This post is sponsored by Educational Housing Services. 

If you recently moved to New York for school, an internship or a job, congratulations, and welcome! Living in New York City is something many people all over the world dream of doing. Beautiful skyscrapers, a diverse population, and a seemingly countless amount of restaurants – what’s not to love? Well, an argument could be made for rats in the subway tracks and piles of trash along the street but that’s really a small price to pay.

Image courtesy of Thinkstock

Here is our guide to making the most of your NYC experience.

Get Lost

The best way to get to know any city is to wander aimlessly and take it all in. Sure, it’s a little cliché but that doesn’t make it untrue. Exploring new streets and neighborhoods makes it easy to discover new establishments to try and helps you get a sense of that infamous NYC energy. And there’s no better way learn the city’s geography than by literally getting lost.

For when you want to actually head somewhere definite, download the Not For Tourists and Gothamist apps to stay on top of all the cool stuff going on in the city.

Meet Up

If you don’t have a Meetup.com profile yet, make one ASAP. There’s a MeetUp group for practically everything from religion and sports to brunch and board games, so you’re bound to find several you like. Not only are MeetUps a great way to stay busy and entertained, but they help you make friends and professional connections, too. Aim to attend at least two per month. Our group is the largest Meetup for interns and recent grads in the country – join us to stay up to speed with our events, which let you network with hundreds of other creatives.

Get Coffee

Whenever you meet someone you’re interested in learning from or want to collaborate with – which includes your classmates, co-workers and supervisors – reach out and ask to have a short meeting over coffee. Aim to have a coffee meeting once every week (check out our list of great coffee spots to know where to go). Speaking face-to-face with people will give you invaluable insight and let others know that you mean business. And someone may actually turn out to be a mentor for years to come!

Meet Your Professional Hero

Many of the world’s most influential companies are based right here in New York, so it is quite likely that your professional hero lives here too. Their phone number may not be listed but there are many ways to get closer to the people you admire. Industry events and panel discussions are constantly happening around the city, and a lot of the time, they’re free or cheap to attend. A great way to get your hero’s attention is to ask them a question at a panel – that way, when you email her or him later, you can use it as a reference.

Also, sign up for an events notification from Barnes & Noble and attend readings and book signings by your favorite writers. Or, sign up to volunteer at Fashion Week, Tribeca Film Festival or similar happenings to get a behind-the-scenes look at the industry of your dreams.

Work Really Hard

Let’s be real – you are here to follow your passion, a passion that you most likely share with many, many others. If you don’t go the extra mile, you will get left behind. You should be doing everything possible to stand out and have a leg up over your peers, which includes coming to work early, staying late, taking on extra projects and having side projects of your own. To help you get started, join us at Find & Follow Your Passion, a full day of discussions, workshops, networking and fun with fellow creatives and young professionals — all aimed to get you closer to the job of your dreams.

Keep in mind, if you can make it here, you’ll make it anywhere!

What are your tips for making the most out of NYC?

This post is sponsored by Educational Housing Services. 

Educational Housing Services offers all-inclusive housing solutions designed exclusively for students and interns. With EHS, you get safe, quality housing by the academic year, semester, or summer. Their residences are located in New York City’s best and most convenient neighborhoods, so no matter where you go to school, you can find a location that’s perfect for you. Learn more at studenthousing.org.