But sometimes an awkward situation occurs that is just impossible to ignore, even for the most experienced subway riders. So, what do you do?

1. Running into someone you (kind of) know. Running into someone you actually know is usually fine, even enjoyable, on the subway. But when there isn’t a firm history of social interaction, the bizarre landscape of a subway train can greatly exaggerate the uncertainty you’re both feeling. Have a clear path to the person? Then walk over for a handshake, and think of some polite conversation during those seconds between point A and B. If there are obvious physical obstacles, but a clear line of site, opt for the head nod or a smile and small wave. That said, if you don’t make eye contact after a few seconds, stop staring, and get back to your Angry Birds.

2. Saying goodbye on the train. Whether it’s someone you just met, an acquaintance you ran into (see above), or the friend that you got on the subway with – not exiting at the same stop gets weird. To minimize the awkwardness, avoid saying the word “goodbye” until the train doors open. My favorite way to accomplish this is to approach the arrival my stop as a surprise (“Oh! This is me. So great to see you. Bye!”) rather than as a polite and pre-timed exit (“Well, my stop is the next one. It was nice catching up… [insert awkwardly long discussion about the pleasant conversation preceding it or something else as obviously filler-like]“).

3. Being targeted by the crazy ranting person. Possibly the most awkward, most sad, and/or most terrifying moment for anyone riding the New York City subway is when a total stranger starts aggressively yelling at you. Above all else, I suggest that you not engage them on their planet of crazy. Ignoring the person completely is always an option since eventually they will move on to a more dynamic target. A second option is a faint smile or head nod, which may be especially helpful if you intuit that the person is anxiously seeking acknowledgement and (hopefully) nothing more. If for whatever reason you are compelled to respond to the person verbally, I again urge you to connect on a topic that’s firmly rooted in your reality instead of theirs: something like “I’d like to get back to reading my book” or “Do you mind if I take that seat?” The act of addressing a topic outside of the rant is often baffling enough to the person that they will move along.

In general, the British saying “keep calm and carry on” pretty much covers it. And, while you’re at it, be sure to mind the gap!

So without further ado, here are my top five favorite ways for making new friends in New York:

1. Get to know your roommates. A lot of people cohabitate in New York by necessity rather than by choice, which frequently results in roommates avoiding each other and generally pretending that the other one doesn’t exist. It doesn’t have to be this way. I’m not saying you should suddenly pretend you live in an episode of Friends, but electing to spend time together (especially outside of the apartment) can pretty effectively lay the groundwork for a mutually supportive relationship.

2. Meet your friends’ friends. In general, urbanites do not operate in Sex and the City-esque cliques. Most people will happily engage in a conversation that starts with something as basic as “so how do you know [insert mutual friend's name here]?” Just having a person in common can create enough familiarity for friendship to start blooming. As examples: current pals of mine include two of my cousin’s college buddies and one of my own college friend’s exes, plus Anastasia recently dated a guy who was a friend of her friend’s friend. Say that ten times fast.

3. Don’t write off ex-coworkers. You probably have more in common than you realize – I mean, the same organization did hire you both. And even if you weren’t each others’ go-to gossip queens at work, it doesn’t mean you won’t have plenty to talk about in the real world. In fact, that shared experience of your past workplace and your new HR-free context can be a fantastic combination for sparking a new friendship.

4. Volunteer. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: volunteering is my all time favorite way to meet people, whether it be for social or professional reasons.

5. Embrace serendipity. I’ve made friends with everyone from the person sitting next to me on the Bolt Bus to the guy that ordered the same coffee as me at Dunkin Donuts. I’m even getting drinks next week with a barista my boyfriend met and then introduced me to because of our shared interest in social impact. If you’re open to the possibility, new friends can come from anywhere.

Position Summary:

Administrative Assistant

New York City Metro (Hoboken, NJ, United States)

*This job does not require a college degree so be aware that the salary would reflect this as well. But if you are looking to get a job that would provide you with a wide array of work experience and exposure to many people, this is a good starter job for recent graduates or people taking time off before/during college.

1. Go to Disney World!

Seriously, take a vacation. I took this one literally (see Gisela’s water park post). Depending on your program, this may be your last chance to really splurge on entertainment for many years. Take some time to travel somewhere, even if it’s just a weekend in Atlantic City.

