Lived at I. House for 2 years. It was a transformative experience and one that I can only urge people to follow. It amplifies one's NYC educational experience in ways that will have profound positive and lasting effects for a lifetime. That Brotherhood May Prevail. read more

I lived at International House for 3 years which is the maximum amount of time you can be a resident. I've had some wonderful experiences meeting new people and I have found a few great friends who were great roommates. The events and activities offered were really great, and I mainly attended the book discussions and health and wellness events. International House encourages its residents to learn more about all cultures with an open mind and an open heart and I've had some wonderful relationships with the employees including Lorraine and the people behind the front desk. There are a few things about International House that my roommates and I were very concerned about. These concerns mainly revolved around safety and the flexibility of the staff. For starters, there's a cafeteria at Ihouse that has great food that could be more nutritional but is still great. I loved the burger and fries as well as the salad bar. The staff is also very friendly and helpful. However, the information they have about allergens in their food is wildly inaccurate. I've heard that their potatoes in the morning have butter but I also heard that they didn't and I could never get an accurate answer. The food was also labeled incorrectly. Since I have food allergies, this sometimes triggered a reaction. If someone had an allergy that was life-threatening this could be serious. I have had meetings with staff and employees of the cafe and they have been very kind and accommodating, but I never saw any real changes. I also noticed that during the pandemic, that some of the staff weren't wearing their masks properly. I moved out during the beginning of the pandemic when it wasn't as serious of a concern but the staff has entered my apartment without their masks on properly, and next to the serious cockroach problem this could have been serious. The staff also entered the rooms without our consent. Sometimes I would be in a towel or I would be doing homework and I would hear the walkie-talkies coming in from the other room. Seeing as I'm a woman it makes me uncomfortable having a man walk into my apartment without my knowledge or consent. While I have plenty of health and safety concerns I gained so much from my experience at International House and am grateful for the opportunities and help I have received while receiving my Master's Degree. I have appreciated all that International House has done for me during my transition into being a more interdependent adult. read more

The noise makers are at it again. Early Sunday morning and, like every morning the leaf blowers in on, full force. Their goal is to prevent their clients and neighbors to have peace. Even on Sunday morning. Stay away from this place. All they do right is A TON OF NOISE. All the time. read more

I have been renting rooms in the US for six years since I was an undergraduate. I have to say that iHouse is the best place to live in. The relatively cheap room prices, clean and convenient food, 24-hour study rooms, sports facilities and entertainment rooms fulfilled all my fantasies about the accommodation environment as a student. Before I moved here, I rented a room in the neighborhood at almost double the price of the room, and sometimes had to endure the noise of roommates bringing people home at midnight, rude doormen and public facilities that were not maintained by anyone. Then I applied for iHouse, and I have to say that this is the best choice I made during my whole master's period. The food in iHouse is also healthy, and my enteritis has been relieved a lot since I came here. It is a pity that I can only stay in iHouse for 6 months. Due to the pressure of my graduation thesis, I didn't know too many people from IH in the last semester, but I still would like to recommend this wonderful place to everyone. I have to say there may be two problems here. One is that COVID-19 prevention in the South building is not very strict, and people on my floor sometimes borrow fever reducers from the group. It was a bit of a worry because we shared the bathroom on the same floor with the same gender people, so I often need to take off-peak showers to avoid being in a mask-free environment with other people around me. Another problem is that the heating on the 9th / 10th floor is a bit too hot. read more

