What are Some Unique Off Campus Opportunities for College Students in New York?

As a student living in New York, you may qualify for a program that reduces your tuition rate or lets you attend college for free, but even if you come from another state, you'll find lots of off-campus opportunities and experiences that will enhance your college experience. You might spend the summer working for a major newspaper or magazine, make plans to travel to one of the state's top parks with your friends or engage in other activities that will make going to college even more fun than you expected.

Resource: Resource: 50 Best Value Colleges and Universities in New York

Paid Internships

One of the top reasons to attend college in NYC or one of the state's other major cities is because of the paid internships that you can apply for while in college and after you graduate. No matter what you major in, you'll find companies and nonprofit organizations looking for help. You can work behind the scenes of a Broadway or off-Broadway show, help with the upcoming release of a new movie, work for a magazine or newspaper or do an internship for an engineering or computer science company.

State Parks

Even if you love college and hanging out with your friends, you'll probably want to get away from that campus every now and then. NY is home to a number of state parks that are within driving distance of major university campuses. The state has 35 historic sites operated by the Parks Department and 180 different state parks too. According to the Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation website, you can purchase an Empire Pass that lets you visit all those sites without paying a fee each time you enter. You can get a pass that is valid for the entire school year or a lifetime pass that you can use years from now.

Museums

There are so many amazing museums in NYC that you might not see all of them before you graduate. Art lovers will want to see the work on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Museum of Modern Art. Those who prefer dinosaurs and geology can pay a visit to the American Museum of Natural History, which appeared in dozens of television shows and movies over the years. Anytime that you have a break from your classes, you can visit the Jewish Museum, New York Historical Society or dozens of other museums.

Day Trips

Though some people think of NYC as the center of the world, there are some great off-campus opportunities for students an hour or less away from most college campuses. As long as you have access to a vehicle and a few friends, you can take a day trip to one of these hot spots. While a little further away, Fire Island is one of the best places to visit when the temperature rises because of the beautiful scenery and hot parties. The Hamptons is also worth a visit, even if you just drive through the area. Public transportation is available to the Hamptons too.

When picking the right college for you, you need to look at more than just degree programs and classes. You should also look at some of the things you can do on and near the campus. New York students have a host of off-campus opportunities available to them like state parks and paid internships.