2. Spend time with family and non-school friends.

While you are about to embark on what may be the hardest years of your career, it can be even harder on the loved ones you have outside your academic circle. Grad students tend to be incredibly cliquey, and your free time is about to become shockingly limited, so it’s safe to assume that you will not be spending significant time with any of these non-academics until next summer. If you have a significant other, take this time to do particularly nice things for them, especially since they will probably be responsible for your caffeine fix during those future late night study sessions.

3. Explore your new neighborhood and campus.

The thing that intimidated me the most when starting my master’s degree wasn’t handling the course load or impressing the faculty, but having to adjust to a new city, especially one like New York. Moving to a new place is always daunting, but it will be even more so when you are also navigating busy class schedules and challenging coursework. Take advantage of the down time of summer to explore your new surroundings. In particular, familiarize yourself with the cafes where you’ll spend afternoons studying for exams, and with the bars where you’ll spend evenings drowning your sorrows afterward.

4. Spend time outdoors.

Just like your friends and family, natural light becomes little more than a memory starting in September. Even the majority of school vacations happen during the winter (Thanksgiving, Christmas, “spring” break). Though frankly, you’ll be too busy studying for midterms or gearing up for the next semester during those breaks to lament the lack of sun exposure. Summer vacation is like a ray of sunshine handed to you on a golden platter. I deliberately left my full-time job a month ahead of classes starting so that I could really take advantage of that last bit of sunshine.

5. Get to know your new classmates.

At some point in the summer, you’ll end up in a Facebook or LinkedIn group or on some old school listserv comprised of your classmates. Use it. Over the next several years, these people will become your study buddies, research collaborators, and even your competition. And since grad school gets so busy so fast, you might never get to know a particular classmate if you don’t commit to doing it before that first semester. In particular, quickly getting to know who you work well with is invaluable. I was lucky enough to be introduced to a potential research partner early in our orientation, and we’ve already developed a great working dynamic that will benefit both of us over the next few years.

6. Read up on a topic you are interested in (and get your foot in the door).

Many grad programs require you to be matched with a faculty advisor, though sometimes you’ll have the chance to choose one. Look up faculty articles and books in order to get a feel for the best match between your interests and current faculty projects. If you find a good fit, email the potential advisors about joining department meetings or getting involved in research studies. My advisor is both impressed and shocked at my weekly lab meeting attendance, but it’s resulted in me already getting involved with my first doctoral study!

7. Invest in an appropriate wardrobe.

When I transitioned from a corporate job to my masters program, I found that I was often overdressed for class. My wardrobe was more business than casual. However, the doctoral program I’m now in follows what is called a “junior colleague” model. It basically means that we are treated by the faculty and staff as professionals from day one, and it also means a transition for me back to daily business wear. It doesn’t necessarily mean dragging out the three-piece suits, but no more showing up in sweats or pj’s either. Dressy pants and a simple top will work just fine.

8. Learn to live on a budget.

“Poor graduate student” is not just a stereotype, it’s an actuality. Some people (read: the overachieving insane types) try to hold down part time jobs through grad school, but most people choose to live off of loans and/or their savings. Especially in a city like New York, budgeting is important. For those of us who aren’t natural accountants, budgeting sites and apps like Mint can help you keep track of your monthly transactions. Start resetting your spending expectations this summer, before you’re in the thick of the budget crunch. If you get a little creative, everything on this list can be done for free or on the cheap.

9. Live it up! (Responsibly!)

Last, but certainly not least, this is the one piece of advice you will hear from faculty and current students across the board: Getting into graduate school was the big challenge, staying in will be easy enough. Pat yourself on the back, and enjoy the summer!

NR is a not-so-nouveau New Yorker about to embark on her second graduate school adventure in the Big Apple. Her focus is in clinical psychology, which means she gives awesome advice but often forgets to follow it herself ;) In all seriousness, congrats again from Biz & Fizz on your PhD candidacy!

Anastasia and Gisela taking a self portrait break while volunteering for the 2011 Annual Benefit of the Design Trust for Public Space

There are way more than five reasons that volunteering is a good idea, but these five best illustrate how good the return can be on your investment.

Reason 1: You get to network (sometimes with the big dogs), without seeming creepy. Remember what I said about conferences? I’ve helped (formally or informally) at more of them than I can remember. Frankly, serving in any kind of support capacity can get you surprisingly good access to an organization’s super stars, and a much less awkward avenue for introducing yourself to them. It’s also worth noting that during job searches, a few of the people I’ve volunteered for have provided some of my most phenomenal references.