I was hesitant when I decided to not stay on Columbia's campus and go with being housed here for the summer. I'm glad I didn't listen to the reviews here, as the negative ones seem unwarranted and very biased. I have to say that staying at i house is very affordable. It is a great short term living situation and the caliber of the people you are exposed to here become invaluable in your life experience. In the summer it's more Americans but there are still plenty of people who are international. I was worried that I'd get dramatic roommates or just problems, but both of my roommates have been amazing. And we have a lot in common. I don't know if they matched us up according to our academic interests and hobbies, but they did a good job if it was intentional. There's a dining hall, pub and many social activities. I live in the North House which tends to be in a bubble since you are in your apartment. I like that I am surrounded by people who really want to be here and study as well as have fun. There's a lot of summer events. I'm looking forward to the Yankees game. We went to Staten Island the weekend before. There's a lot of activities and experiences if you are open to them. I house is what you make it. And if you choose to see the glass half full, I can't see why anyone would dislike this experience. The rent you pay each month is definitely a steal. If you try to get a broker outside, they will take 15% commission and charge you for furnishing a place if you are short term. It's safer than air bnb and there's a lot of security. I'd highly recommend it if you are studying, interning or going to a conference or working on a short term project to apply here. You can't get prices like this. They run on donations and are a non-profit so a lot of things like rent are subsidized so grad students don't go broke while in one of the most expensive cities in the nation! All in all, I'd stay here again if I am in NYC. Totally worth the money and experience. read more

I'm a guest of a resident. I have to check in and surrender my ID (I used my expired driver's license) to stay overnight. They only allow 7 days/year max for overnight stay over and they give 2 days at a time. Super high security. That's great for residents, but a annoying for guests. I had to sleep on the dirty plastic tile floors. I usually can handle it, but not this place. The sink was rusted and ran brown water for a while. Restrooms don't have ventilation, so they have a mildew scent. On the 9th floor, it is super hot during the summer. At least there's cold water access. Roof access is only partial, but opened somewhat late on the 9th floor (9 or 10pm). This place has the potential for exploration for fun, but I can't share that. The staff would kick you out. read more

I'm not sure why there are so many negative reviews here. I-House, like everything else in life, is what you make of it. People who whine about their I-House experience probably whine about most other things as well. My original plan was to stay a year, and I am now in my third, so that shows you what a great and truly international community this is. It's so much more than a simple dormitory, with beautiful physical spaces, 700 residents who are from around the world and studying everything from engineering to fine arts to language instruction. It's extremely safe, convenient, clean and offers the chance to enjoy concerts, guest speakers, panels, cultural and dance festivals, leadership training, scholarships, and any number of sports or music activities. The neighborhood is perfectly safe, about 2 blocks from Broadway and the 1 train with plenty of local shopping. There is a cafeteria, gym, pub, laundry room (2) and in-house mailroom. What more could you ask for? It's an affordable, safe and life-enriching opportunity to live in a global community in NYC. Don't listen to the whiners! Find out for yourself. read more

The international house has been one of my favorite experiences in NYC and many other people say the same. It's such a welcoming and inclusive community and you never feel lonely here. I've met people from all sorts of different cultural backgrounds and I've grown so much as a person while here. Friends that I've made while living here, I will cherish forever. Mark has covered the amenities, which are great, but it's the people who make the living here absolutely special. At the dinner table, you will talk about anything and everything! The speakers we get are the top in their field: just in the past three months, we heard Samantha Powers, Janet Yellen, Ben Bernanke, Paul Volcker, George Takei. Only negative is the poor regulation of heat and air conditioning in the rooms on the 10th floor. read more

I lived at International House for the maximum of three years, and loved it so much that I choose to move into Columbia housing next door after I moved out. The website will tell you all about things like leadership training, "moral courage" etc, but the real reason that you want to live at International House is the community. Rather than spending grad school living in a random apartment where you barely know a soul, International House has a vibrant community where you'll make some of the best friends of your life. Tons of events are constantly organized by staff and residents (who apply to and are financially compensated for such roles) so that you can just show up and have a good time, then get right back to work once your done. Dinner trips, movie trips, escape room trips, ski trips, paintball trips, cultural festivals, musical performances (both inside and out of I-House), celebrity guests, the traditional Sunday Supper (formal dinner with hundreds of residents), board game nights, tons of parties etc etc. The individual rooms are small, but you actually have more privacy than in a typical apartment setup. If you're busy and/or need time alone and privacy for whatever reason, it's extremely easy to get it. I-House has an extremely vibrant community, but you take part in it on your own terms. Lots of amenities: dining room, music practise rooms, tons of study areas, lounges to relax in, a basketball court (where tons of sport events are held each week), gym, doorman, properly organized mail room. There are a lot of people posting frustrated reviews here, but bad experiences are very much the exception rather than rule. If everyone who actually lived in I-House got around to posting a review, you'd find the vast majority of people loved the experience. read more

