Life On and Off Campus

Life On and Off Campus

The NYU Postbaccalaureate Prehealth Studies Program is a tight-knit community of motivated individuals who support each other in reaching their ultimate goal of admission to a professional school of health sciences. This program, however, does not exist in a vacuum. Our students have the privilege of being part of two large, vibrant, and culturally stimulating communities – NYU and NYC. On this page you find information on how to take full advantage of these vast resources.

NYU

in this section... University Resources | Advising Resources | Online Resources

University Resources

Your status in the College of Arts and Science will officially be that of a “special student” in a “certificate program” at NYU. This means that you will have practically all the privileges of any other part- or full-time degree students, including the following:

Tutoring

Includes two locations (Academic Resource Center, 18 Washington Place and University Hall, 110 E. 14th Street, 1st Floor), the University Learning Center offers a variety of free tutoring services including group study sessions, individual review sessions, and study skills workshops – some of which were created specifically for postbacc students. Please visit their website at www.nyu.edu/cas/clc for current schedules.

Accommodations for Students with Disabilities

Henry and Lucy Moses Center for Students with Disabilities, 719 Broadway, 2nd Floor, (212) 998-4980, provides comprehensive services and programs for students with hearing and visual impairments, mobility impairments, learning disabilities, and attention deficit disorders, chronic illnesses, and psychological impairments. Services provided are designed to encourage independence and self-advocacy, backed by a strong system of supports.

NYU Bookstore

The main NYU Bookstore is located at 726 Broadway, (212) 998-4667. You can search for your books on the website by clicking on “search for a book.” The Computer Store offers the best selection of academically priced Hardware & Software.

Lockers

Lockers are available for rent in several locations on campus, including Bobst Library ($12 per semester or $20 per year, lasting through mid-August, (212) 998-2550. Visit the service window on the first floor, immediate left after the revolving doors); Silver Center (priority is given to CAS science students; $10 per year, lasting through May; (212) 998-8481. Visit room 565 in the Brown Building.)

Housing

As a postbacc student you will have access to NYU's Off-Campus Housing Services.

On-campus housing is not available to postbaccalaureate students.

Once you matriculate into the program you may use the services of the Off Campus Housing Office (OCHO). Under the auspices of the Office of Housing and Residence Life, OCHO was created to assist NYU students who are looking for housing in non-University owned properties in and around New York City. OCHO provides the following services to students:

  • Computerized listing of locations available for rent
  • List of brokers who have reduced their fees for NYU students
  • How-to’s for living in the city, finding a roommate, and working with landlords
  • Maps and guides to NYU and New York City
  • List of local hotels and hostels
  • Online roommate-matching board for NYU community members

Advising Resources

Advising

You can schedule an appointment with an advisor in the Preprofessional Advising Center by calling (212) 998-8160 during regular office hours. You can discuss your progress in the program, the advisability of dropping or adding courses, the procedure of taking a leave of absence if necessary, or even the possibility of study abroad! Each of the advisors in the Preprofessional Advising Center holds walk-in hours, a schedule of which can be obtained at the front desk. We can provide you with resources, offer our advice, and guide you along the process of applying to a health professional school, but the ultimate responsibility for your planning rests with you.

Books and Resources

There are a number of pamphlets, fliers, and other resources in the Preprofessional Advising Center for your use. We have contact information for volunteer offices at Manhattan-area hospital, and a calendar of important dates to keep you in track in the admission process. You can also call the reception desk in 726 Broadway for access to a number of additional reference books, such as an updated version of the Medical School Admissions Requirements, the Osteopathic Medical College Information Book, the Veterinary Medical School Admissions Requirements, and much more. A list of reference books is available at the reception desk and is occasionally sent out over the prehealth listserv as well. You must leave your NYU ID with the reception desk while using these books – they cannot leave 726 Broadway.

Online Resources

Please remember to make use of online resources, starting with the Prehealth website, which provides links to many other helpful sites. The calendar of important dates is posted on the website, along with a general description of the process of applying to schools of the health professions. Pathways to the Health Professions on our website gives a brief overview of the many different fields within health care that you may choose to pursue.

Online Resources

Email, Listservs, and Social Networks

Please remember to use your NYU email account. All communication from this office is sent to your NYU email address. Activate your email account through start.nyu.edu.

