ニューヨーク・パーチェイスでの留学生活:知っておきたい6つの特徴
静寂な森に包まれたキャンパスでの学びと、エネルギッシュなマンハッタンへのアクセス。パーチェイス(Purchase)は、集中して自分を磨きたい日本人留学生にとって、実は隠れた「理想郷」です。治安の良さと、日本顔負けの便利なインフラが共存するこの街の魅力を紐解きます。
1. 「学びの聖域」と「生活の拠点」を使い分ける二重構造
パーチェイスは、世界的な大企業の本社が点在する緑豊かな「富裕層の村」です。キャンパス内は驚くほど静かで、夜遅くまで開館している図書館など、学業に没頭できる環境が整っています。一方で、日常の買い物や週末の息抜きは隣接する「ホワイトプレーンズ(White Plains)」がハブとなります。バス一本で、静寂な村から百貨店や映画館が立ち並ぶ都市部へ。このオンとオフの切り替えが、留学生活の質をぐっと高めてくれます。
2. 「家賃30万円超」の壁。賢い選択はキャンパス内居住
現地の家賃相場は全米平均を50%も上回り、ホワイトプレーンズのアパートなら月3,000ドル(約46.5万円)が当たり前の世界です。さらに、留学生にとって最大の障壁は「月額家賃の80倍の年収がある保証人」を求められるという厳しい審査です。そのため、多くの留学生にとって、光熱費込みで審査不要の「大学寮」が最も現実的で安全な選択となります。寮なら、家具の準備や光熱費の契約に悩むことなく、初日から学業に集中できます。
3. 日本食と日本語医療。「海外生活の不安」を打ち消す安心感
パーチェイス周辺は、全米でも有数の「日本人にとって住みやすい」エリアです。隣町のハーツデールには巨大な韓国系スーパー「H Mart」があり、日本の調味料やお米、薄切り肉まで手に入ります。さらに特筆すべきは、日本語で受診できる「マウントサイナイ日本人医療プラクティス」が近くにあること。言葉の壁がある医療現場で、日本人の先生に診てもらえる安心感は、何物にも代えがたい「お守り」になるはずです。
4. 交通のライフライン、Bee-Lineバスと「空港選び」のコツ
車を持たない留学生にとって、街を走る「Bee-Lineバス」が生命線です。特にRoute 12は、大学・街・空港を繋ぐ重要な路線です。日本からの渡米時、多くの人はJFK空港を選びがちですが、実はキャンパスから車で10分の「ウェストチェスター郡空港(HPN)」が便利。米国内で乗り継ぎが必要ですが、JFKからの高額なタクシー代(2万円以上)や複雑な電車移動を避け、スマートに新生活を始められます。
5. 学費だけじゃない。公立と私立で異なる「保険料」の罠
留学先として人気の「SUNY Purchase(公立)」と「Manhattanville(私立)」では、年間の総費用に約400万円以上の開きがあります。ここで見落としがちなのが「医療保険料」です。Manhattanvilleの保険料は年間約5,000ドル(約78万円)と、SUNYの倍以上。一見高く感じますが、その分、病院での自己負担額が抑えられている場合もあります。見積もりの表面的な数字だけでなく、自分の健康状態に合わせた「実質コスト」の精査が重要です。
6. 四季の美しさと、「想像を超える冬」への備え
秋の紅葉に包まれたキャンパスは息をのむ美しさですが、ニューヨークの冬は本気です。1月から3月にかけては氷点下10度を下回ることもあり、膝まで積もる雪(スノーバースト)でバスが止まることも珍しくありません。渡米直後に「最強のダウンジャケット」と「スノーブーツ」を揃えることが、快適な留学生活を送るための必須ミッションです。一方で、夏は日本の夏服で過ごせますが、屋内は冷房が強烈なため、カーディガンなどの羽織りものが手放せません。
パーチェイスに関する豆知識
留学生を狙った「公的機関」を装う詐欺に注意
アメリカでは留学生をターゲットにした詐欺が横行しています。特に「移民局(USCIS)や税務署(IRS)を名乗り、ビザの不備を理由に送金を要求する電話」には要注意です。公的機関が電話で支払いを求めることは100%ありません。 不審な連絡があったら、一人で悩まずすぐに大学の「国際課(DSO)」へ相談しましょう。
アルバイト事情:学内なら時給2,500円以上も!