I lived at I-House while completing my grad studies at Columbia University a few years ago. International House is pricey; however, there were limited options for me as a grad student for housing on such short notice after receiving my acceptance letter. Here's my critique of I-House and why I would never recommend it: - One of my suite-mates was a chain-smoker. Our suite constantly smelled of smoke in the common area. She also sometimes smoked in the suite when no one was there. Our RA told me I could move to a smaller, non-sweet if I wanted but she could do nothing about the smoking. Note: I-House has no way to request a non-smoker for a roommate/sweetmate. The single rooms with the shared bathrooms on the other side of the building are really small, like stereotypical NYC studio apt small. I would have been too claustrophobic in a room like that. I chose to stay where I was and deal with the smell, just keeping my door shut all the time. - Our toilets! Omg!!!! A few times a semester we would be told that our water would be going off for over a day because they had to do something with the old pipes there. So, the toilets would not flush. It was nasty! And you couldn't shower or get water to brush your teeth during this period. - The faulty Internet. Our Internet was not the greatest and would sometimes just cut off. It drove everyone nuts. I would sit in my pjs at night, working on my final papers wondering, "Will the Internet come back in an hour again? Or should I get changed and walk to the library back at Columbia?" There were some positives. Not enough to put weigh the bad, though: - I had some very nice neighbors in the sweet next to me. It's nice getting to meet people from all different cultures. - Dressing up all glam for the banquet once a semester. That was really fun. :) There was always some boring political keynote speaker. But it was free and there was really good food and lots of wine. And like I mentioned, you got to dress up. - The location is very convenient for getting to and from Columbia University. - And it was very nice having a "free" gym (you paid for it with your rent; so, it wasn't exactly free) right in the building and laundry there as well. Laundry was paid for with laundry cards. read more

The bar downstairs was always so much fun - met so many amazing people here, changed my life! Decent piano practice rooms as well.

Very interesting place to live in if you're staying here for at least 4 months. I would have never been exposed to that much diversity if I was living somewhere else. My flatmates are Turkish, Ecuadorean, and German. My neighbors are Indian, Australian and American. You'll meet people from different countries and backgrounds that's for sure. The activities are great and diverse. There's language exchange, lectures, fun outings and indoor and outdoor activities. It's also convenient to have a dinning room service whenever you don't feel like going out. And it's only 2 blocks away from the subway station! read more

Made a reservation through 'Eventbrite' for a film showing + apparently there was NO communication w/ this organization regarding acknowledgement for the general public to attend- yet there was NO indication on Eventbrite that this was exclusive for residents. 'Marshal'- security was disrespectful rude unprofessional. As a member of the U,N, Graduate of Columbia University- did not appreciate this to say the least. w/ all due respect- recommend going elsewhere Not polite Bot Nice read more

Staying in a guest suite. the room itself is very very nice, with an excellent view. however, it has been very cold for the hours i have been here. i complained to the manager and he told me that the boilers should only turn on if it is 40 degrees outside which is a bog lie since i checked the temperature requirements on nyc.gov and it says that below 55 degrees outside the room should be at least 68 degrees. anyways after i threatened to complain they turned the heat on for a little bit but it is still very cold. not sure what i will do at this point. I DO NOT recommend this place. also you have to cancel 3 BUSINESS days in advance so i have to pay a fee to cancel a room for monday and i called on thursday but they said that its less than three business days which i find pretty absurd. this place only wants your money. read more