Postbaccalaureate Society

The postbacc society is a student-run group through which you can meet and form connections with other postbaccs. It is a closed group available only to students admitted into the program. Facebook Group: NYU Prehealth Post-Baccalaureate [Post-Bacc]

Prehealth Listserv

Use your NYU email address to join the prehealth listserv to get reminders of important dates as well as research, volunteer and job opportunities, and other announcements relevant to prehealth students. To join, send a BLANK email from your NYU email to join-prehealth@lists.nyu.edu. Messages will be archived on the web.

NYU Classes

Once you are registered for courses, you will gain access to the postbacc program's NYU Classes site. This site is used for announcements and providing helpful information and resources for current students.  All program-wide messages from our program coordinators will be sent through NYU Classes.  You will find NYU Classes under the Academics tab in NYUHome.

New York

Living in New York City

in this section... Getting Around | The 5 Boroughs | Landmarks | Explore

The New York University Post-Baccalaureate Prehealth Studies Program exists in a larger community – the City of New York.

The City of New York is our common ground. We are nourished through our interaction with its vast population of inhabitants and culture creators, many of who make a home on our campus. We have compiled resources so that you may begin to familiarize yourself with the city.

Welcome to New York City

Located directly on Washington Square Park, in the heart of Greenwich Village, NYU offers you an education in a vibrant, dynamic setting.

As a postbaccalaureate student at NYU you will have the chance to participate in the energy of the city with the added comfort of a supportive university community behind you.

We encourage potential students to get acquainted not only with NYU and its campus, but also with our surrounding environs.

Getting Around New York City

in this section... Airports | Taxis | Subways | Buses | Stations

Airports

John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) is the largest airport serving the area and the furthest from the city. It can be a one-hour taxi ride, with a $45 flat fare, which means more like $60 with tip and toll. Public transportation takes significantly over an hour (usually an hour and a half), but there are two relatively easy ways to do it. One option is to take the A train toward Rockaway (not Ozone park) and get off at the Howard Beach/JFK airport stop, then transfer to the JFK Airtrain, which takes you right into the terminals. The other is to take the E, J, or Z train toward Jamaica Center and get off at the Sutphin Blvd stop, and transferring there to the JFK Airtrain. Visit this link for more information about the airport and to track flights.

Laguardia Airport (LGA) is the closest to the city center, but the hardest to get to with public transportation. A taxi to or from Laguardia is about $25-30 not including tip and tolls, and takes 20-40 minutes. The simplest way to do it by public transportation is to take the 4, 5, or 6 subway up to 125th street, or to take the N or Q train to Astoria, and to make a free transfer to the M60 bus from either of these subway stops, which takes you into the terminals. This bus can take a while, roughly 20-30 minutes with normal traffic; budget your whole trip to be 1 hour and 15 minutes to 1 hour and 30 minutes. Visit this link for more information about the airport and to track flights.

Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) is in Newark, New Jersey, but is the easiest airport to get to with public transportation. A taxi to or from Newark costs $60-75 not including tip and toll, and can take an hour or so. Public transportation is often both faster and cheaper. From Manhattan, get to Penn Station (the A, C, and E trains head right into the station), then take New Jersey Transit Northeast Corridor train toward Trenton Transit Center, and get off at the Newark Airport station. From here you can transfer to the Airtrain, which takes you into the terminals. This route should take 45 minutes or less from Penn station, and your ticket from Penn station covers your airtrain fee. Visit this link for more information about the airport and to track flights.

To look up schedules, trains, and fares for public transportation, visit the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) website.

Taxis

You are expected to tip in New York taxis, usually around 20%. You can pay by credit or debit card in all NYC taxis, and the tip will be calculated for you on the screen. Be aware that there is a lull in taxi availability around 3-4pm, when most taxis are off duty. When a taxi is off duty, the two smaller side lights on top of the car are lit. When a taxi is free the larger middle light is lit. When a taxi is occupied the whole light will be dark. When hailing a taxi, step to the side of the road (generally a corner is best) and put one hand out into the street.

When you get in a taxi, you say the intersection of your destination: "I'm going to Twelfth and Third," for example, means 12th Street and 3rd Avenue. One says a building is ON a street AT the cross-street, or BETWEEN cross-streets, i.e. "On 12th Street at 3rd Avenue." If you just say the short version, the first street is usually the one the building is on, and the second is the closest cross-street.

