Already hating NYC Forum

[Anonymous User]

I came a week early for my SA to check out the city and I'm pretty sure I already hate it. It's hot, dirty, crowded, and expensive. Getting from one side of the street to the other is a pain in the ass, much less getting across town. I'm from the Midwest but I'm not a total hick, I've travelled to and lived in and around major cities before but they were nothing like NYC.

I just really can't picture living and raising a family in this area (I'm living in Jersey for the summer and it's not much better). Toughing it out for a few years is not really an option I want to pursue either, I worked for several years before law school so my wife and I will be ready to settle down for the long haul wherever I end up post-graduation.

Anybody else felt this way???

[Magic Hat]

I don't blame you. It will get better. Find a quiet neighborhood on a leafy street ($$$$$$$$$$) and all will be right.

Hopefully the food options in your building are good.

I hate NYC

[heythatslife]

I feel ya. At least the part of Queens that I'm living in for the summer isn't as crowded and noisy and the commute isn't too bad, which makes it a little more bearable for me. But I'm married too and I have the same concerns about raising a family in NY.

[speed_the_loot]

.

[Johann]

try to get a secondary market in 3L hiring. Mass mail mid-sized firms in your target areas. Sorry man - I came to the same conclusion basically and I'm still working on my 5 year exit plan.

For future 0Ls, you should strongly consider that there are only a few cities where the vast majority of entry-level six figure jobs are. If you don't like living in a big city for several years, it's going to be a netowkring and hustling grind.

[Anonymous User]

I came a week early for my SA to check out the city and I'm pretty sure I already hate it. It's hot, dirty, crowded, and expensive. Getting from one side of the street to the other is a pain in the ass, much less getting across town. I'm from the Midwest but I'm not a total hick, I've travelled to and lived in and around major cities before but they were nothing like NYC.

I just really can't picture living and raising a family in this area (I'm living in Jersey for the summer and it's not much better). Toughing it out for a few years is not really an option I want to pursue either, I worked for several years before law school so my wife and I will be ready to settle down for the long haul wherever I end up post-graduation.

Anybody else felt this way???

I don't understand -- did you not experience NYC when you were here for callbacks? Or when you looked for housing?

Not disagreeing with you. I split my time between Cali and NY during my SA and much preferred Cali for the geography, but ended up settling in NYC for more flexibility.

[Nebby]

For a midwesterner you seem unreasonably soft. Toughen up, bud

[encore1101]

I came a week early for my SA to check out the city and I'm pretty sure I already hate it. It's hot, dirty, crowded, and expensive. Getting from one side of the street to the other is a pain in the ass, much less getting across town. I'm from the Midwest but I'm not a total hick, I've travelled to and lived in and around major cities before but they were nothing like NYC.

I just really can't picture living and raising a family in this area (I'm living in Jersey for the summer and it's not much better). Toughing it out for a few years is not really an option I want to pursue either, I worked for several years before law school so my wife and I will be ready to settle down for the long haul wherever I end up post-graduation.

Anybody else felt this way???

I moved to Queens from San Diego, and even though the outer boroughs is not as bad as Manhattan, I hate/d NYC with a passion. After a few years, it's tolerable, but it's still a pain in the ass.

When my wife got pregnant, we immediately started looking for places to live in Long Island.

Also, summers in NYC are brutally hot and I'm not sure why. So the weather gets better (though the winter I stayed there was relatively mild).

In NYC's defense, this is true. NYC is exponentially worse in the summer, since the number of people add to the heat, the subway system turns into a slow cooker, and some NYC don't pay attention to hygiene. Manhattan is definitely more tolerable in the fall/spring time.

[dm1919]

If you don't like the city, then, to be blunt, you should just leave. There's enough people here already and we can do without you.

Sincerely,

A New Yorker

[ronanOgara]

I found Hoboken to be a rather pleasant place. It's full of young people but I know of several families living there.

It can be a hassle to get to Manhattan sometimes, but I thought it had the feel of a small town and was nice to get away to on weekends.

[Anonymous User]

I think the key is minimizing commute/walking time/expenses based on your issues with the city. If your offices are in certain parts of midtown, check out Long Island City/Astoria/Queens for reasonable rents and a short commute. For expenses, plan ahead and buy in bulk, instead of running to the store every time (otherwise you will pay convenient store prices, which can add up quickly). Also, there is a difference between vacationing/being a summer somewhere and living. Once you get into a routine, costs typically go down considerably. And yeah, it's really hot right now, but it's summer - it's hot everywhere (though NYCers do have to spend more time walking in it...)

[dixiecupdrinking]

If you don't like the city, then, to be blunt, you should just leave. There's enough people here already and we can do without you.

Sincerely,

A New Yorker

This. Nobody cares.

To be slightly more constructive: there are plenty of jobs elsewhere and there is no virtue in toughing out NYC. I just get really tired of people moving here and bitching about it.

[Br3v]

If you don't like the city, then, to be blunt, you should just leave. There's enough people here already and we can do without you.

Sincerely,

A New Yorker

This. Nobody cares.

You two need to not be so transparently worried about people not liking NYC.

OP made no indication that anybody would care if he left, he is asking for advice about leaving NYC or making his life there better.

OP look around at 3L hiring for other cities, or like others have mentioned try living in more family friendly area in NJ/NY.

