Ann Said:

What made New York City so desirable for colonizers?

We Answered:

There were no roads worth mentioning in North America until less than one hundred years ago. The principal means of moving everything, including goods and people, was by water. New York's Upper Bay offered a huge anchorage for hundreds of oceangoing vessels. The wave action from the open ocean does not penetrate beyond the Lower Bay under most conditions. New Amsterdam and New York were originally located on the southern tip of Manhattan Island. By water you could quickly reach Long Island, across the East River, Staten Island across the Bay, present day New Jersey across the Hudson River. You could exit from the East River via Hell Gate and be in Long Island Sound with access to the Connecticut and Rhode Island shores and northern Long Island. Across the North River (the Harlem) from northern Manhattan lies the mainland which today is the Bronx.

So there was an excellent local transportation net, and also an overseas size shipping harbor.

The fishing was excellent, including shellfish. Game for hunting was abundant. The climate was relatively temperate and beautiful farmland abounded on all sides.

Probably the most important factor though was the fact the the Hudson River is a broad highway into and out of the interior. Upstream where Albany is today the Mohawk flows in from the west, which is also navigable for hundreds of miles. At the limit of navigation on the Mohawk, a gentle eleven mile long "portage" overland brought travelers to the headwaters of rivers flowing westward, into America's inland sea, the Great Lakes. This network of waterways opened all the northeastern interior to trade out of New York, allowing the Indians to get their furs to market in Europe, and "trade goods" to flow in. This route would be followed by America's most successful Canal, the Erie Canal, in 1825. The French had a monopoly on direct access to the Great Lakes region by controlling the mouth of the Saint Lawrence River.

The only comparable locality on the east coast of North America is the Chesapeake Bay in eastern Virginia.

Gloria Said:

When would you go to NYC - fall or spring (to study English)?

We Answered:

From April to July would allow for great weather, giving you more to do - there are tons of festivals, events, outdoor theatres, and shows in New York during the warmer months. That, and remember that it's an island, and Brooklyn and Queens are on Long Island, so you have a variety of beaches to visit.

However, I really prefer fall in New York. It's always been my favorite season since I was a kid here - the holidays are wonderful, New Year's is actually crowded and most native New Yorkers don't even spend it in New York or Manhattan so it gets annoying. It is colder, as well, but you'll probably get all of your touristy, walking around stuff done in October when you first get here, and it will be warmer, bearable weather at that point. There's always things to do, cold or warm weather - it all depends on your personal preferences.

Christine Said:

If you could choose to study English in any of these areas; which one would you choose and why?

We Answered:

I'd choose Boston, if I didn't care about cold weather. ;) According to this set of rankings, Harvard (which is located in Boston) is the number two university for studying English language and literature. (The number one university - John Hopkins University - is in Maryland, which isn't one of your choices). Since Harvard has an excellent reputation for other courses of study as well, I think you'll be guaranteed an excellent education even if you choose to change your major mid-way through your college career (as many students do; I certainly did, and so did my husband and half of my closest friends). By choosing a school with a well-rounded and strong academic reputation overall, you increase your chances of obtaining a good education regardless of your choice of major.

But there are many other factors to consider in your decision. I would also apply to multiple universities and consider who offered the most generous financial aid programs, unless cost is not an issue for you. Also, visit the campuses of the colleges you are most seriously considering before making a decision, if you can, just to make sure that you won't go into "culture shock" if you choose a college in a state dramatically different from the one in which you currently reside.

Good luck in your decision!

Edgar Said:

Going to study in New York?

We Answered:

unfortunately as an international student you won't be qualified for financial aid (grants, loans). The only financial assistance you would be able to get is a scholarship.

Jason Said:

I currently live in the UK, but I want to do an English degree in New York how do I do this?

We Answered:

Take a look at the websites for universities in the New York, under the 'academics' section look for the program you are interested in (all of them will have English as a major).

Then look under the section for admission as an international student and there you will find all of the information you need to apply to that university.