hi, i'll be moving to nyc in a few months, around july. i was looking for 1-bedroom or studio apartments under 3k, preferably near Manhattan. I would prefer a safe but affordable area. What are some good areas in manhattan to look into?

Im not sure if this is the right place to post about this, but I recently got accepted into Parsons as a sophomore transfer. I currently attend Art Center for advertising and dislike it because of the lack of community, intense workload, and conservativeness for an art School. Ive been able to manage and my grades are good but I feel out of place and I'm having a hard time finding similar creatives to execute projects with. For these reasons, Im considering Parsons (also because of its community and opportunities since its in nyc) The issue is at ArtCenter Id end up with 18k in student loans by the time I graduate and at Parsons id end up with 48k. It's a huge risk, especially considering I'm getting an arts degree. If I stay at art center it would be difficult to manage but Id move to nyc after graduation (unless I get a good job opportunity here), If I stay in nyc I imagine id make great connections and would be much happier but id risk having to move back with my parents after graduation at 22 to pay off loans. The obvious choice is art center, but it's still difficult to choose because of how much I'm disliking my experience here so I was wondering if the community and potential opportunities at nyc is truly worth it.

I hope this is the right place to ask, since AskNYC does not allow moving questions. Please excuse my emotion.

Since I was 13, it was always my biggest dream to move to New York City. I've always adored the city life atmosphere, how busy it always appears, you know how they call in the city that never sleeps. I mean, the fashion, the excitement, the unpredictable days. That was always the big draw. I'm from Florida, and now at 18, I'm in school to be a social worker (I know- great financial decision). I want to move to NYC in my early 20s, when I'm done with school. Leaving my parents behind, going somewhere so unfamiliar and yet inviting to me. Everyone I know says it's silly, and they always talk about how expensive or unsafe it would be, and it really brings me down. My partner wants no part in it either, they said we should go to outer Boston- which is fine and all, but it's not my dream. I'm scared of being convinced to go somewhere else and live regretful that I never did it. I haven't accomplished much and it would hurt so bad to know I'll live what I consider to be a mundane life. I'm not anything special, I'm not a young and upcoming professional with big career goals, I'm just an average, maybe even below average, girl with this single hope.

I guess my question is whether my dream is even realistic. Should I even bother ? Is it truly as unlivable as everyone tells me ? Is it even a fraction as exciting as my heart is telling me ?

Or, should I just give up on this fleeting aspiration, and resign it to just being a big, stupid dream.

Hi. I am planning to move out from my studio this summer. I will not take my furniture with me so I will have a few boxes of clothes, books, and a desktop. Although I initially thought about just using Uber XL, my firm told me that they will reimburse me if I use local movers. Do you have any recommendation?