[ballouttacontrol]

Put a ton of effort into returning to your home state this summer/during the fall, or even into spring. U should be able to find something, though pay will obviously be a lot less. Midwest firms max out between like 85k to 125k, depending on which state

Still, $115k in Cincinnati or $80k in Topeka is still likely gonna put u in a better lifestyle than $160k in NY.

[A. Nony Mouse]

OP made no indication that anybody would care if he left, he is asking for advice about leaving NYC or making his life there better.

To be fair, the OP is simply saying that they hate New York and asking if anyone else feels that way.

[psu2016]

Consider DE.

[johnB86]

To OP: I spent two years in NYC big law and then relocated to a more suburban market. I didn't hate the City, but certainly couldn't see myself there long term. Just not my cup of tea.

I would consider
A) whether you're at a firm that might be amenable to an office switch post-3L (even better if you can come up with a good and true narrative (wife got a job in other market; family is in other market; etc.));

B) 3L OCI (I never considered 3L OCI, so I don't know the logistics---but I would consider whether your SA firm would come to find out you're interviewing elsewhere and how that might play out--particularly if 3L OCI is not successful for you and you return to your SA firm anyway);

C) sucking it up for 2 years and getting out when you can (live on the upper east side (on a street and not an avenue)--its tree lined and more "suburban." Pick a practice group that will transfer well--recruiters will call and the narrative for "why you want to leave NYC" is not a novel one. The only downside is having to take another bar exam in a few years).

I do agree with some of the other posters here---try to enjoy NYC for what it is. There is a lot to do, and millions of people would literally kill for the chance to live there; its a temporary experience that you can learn to make the most of and have a few stories for your grandchildren.

[SLS_AMG]

It's hot, dirty, crowded, and expensive.

I laughed out loud at this. Sorry.

I mean, what did you expect? I can see the filth coming as a surprise to some people, but if you've lived in major cities like you say, it really shouldn't. I can't think of a major city in the world that isn't pretty dirty. London and Paris are filthy. San Francisco and LA are filthy. Maybe Chicago and DC are clean in comparison, but I'd hardly call them clean.

There's no reason the climate, crowds, or expense should be any surprise whatsoever unless you just went in totally blind having done no research. I guess the magnitude of each could be surprising, but still.

I mean, it sucks, because you either love New York or you hate it. There's not much middle ground. And it sounds like you just hate it.

[kellyfrost]

OP:
I would consider moving back to the Midwest if you don't like large cities. For what you are looking for, you can't beat the Midwest. In fact,no where would even come close.

[dixiecupdrinking]

If you don't like the city, then, to be blunt, you should just leave. There's enough people here already and we can do without you.

Sincerely,

A New Yorker

This. Nobody cares.

You two need to not be so transparently worried about people not liking NYC.

OP made no indication that anybody would care if he left, he is asking for advice about leaving NYC or making his life there better.

OP look around at 3L hiring for other cities, or like others have mentioned try living in more family friendly area in NJ/NY.

To the contrary, OP is just complaining about things that literally millions of people deal with every day. I could not be less worried about it.

[Anonymous User]

Where are you living in Jersey - like JC or Hoboken? There are plenty of places that are very peaceful, you just have to go further out and have a commute - it's a trade off. (On the other hand, YMMV on this, but having to catch a specific train can be a good way to enforce some boundaries and get out of social activities as an associate.)

I also hate NY, and I lived on Roosevelt Island and loved it before moving to suburban Jersey.

[Pomeranian]

I've lived in both the Midwest/Chicago and NYC an feel ya.

Did anyone catch that article in the NY Times about the subway system? Too much development and not enough attention to infrastructure. One ride on the NYC subway during business hours and you will know what I mean. It's a stark contrast to some of the Asian subway systems that handle just as many people.

[mvp99]

I've lived in both the Midwest/Chicago and NYC an feel ya.

Did anyone catch that article in the NY Times about the subway system? Too much development and not enough attention to infrastructure. One ride on the NYC subway during business hours and you will know what I mean...

What do you mean? I love that my subway station is also a sauna.

[Br3v]

If you don't like the city, then, to be blunt, you should just leave. There's enough people here already and we can do without you.

Sincerely,

A New Yorker

This. Nobody cares.

You two need to not be so transparently worried about people not liking NYC.

OP made no indication that anybody would care if he left, he is asking for advice about leaving NYC or making his life there better.

OP look around at 3L hiring for other cities, or like others have mentioned try living in more family friendly area in NJ/NY.

To the contrary, OP is just complaining about things that literally millions of people deal with every day. I could not be less worried about it.

So not worried about it that you gratuitously entered this thread to say so, I see.

[dm1919]

If you don't like the city, then, to be blunt, you should just leave. There's enough people here already and we can do without you.

Sincerely,

A New Yorker

This. Nobody cares.

You two need to not be so transparently worried about people not liking NYC.

OP made no indication that anybody would care if he left, he is asking for advice about leaving NYC or making his life there better.

OP look around at 3L hiring for other cities, or like others have mentioned try living in more family friendly area in NJ/NY.

To the contrary, OP is just complaining about things that literally millions of people deal with every day. I could not be less worried about it.

So not worried about it that you gratuitously entered this thread to say so, I see.

Go outside and enjoy the Memorial Day Weekend. Thanks.