY costs and/or gets you for the money? Start with this site: http://www.natefind.com/ and be ready for sticker shock.

You also aren't going to see celebrities every where you turn. Keep in mind they are around but they have selected NY because they can blend into the crowd. There is a good chance you will walk by a celebrity and never realize it. If you do, please respect their privacy.

Furthermore, unless you are independently wealthy, don't expect to be going out to dinners, theater and parties every single night.

Now if you're still interested in moving to NYC after accepting everything above as true - you will find one of the largest groups of diverse people on the planet from every country, religion, and, ethnic background. You will have access to world class museums and entertainment (when you can afford these luxuries), the shopping is pretty much second to none, and, you'll never go hungry in this city just check out menupages.com: http://www.menupages.com/

Sorry for the reality check but you asked!

I'm from England and went to New York in winter. It was ice cold but is the best city I've ever visited. It is very diverse and you get a lot of different cultures all mixed into 1 city. There are so many different types of cuisine on offer and at real good prices. I thought New York would be expensive everywhere but it's not - it's just the decent hotels that are! It is a very historical city and is renamed after the Duke of York from England, lol - after we bought it off the Dutch! However it's not part of New England because New Englanders wanted to keep Boston as their capital and became very annoyed when New York got bigger and better! Lower Manhattan is the financial district and oldest part of the city - where the Dutch first settled and called it New Amsterdam. There are some real nice old buildings around here. As you go further north the city gets newer. Midtown is nice with loads of shops like Macy's plus the city's grace of the skyline - the Empire State building. Also Times Square dubbed "The Crossroads of the World" is around here and it is superbly lit up at night. Times Square is what I think of as the actual centre of New York. Central park is a little further north and where a lot of expensive residential condos and apartments are located around. It's hard to believe you are in the middle of one of the biggest cities in the USA when you visit central park. It is beautiful in the snow at Christmas! You definetly won't be able to take a car if living in Manhattan - it is far too difficult to drive because of the congestion. Most New Yorkers don't drive as New York has excellent public transport such as the metro. Public transport in New York is comparable to London - and that is a good thing! All in all - the best city you could wish for!

Elizabeth: Though i did not live in New York City i do not live all that far away from New York City. I live in Northern New Jersey. New York has anything and everything and if you cannot find it you just do not know the address. New York is a Great City and the pace of life is fast!!!! Public Transportation is all over. Not sure what it would cost to park or store your car. I do know parking in New York IS VERY VERY EXPENSIVE. THE COST OF LIVING IN NYC IS VERY EXPENSIVE. But everything is very very convienent. New York Manhatten is a City with alot of very tall Buildings and views. It is not a city liike Los Angels where there are never ending suburbs and you have to Travel long distances to get to different areas. The People in NYC are Fast Paced!!!! But New York City has alot to offer. Museums, Entertainment Industry, Restaurants, Hotels, Big Name Companies, the List is endless. Just be careful. and enjoy your new address in Manhattan, NYC

No place is like New York. I lived in New York while attending Parsons and stayed to work for a short period. There are few places in the world with the intensity and diversity you will find there. It is amazing, expensive, and very populated.

Do not take your car if you can avoid it. Parking is difficult and expensive. It is faster and cheaper to take the subway. When it is late at night, take a cab.

There are so many talented people and amazing opportunities. Think about what you want from New York, and it can happen.

Be safe and enjoy your time in NYC.

LOL, yeah, it is that great. Not for everybody, but if you're one of those who likes excitement and doesn't mind the aggravations of city life (honking horns, etc.), you'll seriously love it and spend the rest of your life there.

Cars aren't very practical in the city and they aren't needed, so unless you have lots of money for a garage they're more trouble than they're worth. One possibility is to find a parking lot on the outskirts and leave it there, it doesn't cost as much as a garage in the City and you can use it when you need it, e.g, if you want to go on a trip outside the City. But if you're talking about the occasional weekend getaway, it's cheaper and easier to rent.

First of all, I love it here, but it's NOT like you see it in the movies.

Second of all, it's clearly not for everyone. I know people who have left the City. Some people just don't like it here. (I love it! Just thought I'd clarify that!)

Third of all, how do you know you are going to live in Manhattan? Unless you going to live in a dorm, you have no idea if you can really afford to live in Manhattan (which has become a very expensive proposition indeed, these days.)

though the steep price is the problem in manhattan, in the rest of the city it's finding a parking spot on the street. though only 50% of the city's population has a car, a nice sized portion of that has more than one.

I have never been but I fear I romanticise it too. A friend of a friend has been there and she said its nt all its cracked up to be but I really think it differs from person to person. I could go there and it would be everything I imagines, you could go there and think it sucks.

Some people love it, some people hate it., I think the only sure way of knowing is going there. I think you should visit the place before you move there to study though.

Good luck!.

No ur not romanticizing. New York is very awesome, every one always dreams of going to there.

New York is a very interesting and exciting place to live. However it is VERY expensive, loud, and crowded