Subways

Subways are a very popular option for public transportation, because they are faster and more reliable than buses and they don't have to deal with traffic. The best thing to do is buy a Metrocard and refill it as needed. These can be bought at the windows in select subway stations, but are also available at the (usually more polite) automated machines in the stations. Be aware that many tracks serve both Express trains, which only stop at certain stations along a given line, and Local trains, which stop at every station. Notice which trains stop at your desired station (noted next to the station on any subway map), and be sure to get on the appropriate train. When exiting a subway station, note which direction you want to be going: the exits are usually labeled Northeast corner of 59th and Lexington or Southeast corner of 59th and Lexington, so that you can be sure of your cardinal directions when you get above ground.

Buses

Bus routes cover all five boroughs of New York City, which means it is much more convenient than the subway for Staten Island, which only has one subway line. However, buses are also subject to traffic, which makes many of the routes delayed and unpredictable. You can use your Metrocard or pay cash for a single fare, but this has to be in exact change and they do not accept dollar bills. Buses are a good option for those who are new to the city because you stay above ground and see how the city is laid out, rather than emerging from underground without a clear idea of where you are.

All transfers from bus to subway, local bus to local bus, and subway to local bus are free, within a two hour window, by using your Metrocard. This means that if you take one of these options to lunch, eat lunch, and then get back on one of these transportation options within two hours, you get a free ride! Express buses are not a free transfer, however, so be careful which bus you board! Check the MTA website for updates, schedules, maps, and more information on buses and subways.

Train Stations and Bus Stations

New York Pennsylvania Station

is between 31st and 33rd Streets and 7th and 8th Avenues. Amtrak trains run out of this station along the Northeast Corridor from Washington, D.C. in the South to Boston in the North. New Jersey Transit runs through New Jersey and up into Upstate New York. Long Island Railroad runs into Long Island to the East of the city. Subway lines 1,2,3, and A, C, E, and buses M4, M7, M20, M34, and Q32 all stop very close to or at Penn Station. Megabus, Greyhound, Bolt Bus, and Eastern Shuttle all run bus services from Penn Station in New York to destinations up and down the Northeastern Corridor. Check the Penn Station website for trains, schedules, and more information.

Grand Central Terminal

is between 42nd and 45th Streets and Lexington and Madison Avenues. Metro-North runs trains in lines running up into Upstate New York and into Connecticut. Subway lines 4, 5, 6, 7, and S, and buses M1, M2, M3, M4, M42, M101, M102, and M103 all stop in the Terminal. The Terminal has a Concourse level with food and stores, and also offers tours of the architectural monument, one of the most beautifully renovated buildings in the city.

For information on the building, retail, and tours, see the Grand Central Terminal website.

For information on Metro-North, see the MTA website.

Port Authority Bus Station

is located between 8th and 9th Avenues and 40th and 42nd Streets. It is the main station for interstate bus lines entering the city, so it is a good place to look for bus carriers and routes up and down the East Coast, as well as into New York state and New Jersey. Subway lines A, C, and E run directly to the 42nd St-Port Authority Bus Station subway stop. For more information visit the Port Authority website.

NYC’s 5 Boroughs

in this section... Manhattan | Brooklyn | Queens | Bronx | Staten Island

Manhattan

The grid system makes traveling around Manhattan mostly straightforward, but just here are just a few tips to get you started: Numbered Streets go up as one moves North, and numbered Avenues go up as one moves West. Broadway moves roughly North from the very bottom tip of the island, then moves diagonally through the island starting at 10th Street, hitting the avenues at major squares and parks:

  • Broadway and 4th Ave cross at Union Square
  • Broadway and 5th Ave cross at Madison Square
  • Broadway and 6th Ave cross at Herald Square
  • Broadway and 7th Ave cross at Times Square
  • Broadway and 8th Ave cross at Columbus Circle, the Southwest corner of Central Park

Fifth Avenue is the dividing line between East and West; if you have an address at 65 East 10th Street, it is East of Fifth Avenue on 10th Street.