I moved to NYC having lived in another set of International Houses of various sizes, and some affiliated with Universities that I have attended. It has been the most wonderful experience that I could have anticipated in NYC. Who Can Live Here? Internationals and Americans - but mostly graduates and interns. Possibly over the summer, there are younger students, however, by and large the people who come to live here are pursuing graduate school at Columbia, NYU, New School, Fordham, CUNY, and many others. Additionally, we have guest rooms that people can rent for short term stays at a fraction of the price in the rest of Manhattan. It is most ideal for people coming to go to school in NYC who might need a semester short term housing while they find an affordable apartment or roomshare situation elsewhere in the 5 borough area. Why IHNYC - It is for people who do like others, the staff who work here have been here for ages, and many have strong roots in the community. One staffer, Marshall, gives a splendid tour of Harlem, where many of the residents have never experienced, and other staffers offer helpful advice on where to eat, and where to visit in the area. To live here, you have to get the principle, do unto others - if you are friendly, you will find like minded folks. What can you look forward to when you get here? An abundance of smart, attractive people representing every corner of the world. You will often find that the cafeteria offers entrees from across the globe, and a staff that makes every day that much brighter. Dance is a big part of the House, with regular Ballroom and Salsa, and occasional BellyDance, Zumba Fitness, Yoga and Beach Body Workout. Every meal is a chance to travel to a different part of the world, and every time that you open a conversation, you are sure to learn more about yourself as a member of a global community. And the location is Riverside Drive and Claremont Avenue, with the cherry blossoms of Sakura Park and the green Frisbee spots of the Riverside Park, you are sure to have abundant fresh air while staying in the city. The Patio is now the site for many ice-cream socials and BBQs, I cannot wait for the Spring and Summer fare. A must stay place for world travelers who would like to perch for a while longer. read more

This review is based on my summer stay. Not a place I would recommend, either short or long term. Admission's does not communicate information well, especially with regards to costs. I too found out after I had signed the contract for the summer that the food hall, which I was required to pay daily for would be closed for 2 weeks of my stay...I still had to pay daily for the use of the food hall while it was closed. I'm contacting the NY attorney general to find out if this practice is a breach of contract on top of false advertising. The rooms are tiny, but that's nothing I hadnt planned for. Much of the facilities are dilapidated, and I did see a fair amount of (large) roaches. My biggest complaint is the rudeness of the admissions folks. Ask them a question, and they'll cut you off mid-sentence with a rude response (usually saying don't ask again for a week or two). They hold your $800 security deposit for 3-5 weeks post-departure which seems very odd, and when you ask if there are any charges against the deposit they tell you to wait until you see the refund to your account. The "weight room" is tiny, no free weights, only 4 or 5 machines and a couple treadmills. Oddly, its the only cold/cool place in the building. Bottom line, I could have paid $100 more per month and had a LOT more room somewhere else with better and newer facilities in a better area. The only folks I did enjoy meeting were the front-desk folks on the claremont side and Vincent in the food hall, but thats not enough for me to ever go back or recommend anyone else stay there. read more

What a joke. From roaches in dorm rooms to getting ripped off left and right. I've been here 3 weeks and wish I had been more diligent in finding housing. This place nickels and dimes you every step you take inside. If you lock yourself out of your room, there's a fee for staff to open it, if you want to bring your own a/c (there is none in the building) there is a fee for staff to inspect, a fee to install (mandatory), a fee to remove (mandatory), and a monthly fee to use. The dining hall is reasonable as far as food, but again they'll nickel and dime you every step ($0.35 for a paper cup). The rooms are probably 50 sq/ft so don't plan to stay at home much. I don't know how often the trash is taken out, but my floor smells badly for days at a time. The only pro is that its close to the subway. read more

