New York State

There are many other advantages of studying in New York State, such as convenient flight connections from many countries and "a temperate climate that is amenable to people from a variety of climates", adds Comac.

Being home to one of the world';s most famous cities – and sharing its name – has both advantages and disadvantages for the state. Although it may attract many visitors, few go further than New York City. "When people think of New York, they immediately think of New York City," admits Rhona Genzel, Director of the English Language Center at Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, NY. "They don';t realise how big the state is. For example, it takes five-to-six hours to drive from New York City to Rochester – [or] 45 minutes by plane."

Geraldine de Berly at the English Language Institute at Syracuse University – located in Syracuse, around 280 miles from New York City – highlights the state-wide educational opportunities available to international students. "The state has many well known institutions of higher education ranging from large public universities to small private institutions and a number of community colleges. Therefore, students can find the size and type of institution that is the best ‘fit';." She adds, "Many students find the smaller towns and cities more attractive as housing costs are much less and the lifestyle is calmer."

Despite the slower pace of life in upstate New York, there are plenty of things to see and do. "New York is a large state with many historic, cultural, sporting and natural attractions," says de Berly. The Underground Railroad, which, during the American Civil War, was used by slaves to escape to freedom in Canada, runs through New York State. In Rochester, several houses had secret rooms where the slaves could hide on their journey, and according to Genzel, re-enactments of the lives of the runaway slaves telling their stories in full costume are popular among their students.

New York State is also full of natural beauty. "The changing seasons bring different things to do year round," relates Genzel. "There is skiing and sledding in winter; spring and summer bring picnics and barbecues, hiking in the many beautiful parks, swimming in Lake Ontario or one of the Finger Lakes and many street festivals in the city and in surrounding villages; and, of course, people come from far away to enjoy the changing colours of the foliage in fall."

Despite all the attractions of the state, however, Genzel admits, "There is an aura about going to New York [City]." Paul Jarrell, Centre Director of ELS Language Centers at the College of Mount Saint Vincent in New York City, says that New York';s reputation goes before it because it is "one of the most film-documented and one of the most photo-documented" places in the world. Indeed, mention New York and the first things to spring to mind are the Statue of Liberty, skyscrapers, Central Park, stage shows, Broadway, endless bars and restaurants and a 24-hour party culture. And the reality of the city lives up to this and much more.

Because of its many attractions, the city suits different types of students for different reasons, says Jeffrey Doetsch, English Programmes Director at the Kaplan New York Center. "There are as many reasons to study in New York City as there are lights on Broadway!" he exclaims. "Many of our students are aspiring artists and performers, and they choose New York City for our thriving arts scene. Others are business-minded and choose New York because of the innumerable business opportunities. Many come to prepare for studies at one of our world-class universities, while still others choose New York as it is the visitor capital of the US, buzzing with activity 24 hours a day." 

Another of New York';s many draws, according to David Quinn at Columbia University, is its multicultural population. "The citizens of any country will feel right at home," he says. "Thirty-six per cent of the population of New York City is foreign-born." 

No student to New York can exhaust the almost endless list of activities available in the Big Apple. "New York is the most exciting city in the world, and is a hub for entertainment, nightclubs, fashion, retailing, art, culture, business, advertising, the culinary arts and sports," reports Peggy Marion, Director of Marketing at Rennert Bilingual. As well as the well known attractions – Brooklyn Bridge, the Empire State Building, Fifth Avenue, to name just a few – there are many other hidden gems. "Perhaps lesser known, but favourites of some of our students, are activities such as walking through a street fair during the San Gennaro festival (or one of the hundreds of other street fairs

Agent viewpoint

"New York State is well known in South Korea for New York City, and the great majority of our students would rather go to a school in this famous city than anywhere else in the state. Most of them consider New York City as the best place for state-of-the-art culture, fashion, film, finance, theatre and so forth. They know they will have the opportunity to enjoy a wide variety of experiences. New York City and especially the Manhattan area top our list. It is the most well known area and many students have friends or relatives who have visited there."
Julia Hong, Uhak.com, Korea

"Clients want to study in New York City for various reasons including the chance to live like a New Yorker, to experience first-hand New York, which is a "melting pot" of different nationalities, and a financial and economic superpower. Other pluses of New York are the hospitality of New Yorkers compared to that of citizens of other Anglo-Saxon cities, and the favourable exchange rate with the euro makes it a good choice economically."
Rachel Marshall, Marshall Language

Services, Italy"Eurocentres has been collaborating with Columbia University in New York to send students on the American Language Program (ALP) there for several years. The campus is located in Morningside Heights in the centre of the academic quarter of New York City itself; only 20 minites subway ride from mid-town Manhattan. Our students appreciate the wealth of academic and recreational facilities both on and off-campus. I think they are most surprised by how safe and welcoming New York City is."
Emma Harrison, Eurocentres, international