Known as the unofficial capital of the world, New York has a lot to offer: world-renowned universities, including two Ivy League colleges (no other state has more than one!), prospering industries such as manufacturing, foreign trade, commerce, publishing, and theatrical production, a wealth of recreational and cultural opportunities, historic landmarks and entertainment venues, a range of diverse landscapes with sophisticated metropolises alongside attractive countryside and unequalled arts and sports venues. It is also home to some of the most diverse, tolerant, interconnected, and friendly people in the US.
Often referred to as New York State to avoid confusion with New York City, New York is also known as the Empire State, possibly due to the state’s wealth and resources. Meanwhile NYC is traditionally nicknamed the Big Apple, a term that loosely signifies an abundance of rich rewards. Home to over 19 million people, and larger in area than Jamaica or Qatar, New York is known for its long history as a gateway for immigration to the United States, and the home of the American Dream – indeed, the promise of opportunity, prosperity, individuality, self-determination and freedom are all likely to be attractions for those who want to study in New York.
Life in New York
As the cultural and financial capital of the US, New York City attracts more visitors than any other US city. Its romantic appeal, buzzing street life, collection of ethnic neighborhoods, towering skyscrapers, and landscaped green spaces (of which Central Park is the most famous) all bear remnants of the city’s colorful past as a center for finance, immigration, industry and commerce.
But, while it may loom large over the world’s imagination, there is a lot more to the United States’ third most populous state than NYC. Lying towards the west of the state, Buffalo and Rochester both have metropolitan areas which are home to over a million people, and are both prominent college towns, as is smaller Ithaca and state capital Albany.
Architecture and design students will love Albany’s diverse range of architectural styles, mixing historic buildings and modern skyscrapers. Rainy Binghamton also boasts impressive architecture and ornate mansions, but is better known for being the ‘Carousel Capital of America’, home to six antique American carousels. Buffalo, in western New York, is the second largest city in the state, which means it has plenty of choice in nightlife, museums, cultural attractions, neighborhoods, and, of course, universities. Also in the west of the state is Rochester, which has been known at times as the Flour City, the Flower City, and as Kodak Town, being the birthplace of amateur photography. Rochester also boasts unique museums, a calendar of festivals, a trio of striking waterfalls and the lowest real estate prices in the state. 
Outside of its cities, New York is a lush green state, with 18.9 million acres of forest. It borders two great lakes (Erie and Ontario) as well as the vast and rugged Lake Champlain, and is intersected by a plethora of rivers and waterways (70,000 miles), including the mighty River Hudson and the Erie Canal. Plus, if you follow the path of Lake Erie, you’ll end up at Niagara Falls, one of the US’s most popular tourist attractions.
A number of spectacular mountain ranges, such as the green Catskills and the wilderness of the Adirondack add further interest to the state’s landscape, while the Great Appalachian Valley dominates its eastern region. From its complements of parks and green spaces, the National Park adjoined to the Adirondack is the largest – roughly the size of the entire country of Macedonia! Four of New York City’s five boroughs are situated on three islands at the mouth of the Hudson River: Manhattan Island, Staten Island and Long Island.
Overall, apart from the various urban environments encircling its major cities, New York State is dominated by farms, forests, rivers, mountains, lakes and vineyards. With all this, it’s no surprise that city slickers flock to ‘upstate’ New York to enjoy the great outdoors at every given opportunity. So, whether you’re based in the country’s most famous city, or elsewhere in the beautiful state that surrounds it, New York can promise a fulfilling study abroad experience. And, of course, if you’re missing city life or want a country break, you’ll easily be able to travel between the two.
New York facts
Located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the US; borders with New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south and Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east; maritime border with Rhode Island, and international border with Canada to the west and north
State capital is Albany and largest city is New York City.
Total state population over 19.6 million; New York City population over 8.3 million, the largest in the US.
State nickname: The Empire State
About 63% of New York’s total surface area is covered by forests.
The largest gateway for immigration to the US is in Ellis Island, in Upper New York Bay.
Commercial toilet paper was invented in New York City in the 19th century, by Joseph C. Gayetty.
The New York Post is the US’s longest continuously published newspaper.
New York is the only state that touches both the Great Lakes (Erie and Ontario) and the Atlantic Ocean.
New York State has 307 degree-granting institutions, second only to California.
Award-winning photo blog based in New York called ‘Humans of New York’ (HONY) by photographer Brandon Stanton has spawned many similar blogs around the world, including one in New York’s Cornell University.
Famous New Yorkers include: director Woody Allen, actors Robert De Niro and Al Pacino, singers Lady Gaga and Jennifer Lopez, rappers Tupac Shakur and Jay Z, authors Don DeLillo and Thomas Pynchon, presidents Theodore Roosevelt, Martin van Buren and Franklin D. Roosevelt, and business tycoon Donald Trump.
Public universities in New York
There’s plenty of choice for those who want to study in New York – there are more highly ranked universities in New York Statethan some entire countries can claim! New York’s statewide public university system is called the State University of New York (SUNY), while New York City has its own public university system, the City University of New York (CUNY). The latter is the largest urban university in the US and ranked 501-550 in the 2013/14 QS World University Rankings®. The four SUNY university centers are theUniversity at Buffalo (ranked 302), Stony Brook University (338=), the University at Albany (601-650) and Binghamton University (701+).
Private universities in New York
The illustrious Columbia University is the state’s highest ranking institution overall, at 14th in the 2013/14 QS World University Rankings. A private college which is part of the prestigious Ivy League group, Columbia claims connections with more than 100 Nobel Prize laureates, as well as 29 heads of state, 26 Academy Award winners and 20 living billionaires. Columbia University has been the site of some of the world’s most significant research and discoveries, including the laser, FM radio and revolutionary drugs to treat glaucoma and cancer. In fact, the university was ranked fourth among top US national universities for its research. As a research-focused institution, the university enrolls more students at graduate level than at undergraduate.
The state’s other Ivy League institution, Cornell University, follows close behind in the rankings, placing 15th in the world. Based in picturesque college town Ithaca in upstate New York, Cornell differs from Columbia in that its undergraduate student body of almost 14,000 outnumbers graduates by two to one. Cornell runs some of the country’s most highly regarded architecture, engineering and international relations programs, and also has a branch campus in Education City, Qatar.
New York University (NYU), another of the top private universities in New York, is ranked 44th in the world. Its fashionable Greenwich Village campus houses the largest student body of any non-profit private US university, while its 18 colleges and schools offer 2,500 different courses and 25 different types of degree (that’s type, not subject!).
Other top universities in New York include the musical University of Rochester (ranked 151), the Jewish Yeshiva University (269=),Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (353=), New School University (551-600), Syracuse University (601-650), Clarkson University (651-700) and Fordham University (701+).
If you're looking for a venue for a small event in this area, you may want to stop by and check it out. Their staff is very friendly and the food is great. We preferred the best boozy brunch nyc place here because they are all-inclusive, so you don't have to worry about chairs and catering because it's all part of the package.
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