If anyone needs input/advice on relocating to NYC, let me know; I did it two years ago, during the heyday of the Age of Leverage, when everything was insanely overpriced, as opposed to now, when it is merely outrageously overpriced. If not me, make sure you talk to someone who lives here, because some folks on this board do not know what they are talking about. Not tryin' to be a dick or nothin', but seriously:
There is no such place as Greenville in Brooklyn; presumably, you mean Greenpoint, which is not especially near the L (a 15+ minute walk or a transfer from the G, the bastard-est train of them all). Nor is Williamsburg much more affordable or less overpriced than many parts of Manhattan, unless you're talking about "South Williamsburg," which is actually Bushwick and/or Bedford-Stuyvesant (where you probably will not want to live). Or:in regards to an apartment, the only place worth staying out of manhattan would be somewhere near the L in brooklyn (williamsburg, greenville) because it would take you right into union square.
Well, no. The only decent part of Queens for a young professional student to live, as fluffy noted, is pretty much Astoria and possibly parts of Long Island City. Most of the other parts of inner Queens are ethnic enclaves that don't exactly roll out the red carpet for outsiders, and are reachable mostly by the 7 train, which is not a happy train. Whereas in Brooklyn you'll be able to find relatively fair prices and occasionally an outright steal in neighborhoods like Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Park Slope, and Prospect Heights. For example, I live in Windsor Terrace (just south of Prospect Park) in a huge 1BR that costs less than some studios do in Manhattan, and the broker fee was paid by the landlord. Just sayin'.Sections of brooklyn that most of us will probably be able to afford are DEFINITELY not more beautiful and/or interesting than decent parts of Queens.
Anyway. Good luck to all, and see you in August/September/whenever.