Reason 2: You might land a date, or even meet your future significant other. My current relationship (the longest and healthiest one I’ve ever had) began when we met at a Design Trust event that was also orientation for Conflux Festival volunteers. A common purpose can be a great reason to kick off a conversation, and potentially even a romance.

Reason 3: Shared suffering is one of the best ways to make new friends. Painting a wall, pulling weeds, or stuffing envelopes can provide the perfect fodder for semi-serious (but 100% legit) complaining, in addition to a shockingly strong foundation for friendship. When you team up with strangers on a volunteer project, odds are high you’ll have laughed and cried so much together that you’ll end the gig as friends.

Reason 4: You’ll learn something, for free. Here are ten things I’ve learned via volunteering: how to use power tools, how to compost, how to transcribe an interview, the basics of web design, the basics of writing a press release, what New York’s underground heavy metal scene is like, that museum exhibit design is not the right career for me, which prerequisites to look for before applying for grant money, that I’m a participative leader, and how to talk to strangers. Enough said?

Reason 5: It actually does feel pretty damn good to help others. Like wow-all-that-stuff-that-was-annoying-me-doesn’t-seem-so-bad-now-that-this-family-has-working-plumbing-and-is-so-happy good. Those are the real moments of zen.

Interested in volunteering? Of course you are! Here are some great resources for getting started:
Sparked
Volunteer Match
Catchafire
NYC Service

The Whitney

With its clear commitment to serious curation, but a limited range of artists to choose from (contemporary/American/influential), the Whitney is like the bookish teenager who really wants to sit at the grown ups’ table. Chances are that you were too. This ethos admittedly makes the Whitney a bit sidelined in the heavy hitting NYC arts scene, but who knows… it may finally hit a hip, early-20s stride with its upcoming Meatpacking location. Didn’t you feel strangely more legit as a New Yorker after that first night of clubbing? I know I did.

The Brooklyn Museum

You love to juxtapose the old and the new, whether it be your vintage throw on your Ikea couch, European masters spitting distance from a contemporary feminist wing, or the addition of a sweeping glass entrance pavilion against a nineteenth-century Beaux-Arts façade. You’re also one of those people who can drop the word “groovy” without sounding totally awkward, including in your description of the Brooklyn Museum’s First Saturday parties (which are way more chill than crazy ass First Fridays at MoMA).

Cooper-Hewitt

In the context of the big shots on Museum Mile, Cooper-Hewitt may seem like a wallflower.  But consider its coveted spot in the greater Smithsonian portfolio and its history of seminal design exhibitions, and you’ll remember that great things often come in understated packages (much like yourself, perhaps). Your membership won’t come with a slew of glamorous parties, but don’t worry, there are still great perks. Honestly, a roundtable of thought leaders is really more your speed anyway.

The Metropolitan Opera

You’ll choose performance art over stationary art any day, especially when it comes with a comfy seat and a clear(ish) verbal description of what you’ll be seeing. You possess a genuine flair for the dramatic, but also deeply respect history and tradition. You may also be on the thriftier side; with 4-performance series starting at $90, the Met offers one of the best values for pre-paid performances in NYC. Luckily, the Met’s gorgeous facilities (especially the “bitchin’ chandeliers“) ensure that your experience will feel anything but cheap.

Even I once famously lived in a UES studio that was taller floor to ceiling than it was wide (it was also smaller overall than the 300 square foot minimum in Bloomberg’s new competition!). It took some love, but I definitely made the place work. Here are my top tips for making your extra small space feel extra livable:

1. Keep it clean. Obvious, but so incredibly true. A mess in a small space grows exponentially faster than a mess in a large space, primarily because the amount of clutter-free real estate is already super limited. Do everything you can to keep mail from being strewn about, laundry from overflowing, and dishes from piling up. Make sure you take out trash and recycling on a frequent basis. Aim to make a quick tidy-up part of your daily routine, if it isn’t already.

2. All furniture needs to work double (or triple) time. The bottom shelf of your bookcase might be a surprisingly good spot for shoes. Your coffee table needs to also work as your dining room table and your desk, and should preferably have storage built in underneath as well. Combination units that include a towel rack, a toilet paper holder, and additional bathroom storage are genius. Even if a piece of furniture isn’t explicitly designed for multiple purposes, find ways to get creative with it.

