Why I Regret Moving to New York City

Gemma K., 23

Credit: Clare Caulfield

New York is not as glamorous as it seems. I get it - when you’re from a small town like me, New York seems like the epitome of all dreams. Yes, in New York, something's always happening. There are new cafes and restaurants popping up, there are festivals and street music. But here are a few reasons to bring New York back down to earth.

1. New York can be lonely.

I know what you’re thinking. In a city with so many people, you should go out, have fun, and just meet new people! That’s what New York is all about! But making friends post college, and without connections, is difficult. If you are moving to New York, I recommend that you move with a roommate, or have connections / friends who can introduce you before you move.

2. There isn’t ANY nature.

Minus the rats and pigeons, there’s little greenery and fresh air to keep yourself paced. Especially if you’re not someone who has the luxury to travel abroad during summers or go upstate, Central Park is the best bet there is.

3. Cost, cost, cost!

This isn’t big news at all, but New York is unimaginably expensive. Living in a one room, cramped apartment in your twenties with five roommates may work for some, but it didn’t work for me, especially in my twenties.

3. Hustle Culture

The “rat race” in New York is real. Some people fly by because they already have funds to rely on, or they have unimaginably good connections - and sometimes you just aren’t in the position to be able to do the same thing the New York “it girls” do. Being on your grind, and staying busy is super impressive, but not being able to keep up is not a bad thing. Jobs are incredibly competitive in New York as well, and can also be pretty unfair: the fact that bad people DO succeed was a very hard pill I had to swallow when moving to New York.

4. The "Dan Humphrey" Mentality

Comparison - not curiosity - kills the cat. Although Dan Humphrey lived in an incredibly expensive and nice home in Brooklyn, seeing Blaire and Serena at the top of New York truly did give him an inferiority complex. Seeing the girls you meet from parties and the trust fund guys you've talked to once or twice ask you where you're going to "summer" (only one correct answer: The Hamptons!) can feel isolating. That being said, a lot of the people I've met from these groups are pretty nice, and if you can snag an invitation, it'll be the experience of your lifetime!