On the West side, numbering is very simple (unfortunately it does not work this way exactly on the East side):

  • 1 – 99 block: between Fifth and Sixth Avenues
  • 100 block: between Sixth and Seventh Avenues
  • 200 block: between Seventh and Eighth Avenues
  • 300 block: between Eighth and Ninth Avenues
  • 400 block: between Ninth and Tenth Avenues
  • 500 block: between Tenth and Eleventh Avenues

Brooklyn

Brooklyn occupies the Southern part of the land to the East of Manhattan, across the East River. It is connected by the Brooklyn Bridge, the Manhattan Bridge, and the Williamsburg Bridge, from South to North (a good way to remember this is BMW). All three are walkable, but the Brooklyn Bridge is definitely the favorite. Atlantic Avenue is a major thoroughfare, connecting Downtown Brooklyn and Queens in the East. Prospect Park occupies a central area of Brooklyn, and connects the neighborhoods of Park Slope and Crown Heights. Coney Island, Manhattan Beach, and Brighton Beach occupy a part of the land at the South of Brooklyn. The border between Brooklyn and Queens runs along Maspeth Creek, then roughly along Cypress Avenue, then South around the Cypress Hills neighborhood toward Jamaica Bay. Popular neighborhoods include Williamsburg, which is close and easiest to get to from Manhattan on the L train; Park Slope; Greenpoint; Crown Heights; and Bedford-Stuyvesant ("Bed-Sty").

Queens

Queens occupies the area North of Brooklyn and West of Long Island. It is connected to Manhattan by the Queensboro Bridge, which runs through Roosevelt Island in the middle of the East River. Both Laguardia and JFK are in Queens, the first in the North on Flushing Bay, and the second in the South on Jamaica Bay. The 495 Long Island Expressway runs from Manhattan through the center of Queens and then into Long Island. Flushing Meadows Corona Park and Forest Park are the two major parks in the borough. Popular neighborhoods in Queens include Flushing, known for Chinese and Korean food; Bayside, known for Korean food; Astoria, traditionally known for Greek food and now Egyptian food; Sunnyside, known for Turkish food.

Bronx

The Bronx is North of Manhattan, separated by the Harlem River, and occupies the area up to Mt. Vernon in the North. The very small neighborhood of Marble Hill is the only part of the mainland that is technically Manhattan. Much of the Bronx is open space, including Woodlawn Cemetery and Van Cortlandt Park in the North, Pelham Bay Park on the East, and the New York Botanical Garden and Bronx Zoo in the center. Popular neighborhoods include the South Bronx, where the Bronx Museum of Art is located; Little Italy in the Belmont area; and Riverdale, where Wave Hill is located.

Staten Island

Staten Island is located in the southwest part of the city. Staten Island is separated from New Jersey by the Arthur Kill and the Kill Van Kull, and from the rest of New York by New York Bay. Motor traffic can reach the borough from Brooklyn via the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge and from New Jersey via the Outerbridge Crossing, Goethals Bridge, and Bayonne Bridge. Staten Island has Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) bus service and an MTA rapid transit line, the Staten Island Railway, which runs from the ferry terminal at St. George to Tottenville. Staten Island is the only borough that is not connected to the New York City subway system. The free Staten Island Ferry connects the borough to Manhattan and is a popular tourist attraction, providing views of the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and Lower Manhattan. A 625-foot Ferris wheel is planned for the northeast waterfront. If completed as planned in 2015, it would be the largest in the world.

Landmarks

Other Exploration Resources

  • Time Out New York. Geared toward the young and hip, Time Out is the essential guide to what is happening in the city, featuring the best places to eat, see art, hear music, shop, and hang out.
  • NYC & Company. The official tourism website for NYC, this site lists free events, TV show tapings, beaches, restaurants, parks, and Broadway shows.
  • NYU's Ticket Central. Located in the lobby of NYU Skirball Center, Ticket Central provides students with access to discounted tickets to events all over the city.

Student Life

New York is the epitome of a global city, reflecting the world in its expansive diversity of cultures, ethnicities, and ideas. NYU students reflect this diversity; they arrive from all over the country and the world not only to find themselves and “make it” here, but to teach—and learn from—each other (not to mention build amazing friendships along the way). This makes student life at NYU a remarkable, life-changing experience unlike that at many other colleges.

NYU is "in and of the city," and now with its growing global presence, in and of the world. Student Life at NYU reflects this. An NYU education is an experience like no other: diverse, cosmopolitan, vibrant and rich. NYU students do not just become well-rounded college graduates, but accomplished global citizens.

Navigate NYU’s website dedicated to Student Life for more information on NYU Student resources!