3. Seating, storage, and surfaces. I can’t emphasize these three enough. In a small space, it’s surprisingly easy to end up with nowhere to sit (besides your bed), nowhere to keep your laptop, and nowhere to set a glass. Luckily there are several solutions to this problem, my favorite option being furniture that nests and/or stacks (check out these examples from Crate & Barrel, CB2, West Elm, Pottery Barn, and even Ikea). Per tip #2, pieces that combine all three – seating, storage, and surfaces – into one are the holy grail of furniture.

4. Define and separate functional areas. When planning out where to put your stuff, try to clump things with similar purposes together. Your mirror, chest of drawers, and hamper should be arranged as one dressing-related area, while your TV, movies, and video game system should be in a separate entertainment area. Larger pieces of furniture (like a freestanding closet) or stacked modular units can be used quite successfully as barriers between these areas. Arranging your things in this way will limit the daily crisscrossing you have to do, which will help the overall space feel more like a home with rooms and less like a ridiculous 3D version of Pong.

Still looking for the right neighborhood to establish this tiny but fantastic home? Check out our Top Five: Transitional Neighborhoods in New York City.

In these situations, I usually suggest one of the following five spots.

Galway Hooker Midtown – 36th Street between 5th and Madison (Murray Hill / Midtown South)
Galway Hooker’s midtown location is huge, with a two-story central area, an enormous downstairs bar, and more semi-private party rooms than I’ve ever cared to count. The beer and liquor selection is equally sizable, and there’s good variety in the spots for sitting, dancing, and canoodling. Fair warning: booths are waitress service only, and crashing someone else’s private party is risky. The staff here does not mess around.

The Globe – 23rd Street between Lex and 3rd (Gramercy)
The Globe is like a large, railroad-style apartment with the walls knocked out. You walk into a pub, followed by a lounge, followed by a dance floor, with a second bar and high top seating in the very back. On the weekends, a disco ball descends at 11pm; always an added bonus in my book. Fair warning: the crowds are inconsistent, so it’s hard to predict when they’ll be having a good night vs. a bad one.

One and One – 1st Ave at 1st Street (East Village / LES)
One and One is a no-frills dive bar with a decent dance floor-slash-lounge in the basement. It’s located on the corner of the easy-to-remember 1st Ave and 1st Street, which comes in handy if you’ve already had a couple. A blend of Top 40 and old school hip hop (my personal fave) is the standard soundtrack. Fair warning: there are not enough bathrooms, and they’re also not very well maintained.

Lucky Jack’s – Orchard between Rivington and Delancey (LES)
Lucky Jack’s is almost the exact invert of One and One, with a pretty great pub upstairs and a super no-frills dance floor-slash-rec room area in the basement. The drink menu is well-curated, including a quite respectable cocktail list. Fair warning: if it’s a school night, there won’t be anyone dancing. But there may very well be some stand up comedy downstairs, or you can snag a game at their pool table.

Macri Park – Union between Conselyea and Metropolitan (Williamsburg)
Macri Park is the smallest place on this list, unless you include its outdoor area. It won me over easily because the drinks are strong and the DJs tend to read the crowd really well. Plus it’s conveniently located (relative to other Williamsburg spots) since it’s a block and a half from the L and G trains. Fair warning: even though there’s decent square footage, spots to sit and put coats and things are limited, especially on weekends.

The Museum of Modern Art

This is the crème de la crème of contemporary and modern art. Many aspire to belong to MoMA’s Junior Associates member board (which has a pretty hefty price tag), but most will have to start their art world ladder climbing with a basic membership. Once you hit C level status in your major corporation, MoMA will be the perfect outlet for your charitable work. In the meantime, you may want an easy way to skip the lines. My suggestion? Start dating a girl/guy who’s already got their membership lined up. They won’t mind; MoMA’s all about the schmoozing.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Old school or bust! You work in a “distinguished” profession and appreciate the value of a good investment, so you gravitate towards well-established masters. You may have minored in art history to liven up your otherwise left-brain education, but you probably didn’t get past the 1800s in those intro level classes. A membership at the Met will also allow you to bring your fashion industry girlfriend to Costume Institute events and parties.