I stayed in I-House twice, from academic year 2011-2012, and from January-April 2013. Those were some of the best times of my life. Needless to say, I'm surprised at the three bad reviews here. Perhaps the only ones who come here to review are those who are dissatisfied? When I checked in after a 24-hour flight, I was greeted heartily by reception staff, who immediately took my picture for the resident's card and brought me around on a building tour. I was then led to my room. The second time, I came to NYC and stayed somewhere else before going to the admissions department to enquire on vacancies. Both times, my room was clean, with fresh bedsheets, a pillow, and more than enough furniture. I've never had bugs in my room (there are bug screens and the doors shut automatically) and the common areas were cleaned regularly. The heating was comfortable and can be controlled to your liking. Rooms were tiny but comfortable. Residents get free printing (paper not provided), and Internet is included in the contract. There are events almost every day. My favorite were the Cultural Hours, which are monthly productions showcasing a country or a region, with free food before each performance. There are also music nights and events at the in-house bar (which is a pleasant place to be!), as well as excursions and retreats. I was introduced to opera at I-House, and was given the opportunity to meet many esteemed individuals. They also give out scholarships (I was lucky enough to receive one of their scholarships) which really help with living in expensive NYC. There are free ice cream nights (really good ice cream!), barbecues and stuff. I'm currently living at grad school housing at Harvard and let me tell you that as an international student, I'm feeling really disconnected. I keep looking back at my I-House days fondly and wish that I was back "home". The friends I made, the events I attended, the staff (yes, some of them could appear a little grouchy but just say hello and they'll warm up to you immediately), the food (yes, it's not all that great but I-House's flexible meal plan beats paying for a typical university mealplan that forces you to pay $4600 per academic year for 10 meals a week and which doesn't operate on all university holidays and term breaks). Perhaps American students may not like it as much (I notice they seem to be happier at dorms catered to mainly American students, like the one I'm currently in), but I-House is everything an International Student could ask for. Community (if you want it), privacy (you won't be "forced" to do anything you wouldn't want to), a dining hall timetable that doesn't ignore you (they actually operate on term breaks and on weekends, recognising that most international students don't return home for thanksgiving/Christmas/New Year's), etc. To the reviewer who complained about having to flash IDs to enter the building - well, that's just standard practice. So is the guest policy of retaining guests' photo IDs (which they will get back once they sign out). It's the same at NYU dorms, for instance, or many general university buildings. As for the other reviewer who talked about the people at Columbia being conceited - I-House caters to graduate students who attend any of the accredited institutes of higher education in the New York City area, not just Columbia. The students I've encountered have always been intelligent, passionate, friendly and motivated. But of course there will be those few who are overwhelmed by or who do not enjoy New York city or the schools they're in (that's to be expected anywhere). New York isn't the friendliest city on earth, but I-House certainly isn't unfriendly. (Well, I took the trouble to say hello to the staff I met... and as for Columbia, I went there for my MA degree and got so much out of it.) My only complaint would be that the admissions department doesn't quite respond to e-mails. This was rather frustrating because I urgently needed a place to stay, especially the second time I was there. Because they hadn't replied (I applied for a room after the standard admissions process), I had to find somewhere else to stay before visiting the admissions office in person. I lost a lot of money and peace of mind, but once I-House said they would accept me I felt such a sense of relief. I recommend I-House in a heartbeat. It's conducive to study (there are various study areas), located at the doorstep of Columbia University/Teacher's College/Barnard College/Manhattan School of Music/Jewish Theological Seminary/Union Theological Seminary as well as the train station, and is safe. International students don't have the option of checking out apartments before flying to the US so finding housing can be really stressful, but you can't go wrong with I-House. It's a little expensive, but it's so worth it. read more

I have been fortunate, as an International Student, being offered a scholarship, to not only study in the incredible city of New York, but also to live at this diverse and interesting place. International House is a non profit graduate housing institution that is the temporary home of around 700 graduate students at any given time. It's chief goal is to provide a community between people from all over the world, and to me, it has achieved that goal over and over again! There are two sections, one is private rooms in the South building that are small but fully furnished and adequate for student living. The North building caters for apartment living with studio apartment, one, two three and four bedroom apartments. Every graduate student applying chooses where they would like to stay according to facilities and the prices range accordingly. I have loved my stay at International House, New York, and this is my third year here. read more