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(TGA) - Currently, I live in Raleigh, NC and am a senior in High School. I have visited NYC twice and I absolutely love it. I am probably going to go to North Carolina State University next year (Their business school is actually very good for what it is (I do realize it is nothing like wharton etc.)) and study finance or accounting or business management - something business related. After that, I want to move up to NYC for a few years. I am very interested in real estate and want to get rich doing something business related - I really tend to aim for the skies. Currently reading donald trump book I love that stuff.

Anyways, wondering what I should do even now to prepare myself for NYC.

Would it be possible to live in Manhattan with an accounting/other related business job right out of college or is that just not even on the rader (what about with a roommate?)?

What do I need to do financially and how expensive is rent really?

And are my aims for real estate buying too lofty I have no idea.

What are good ways to make $$ business related in NYC (how easy is it to get a business job for someone right out of college)?

thanks guys
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This being a travel forum I'm not sure some of your questions will be easily answered - unless, of course, someone has specific experience in the area of business you are asking about.

A one-bedroom in Manhattan is about $2,500.00 per month - at very least - if you are lucky enough to find one for that low amount. You can find one-bedroom apartments in Brooklyn or Queens for less but still they are very expensive.

I know a number of first year college students who are living 4 to an apartment to make ends meet. I don't know what you looking for as you don't really specify your needs and wants re: housing. You can look at the Village Voice website for an idea about rents in the all the boros, possibly Craig's List. Renting in NY is a very intricate affair - the rule of thumb is that you need to earn 40 times the amount you want to pay for an apartment. So, if you want an apartment for $1000 you would have to make $40,000 per year - many rental agencies/landlords adhere to that rule as well as proof of employment for a certain amount of time, salary, tax returns (sometimes for two year's worth) and, of course, good credit.

If you don't have credit built up you could have a parent co-sign but that involves a very detailed accounting of the co-signer's assets/income.

Renting with a number of other college students would be less onerous but it is very expensive. Students do find a way to do it but it depends on whether you want to live with a number of roommates or not. The further away from Manhattan the less you will pay.

I know this sounds incredibly negative but it is the reality of this city. Again, check out rental listings for NYC, Queens, Brooklyn, Bronx and get an idea of what is available for what price point.
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Good Luck Senior !!! NYC is a great place to be.
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Your ambition is admirable. However, other than some of the harsh economic realities of life in NYC that you must face, you also have to take into account that the hiring climate in NYC is not all that great these days. 3 years ago, my daughter (an English major) and hundreds of her classmates from Ivy League schools were able to waltz into NYC finance jobs right out of college starting at over $100,000/yr. Obviously, they had no problems getting nice apartments. But this is no longer so easy to do.

However, a lot can happen over the next 4 years. Your number one priority should be to excell at your studies. Since your school is not necessarily " on the radar" in NYC, you are going to need to be an outstanding candidate. Get real experience -- make sure you are working each summer in the area that interests you (unpaid internships if necessary). Use the college career counseling office as much as you can. Check out which NYC firms, if any, recruit at your school. I don't want to sound discouraging, but you may find that you will need to "make your mark" locally (where your NC State credentials will be more appreciated) and then move on to NYC when you have gained some real experience and proven yourself.

Don't know whether Trump mentions it in his books, but his Dad was a very big real estate investor in NYC. He didn't exactly start from scratch. Never hurts to start off in the family business (although Donald did take it many steps beyond its origins)

Wishing you the very best of luck.
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The general rule of Manhattan real estate for one just starting out in the business world is "if you can afford it - you don't want to live there." As was shown above, unless you have a trust fund, or landed a dream job, it is likely going to be out of your reach.

That is one of the reasons why Brooklyn has achieved such a critical mass of late. Areas that were once questionable have been reborn - places such as Williamsburg , Ditmas Park and Prospect Heights. Other places are on the cusp of reviatlization and are benefiting from an influx of younger folks just hitting the job market. These places are Bed-Stuy, Crown Heights and Bushwick. As more younger folks move in, more services come to meet them. The food section in the Times today featured a new Thai restaurant in Bed Stuy.

While I admire your advanced planning, no one can say what the next four years will bring. In the mean time, come and visit, and check out areas where you might like to wind up. Good luck.
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In order to get an apartment on your own, you must FIRST have a job. Most landlords require you earn 40 x your rent. So to rent a studio apartment (all one room) costing $2,000/month, you need to be earning $80,000/year. Since that's not practical for many starting out, new graduates share apartments, live just outside Manhattan whether in Queens or Brooklyn or Hoboken, NJ. or are lucky enough to have parents who live in/near Manhattan.

"...And are my aims for real estate buying too lofty I have no idea."

This is the first point in your post you say anything about RE buying. You first say " I am very interested in real estate and want to get rich doing something business related.." Those things are not the same. What you need to do is figure out exactly WHAT it is that interests you beyond just getting rich. That attitude will turn people off. People who succeed usually do so because they have a passion for doing something in particular.

I suggest you start looking for a summer job in a real estate firm NOW.
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