F-1ビザでは学外でのアルバイトは禁止されていますが、学内(図書館、事務局など)なら週20時間まで働けます。ウェストチェスター郡は最低賃金が高く、時給16.5ドル(約2,558円)からスタート。学内公募システム「Handshake」をこまめにチェックして、英語力を活かせるポジションを探してみるのも良い経験になります。
週末の楽しみ:マンハッタンへ片道45分の旅
ホワイトプレーンズ駅からメトロノース鉄道に乗れば、約45分でマンハッタンのグランド・セントラル駅へ到着します。平日は静かな環境で勉強し、週末は世界最先端のアートやグルメを楽しむ。この絶妙な距離感こそが、パーチェイス留学の醍醐味です。
留学準備に役立つリンク集
- https://www.purchase.edu/offices/living-on-campus/building-and-room-information/room-rates/
- https://www.purchase.edu/admissions/accepted-students/international/
- https://www.mville.edu/admissions-and-aid/student-accounts/tuition-and-fees.php
- https://www.mville.edu/admissions-and-aid/student-accounts/student-accounts-meal-plan-and-housing-2025-26.php
- https://mville.smartcatalogiq.com/en/current/undergraduate-catalog/tuition-and-fees/residence-hall-fees
- https://www.zillow.com/rental-manager/market-trends/white-plains-ny/
- https://www.zillow.com/white-plains-ny/apartments-1-bedrooms/
- https://www.zillow.com/white-plains-ny/rent-houses-1-bedrooms/
- https://www.zillow.com/white-plains-ny/apartments-1-bedrooms/2_p/
- https://www.zillow.com/white-plains-ny/apartments/2_p/
- https://www.apartments.com/rent-market-trends/harrison-ny/
- https://www.spareroom.com/rooms-for-rent/westchester_county/white_plains
- https://www.roomies.com/rooms/white-plains/students-welcome?page=4
- https://www.apartments.com/white-plains-ny/rooms-for-rent/
- https://www.reddit.com/r/Westchester/comments/1awavho/rough_ballpark_on_utility_cost_for_a_720_sqft/
- https://www.brickunderground.com/blog/2014/10/solutions_when_you_dont_have_a_guarantor
- https://ag.ny.gov/sites/default/files/changes-in-nys-rent-law.pdf
- https://www.airnow.gov/
- https://www.airnow.gov/state/?name=new-york
- https://aqicn.org/city/usa/newyork/white-plains/
- https://www.purchase.edu/offices/parking-and-transportation/buses/area-transportation/
- https://www.expedia.com/Things-To-Do-In-White-Plains.d603214.Travel-Guide-Activities
- https://www.visitwestchesterny.com/about-westchester/communities-local-flair/mid-county/white-plains/
- https://www.reddit.com/r/Westchester/comments/16gpv4n/food_recs_in_white_plains/
- https://www.rome2rio.com/s/White-Plains/Grand-Central-Terminal
- https://airport.westchestergov.com/ground-transportation/public-transit
- https://transportation.westchestergov.com/bee-line/timetables-and-maps
- https://www.chase.com/locator/banking/us/ny/white-plains/134-mamaroneck-ave
- https://www.chase.com/locator/banking/us/ny/white-plains/100-corporate-park-dr
- https://www.chase.com/locator/us/ny/white-plains
- https://locators.bankofamerica.com/ny/whiteplains/
- https://tools.usps.com/locations/details/1387522
- https://tools.usps.com/locations/details/1372021
- https://tools.usps.com/locations/details/1375481
- https://www.target.com/sl/white-plains/1358
- https://www.target.com/c/furniture/-/N-5xtnr
- https://www.furniture.com/stores/new-york/white-plains/ikea
- https://www.ikea.com/us/en/cat/furniture-fu001/
- https://stores.stopandshop.com/ny/white-plains
- https://stores.stopandshop.com/ny/white-plains/154-westchester-avenue
- https://locations.traderjoes.com/ny/scarsdale/531/
- https://www.wegmans.com/stores
- https://www.hmart.com/store/hartsdale-ny-10530/7f86b7f7-3867-4a0c-85dd-b73563faa447
- https://www.hmart.com/stores
- https://www.hmart.com/weekly-ads/new-york-new-jersey
- https://www.hmart.com/weekly-ads
- https://www.sayweee.com/en/grocery-delivery/new%20york
- https://www.sayweee.com/en
- https://www.sayweee.com/en/groceries/ny/purchase/chinese
- https://www.sayweee.com/en/grocery-near-me/asian-supermarket-in-usa/new-york/city-new-york/indian-store
- https://www.sayweee.com/en/grocery-near-me/asian-supermarket-in-usa/new-york/city-new-york
- https://weatherspark.com/y/24834/Average-Weather-in-Purchase-New-York-United-States
- https://wanderlog.com/weather/65532/8/purchase-weather-in-august
- https://planning.westchestergov.com/hazard-mitigation-planning
- https://planning.westchestergov.com/environment/2016-01-28-16-16-46/hazard-mitigation-plan