Dia: Beacon

You secretly still long for the suburbs/country life, so the train ride to middle of nowhere is actually a pleasure! This joy is awkwardly coupled with your love of urban loft spaces (perhaps you even work in a shared office space in Soho?) and with your preference for minimal to no furniture (why buy the bed frame when you can just put the mattress on the floor?). Working artists and students get even better rates here, so get ready to be surrounded by that “I don’t have anywhere important to be right now” vibe.

American Museum of Natural History

Hello “Night at the Museum”! You were a pretty nerdy science kid growing up and probably work (or aspire to work) in a tech/research field. The adult version of you has also developed an appreciation for good dance beats, so you are already religiously attending the museum’s monthly dance parties. If you love camping, hiking, or anything else outdoorsy, then you’ll fit in even better. The planetarium may even become your go-to date destination.

Guggenheim

One thing’s for sure – you definitely don’t have vertigo. You also like order, linearity, and quite possibly Men in Black movies. It’s very likely you work in architecture, or wanted to as a child, since experiencing the space is half the fun. Being a member of the Gugg also generally means you’re great at inflating things to “fabulous” status, even if they are sometimes crashing and burning. It’s very possible you were/are the drama queen within your circle.

Hell’s Kitchen

While this is being deemed the new Chelsea (mostly because of Chelsea’s skyrocketing prices), this neighborhood is not entirely a gay-only enclave. It is one of the classier destination choices for young professionals  with its newer amenity-filled apartments, decent sized spaces, and easy access to lots of restaurant and nightlife options. Aim to stay between 10th Ave and 8th Ave, since you’ll be close enough to the subway to commute without freezing in tights and high heels. Plus 9th Ave also has most of the bars and restaurants in the neighborhood.

Other perks: It’s close to Central Park, the Theater District, and other entertainment venues such as the Hudson Hotel and Terminal 5.

Financial District

You dreamed of a view over the water and a modern amenity rich apartment building? Then you may end up in the land of bankers. This stock exchange-dominated neighborhood essentially shuts down after 6 pm on weekdays and doesn’t open again all weekend. Here, you get the water, green space, and potentially (for the finance types) a very short commute! It’s super safe, with police posted everywhere. There’s just nothing to do.

Other perks: If you ever feel like jaunting over to Staten Island or Governors Island on a weekend, there’s a free ferry that leaves nearby. You also have walking-distance access to most major subway lines in Manhattan.

Murray Hill

You miss the frat lifestyle of college but would like to venture into a metropolitan setting? Murray Hill was made for you and is conveniently close to your Madison Avenue job. This neighborhood is filled with large doormen apartment buildings, perfect for installing temporary walls and sharing with your best bros and gals, and bars up and down the street that will make you feel like you never left school.

Other perks: You’re close to Grand Central, for weekend jaunts home to Long Island and Connecticut where you can get that freshly parent-done laundry smell back. You’re also walking distance to several gyms, so you can balance out your indulgent habits.

Upper East Side

So you hate having a roommate but have heard it’s completely unaffordable to live on your own unless you move to an outer borough neighborhood? York Ave is your Manhattan-based refuge. You’ll get a tiny living space that is a good 15 minute walk to the overly-crowded subway, and you’ll inevitably end up taking cabs everywhere, but you get to say you live alone in the big city. Congrats!

Other perks: It’s close to Central Park, Museum Mile, and a couple decent art galleries. The Upper East Side is also about 65% single ladies to 35% single men, so boys, if you are looking to find that special someone – you now know where to look!

Williamsburg

You refuse to move to Manhattan and intuitively feel that you are a Brooklyn soul, but you don’t actually know the name of any other Brooklyn neighborhood. Moving to Williamsburg will land you a few stops away from downtown Manhattan on the L train (which generally doesn’t run because of construction for 2 weekends out of each month, so you better really like it here). There are plenty of galleries, non-corporate music venues, kitschy themed bars, and late-night taco trucks. Oh and luxury condos on the water.

Other perks: There are lots of kosher and vegetarian options. It’s also the most bicycle-friendly neighborhood on this list.

We’ll have the typical hour plus commute, but it is a great area. We are close to the metro, parks, grocers and even a farmers market. So go ahead, take a look at my new apartment, and participate in what I have found is an age old tradition in NYC, apartment voyerism!