Staying in the Tri-State: New Jersey to N.Y.C.

Every other Friday afternoon during my first-year at Barnard, I would leave my biology lecture and jump on the 1 train. It would take me, counting the eleven stops in my head, to Penn Station, and then NJ Transit would bridge the remaining gap to home; an hour journey at most.

When I was considering my college options, my peers urged me to select my further options, creating distance between myself and my parents. But I resisted, Barnard was a whole world away from Union County, New Jersey; New York City is a home away from home.

Living on the Upper West Side is a calming, lovely experience; with the atmosphere of a suburb inside the campus gates, and the bustle of the city as soon as you step onto Broadway. You can go from sunning on the Diana steps, to speeding downtown for a taste of new, edible cookie dough in a span of three minutes. The entirety of Manhattan is at your fingertips, along with the four other boroughs of course, with the simple swipe of a Metrocard. And when you’re tired out from exploring, it is the most incredible feeling to return to the serenity of Barnard.

While I may live only one hour away, I truly live a world away. With the combined opportunity of Barnard and New York City, and the cultural melting pot of the boroughs, New Jersey seems just far enough away. I fulfill my dream of living in N.Y.C. while having the chance to visit my mother and my Jack Russell Terrier whenever I please.

Staying in the tri-state and choosing Barnard is an adventure like no other, while keeping your feet inside the three state borders.

If you have any questions, email me!

Sydney