There is nowhere quite like New York for an exchange: five boroughs of relentless energy, world-class everything, and a subway that never sleeps. NYU, Columbia and the sprawling CUNY system put students right in the thick of it. It is the most expensive place you could choose, but the payoff is a city that genuinely never stops.

Student life is the city itself: cheap comedy in the Village, gigs in Brooklyn, museum late-nights and endless neighbourhoods to explore. You will build your scene around your patch, whether that is downtown Manhattan or Bushwick. There is always something free or nearly free happening if you look.

New York is the most expensive city in the country, so budget high: roughly 2,000 to 3,200 dollars a month with shared rent. Housing dominates, and even a shared room in a decent area is dear. An unlimited MetroCard or OMNY and cooking at home are essential savings.

Nearly everyone shares, and the search is fierce and fast, so be ready to decide within hours of viewing. Students spread across the East Village, Harlem and Morningside Heights in Manhattan, and Williamsburg, Bushwick and Astoria across the river. Beware broker fees and always view before paying anything.

The subway is the city's lifeblood, running 24/7 and reaching every corner with a tap of OMNY or a MetroCard. Buses fill the gaps and the city is intensely walkable. Forget a car; between transit, walking and Citi Bike you will never need one.

NYU and Columbia are major private research universities and CUNY a vast public system, all on semester calendars, strong across the humanities, business, journalism and the arts. Expect seminar-heavy teaching, serious reading loads and continuous assessment. Libraries like NYU's Bobst and Columbia's Butler are open around the clock in term.

Almost every exchange student needs a visa, and which one depends on your programme and nationality. Most exchange students come on a J-1 exchange visitor visa (with a DS-2019 from your host university) or an F-1 student visa (with an I-20); your US university tells you which and issues the document. You then pay the SEVIS fee, complete the DS-160 form, and attend an in-person interview at a US embassy or consulate, so start the moment you're accepted, as interview waits can be long.

Budget for the SEVIS fee (around 220 dollars for J-1, 350 for F-1) plus the visa application fee, and note J-1 visas carry mandatory health insurance rules and sometimes a two-year home-residency requirement. Keep every document for border entry.

New York food runs from dollar dumplings and halal carts to the bagels, pizza and pastrami the city is built on, plus every world cuisine imaginable. Weekend markets like Smorgasburg showcase the range, and eating well need not be expensive. The culture is simply everything, all at once.

Your neighbourhood defines your New York. Manhattan's East Village and Harlem are classic student territory, while Brooklyn's Williamsburg and Bushwick and Queens' Astoria offer more space and value. Aim for a good subway connection over square footage.

New York is a hub for the whole northeast and beyond. Cheap buses reach Philadelphia, Boston and DC, the Hudson Valley and the beaches of Fire Island make easy escapes, and the airports open up everywhere. Weekends can be city, mountains or coast.

New York is overwhelming at first, so pace yourself and protect your budget. Move fast on housing, walk more than you think you can, and take up the endless free student offers. The city rewards the bold and the organised.