- https://planning.westchestergov.com/environment/2016-01-28-16-16-46/hazard-mitigation-plan-downloads
- https://planning.westchestergov.com/images/stories/pdfs/HazardMitigation/sec545.pdf
- https://planning.westchestergov.com/images/stories/pdfs/HazardMitigation/5_4_5SevereWinterStorm.pdf
- https://mitigateny.org/county/westchester
- https://www.niagaracounty.gov/departments/a-f/emergency_services___fire_coordinator/resources/ny_alert.php
- https://www.dhses.ny.gov/emergency-alerts
- https://www.purchase.edu/offices/registrar/academic-calendar/2025-26/
- https://www.purchase.edu/offices/registrar/academic-calendar/2026-27/
- https://www.purchase.edu/faculty-handbook/planning-the-course-syllabus/academic-calendar/
- https://www.purchase.edu/admissions/international-students/
- https://www.purchase.edu/live/blurbs/1808-test-optional-policy
- https://content.manhattan.edu/registrar-files/Academic%20Calendar%202025%20-%202028.pdf
- https://www.mville.edu/offices/registrar/academic-calendars.php
- https://mville.smartcatalogiq.com/en/current/undergraduate-catalog/tuition-and-fees/full-time-undergraduate-students-tuition-and-fees
- https://manhattanville.oudeve.com/admissions-and-aid/student-accounts/cost-of-attendance.php
- https://www.mville.edu/life-at-mville/international-students-and-study-abroad/international-student-services.php
- https://www.mville.edu/admissions-and-aid/admissions/first-year-admissions.php
- https://www.mville.edu/admissions-and-aid/admissions/graduate-soe-admissions.php
- https://www.clastify.com/blog/score-requirements/manhattanville-college
- https://www.purchase.edu/library/hours/
- https://www.purchase.edu/library/about/maps-study-zones/study-zones/
- https://purchase.libanswers.com/faq/354186
- https://mville.libcal.com/
- https://mville.smartcatalogiq.com/en/2019-2020/graduate-catalog-2019-2020/student-services/library-information-services/expanded-hours
- https://www.harrisonpl.org/meeting-rooms-policy
- https://www.purchase.edu/offices/global-education/contact-us/
- https://www.purchase.edu/offices/global-education/
- https://www.purchase.edu/offices/international-programs-and-services/faculty/about-international-students/
- https://system.suny.edu/global/contact/campus/
- https://system.suny.edu/global/contact/campus/
- https://www.mville.edu/life-at-mville/international-students-and-study-abroad/current-international-students.php
- https://www.mville.edu/life-at-mville/student-support-services.php
- https://mville.smartcatalogiq.com/en/2018-2019/undergraduate-college-catalog/student-services/student-affairs/office-of-international-students-and-scholars
- https://www.purchase.edu/offices/student-involvement/clubs-and-organizations/
- https://www.purchase.edu/offices/student-involvement/multicultural-center/cultural-clubs/
- https://www.purchase.edu/offices/disability-resources/
- https://www.purchase.edu/live/blurbs/976-students-with-disabilities
- https://www.purchase.edu/offices/disability-resources/cornerstone-connect/
- https://www.mville.edu/offices/center-for-student-accessibility.php
- https://mville.edu/offices/center-for-student-accessibility/Faculty%20Tip%20Sheet%20revised%20FA2025.pdf
- https://mville.smartcatalogiq.com/en/2023-2024/undergraduate-catalog/school-of-education-academic-information/accommodations-for-students-with-disabilities-and-the-help-program
- https://www.mville.edu/offices/center-for-student-accessibility/valiant-learning-support.php
- https://www.purchase.edu/offices/student-involvement/multicultural-center/resources/transgender-community/
- https://www.purchase.edu/counseling-and-behavioral-health-services/for-students/lgbtq-resources/
- https://www.purchase.edu/offices/student-involvement/multicultural-center/transgender-community-resources/
- https://purchase.campuslabs.com/engage/organization/lgbtqu
- https://www.mville.edu/life-at-mville/student-health-and-counseling/health-services.php
- https://mville.smartcatalogiq.com/en/2023-2024/undergraduate-catalog/student-services/student-affairs
- https://www.rome2rio.com/s/Suny-Purchase-College-Entrance/White-Plains-Airport-HPN
- https://www.rome2rio.com/s/New-York-JFK-Airport-JFK/White-Plains
- https://www.uber.com/global/en/r/routes/jfk-to-white-plains-ny/
- https://www.reddit.com/r/Westchester/comments/vqhcqa/how_to_get_to_white_plains_from_jfk/
- https://www.mta.info/agency/metro-north-railroad
- https://www.rome2rio.com/s/Harrison-Station-Metro-North/Grand-Central-42nd-Street-Station
- https://www.mta.info/fares-tolls/lirr-metro-north
- https://www.mta.info/document/118746
- https://www.purchase.edu/offices/parking-and-transportation/buses/
- https://transportation.westchestergov.com/fares-and-metrocard
- https://transportation.westchestergov.com/all-about-metrocard
- https://transportation.westchestergov.com/omny
- https://www.reddit.com/r/Westchester/comments/1o7gtfh/they_are_phasing_out_metro_cards_by_the_end_of/
- https://www.mamkschools.org/uploaded/Transportation/Questions_and_Answers_for_Bee_Line_Bus_Program_7_27_16.pdf
- https://resources.finalsite.net/images/v1601405811/mamkschoolsorg/grwfzdtbz2c1gipb0ooq/QuestionsandAnswersforBeeLineBusProgramREVISED2020.pdf
- https://www.purchase.edu/offices/parking-and-transportation/buses/campus-shuttles/
- https://transitapp.com/en/region/nyc/bee-line/bus-12
- https://moovitapp.com/index/en/public_transit-line-12-NYCNJ-121-11515-767946-0
- https://www.rome2rio.com/Train/Harrison-NY-USA/Grand-Central-42nd-Street-Station#:~:text=Harrison%20to%20Grand%20Central%E2%80%9342nd%20Street%20Station%20train%20times,Street%20Station%20at%2000%3A14.
- https://www.dutchessny.gov/Departments/Traffic-Safety/bicycle-safety.htm
- https://www.cayugacounty.us/792/For-Bicyclists
- https://www.ontariocountyny.gov/951/Bicycle-Helmets-and-Safety
- https://nyassembly.gov/write/upload/req/bike_safety.pdf?v=1738342596
- https://broomecountyny.gov/sites/default/files/dept/parks/images/2024_NYBC_Pocket_Guide_DWNLD.pdf
- https://www.adirondack.net/biking/safety/
- https://www.purchase.edu/live/blurbs/1135-skateboarding-skating-and-bicycling
- https://www.purchase.edu/campus-life/dining/
- https://www.purchase.edu/offices/more-card/meal-plans/
- https://www.mville.edu/admissions-and-aid/student-accounts/student-accounts-meal-plan-and-housing.php
- https://www.purchase.edu/live/profiles/3653-curricular-practical-training-cpt
- https://www.purchase.edu/live/profiles/3654-optional-practical-training-opt
- https://inside.manhattan.edu/student-life/international-services/employment/pre-post-completion-of-study.php
- https://support.joinhandshake.com/hc/en-us/articles/234759088-Search-for-On-Campus-Positions-in-Handshake
- https://mville.smartcatalogiq.com/en/2023-2024/undergraduate-catalog/student-services/facilities-and-resources/campus-employment-program
- https://www.purchase.edu/offices/career-development/find-jobs-and-internships/part-time-and-campus-jobs/
- https://www.purchase.edu/live/profiles/3619-on-campus-employment
- https://www.mville.edu/career-development/student-employment.php
- https://www.nycbar.org/get-legal-help/article/employment-and-labor/minimum-wage/
- https://dol.ny.gov/minimum-wage
- https://www.foxrothschild.com/publications/new-york-employers-face-increases-in-wage-requirements-in-2026
- https://dol.ny.gov/minimum-wage-tipped-workers
- https://mommypoppins.com/kids/family-friendly-restaurants-in-white-plains
- https://stacker.com/stories/new-york/westchester-county/highest-rated-cheap-eats-white-plains-diners
- https://wanderlog.com/list/geoCategory/194315/best-cheap-eats-in-westchester-county
- https://www.passportinphotos.com/blog/top-5-best-day-trips-to-upstate-new-york-from-new-york-city
- https://www.reddit.com/r/Westchester/comments/1jyv8z7/favorite_long_weekend_getaway_within_2_hours_drive/
- https://www.timeout.com/newyork/travel/weekend-getaways-from-nyc
- https://www.icla.ygu.ac.jp/en/admission-process/student-visa/
- https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/study/student-visa.html
- https://www.internationalstudent.com/immigration/f1-student-visa/
- https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/Supplements/Supplements_by_Post/TKY-Tokyo.html
- https://jp.usembassy.gov/visas/
- https://jp.usembassy.gov/fmj-interview-waiver/
- https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10181.pdf
- https://oiss.yale.edu/employment-taxes/applying-for-a-social-security-number-or-itin
- https://inside.manhattan.edu/student-life/international-services/international-student-faq.php
- https://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/students/work/individual-taxpayer-identification-number-itin
- https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/taxpayer-identification-numbers-tins-for-foreign-students-and-scholars
- https://www.purchase.edu/offices/nysup/logs-and-records/the-jeanne-clery-disclosure-of-campus-security-policy/
- https://www.mville.edu/offices/campus-safety-and-security/2023%20ASR%20Annual%20Security%20Report.pdf
- https://www.clerycenter.org/the-clery-act
- https://www.purchase.edu/right-to-know/public-reports/
- https://www.purchase.edu/offices/nysup/logs-and-records/
- https://ag.ny.gov/press-release/2025/attorney-general-james-and-department-health-commissioner-dr-mcdonald-issue
- https://www.attorneygeneral.gov/protect-yourself/consumer-advisories/beware-of-scams-targeting-college-and-graduate-students/
- https://dos.ny.gov/news/consumer-alert-new-york-department-states-division-consumer-protection-shares-safety-and-scam
- https://nyassembly.gov/write/upload/req/tenants_rights_nys.pdf
- https://www.nyc.gov/content/tenantprotection/pages/new-protections-for-all-tenants
- https://www.lawny.org/node/72/security-deposits
- https://ag.ny.gov/sites/default/files/tenants_rights.pdf
- https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/GOB/7-108
- https://askalawlibrarian.nycourts.gov/legalresearch/faq/401798
- https://kohanlawgroup.com/how-to-legally-break-a-lease-in-new-york-without-major-penalties/
- https://www.outerbridgelaw.com/blog/landlords-duty-to-mitigate-damages-in-nyc-leases/
- https://law.justia.com/codes/new-york/rpp/article-7/227-e/
- https://ag.ny.gov/publications/residential-tenants-rights-guide
- https://www.outerbridgelaw.com/blog/nyc-rental-move-in-checklist-for-landlords/
- https://www.salisbury.edu/administration/student-affairs/guerrieri-student-union/_files/movein-moveout-checklist.pdf
- https://www.legalsurvival.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Move-In-Move-Out-Checklist.pdf
- https://www.albany.edu/international-student-scholar-services/post-completion-opt-request
- https://isso.columbia.edu/content/f-1-cpt-curricular-practical-training
- https://www.mville.edu/career-development/career-development-employers.php
- https://www.brockport.edu/live/events/305998-iew-cpt-opt-workshop
- https://www.purchase.edu/offices/global-education/international-students/
- https://www.wphospital.org/locations/white-plains-hospital-emergency-department/
- https://www.wphospital.org/locations/
- https://www.wphospital.org/services/emergency-room/
- https://www.wphospital.org/services/urgent-care/
- https://www.citymd.com/urgent-care-locations/ny/white-plains
- https://www.summithealth.com/locations/summit-health-westmed-urgent-care-white-plains
- https://whiteplainsurgentcare.com/
- https://www.healthgrades.com/pharmacy/cvs-pharmacy-01770-pdf7qd
- https://www.wellrx.com/find-a-pharmacy-near-me/pharmacydetail/cvs%20pharmacy/3341827/
- https://www.waze.com/live-map/directions/cvs-pharmacy-mamaroneck-ave-24-white-plains?to=place.w.187564442.1875841031.506443
- https://www.purchase.edu/live/files/3330-unitedhealthcare-inbound-medical-and-dental-brochure
- https://www.mville.edu/admissions-and-aid/student-accounts/student-accounts-health-insurance.php
- https://www.purchase.edu/offices/health-services/health-insurance/
- https://www.aetnastudenthealth.com/en/manhattanville/index.html
- https://www.aetnastudenthealth.com/
- https://www.mountsinai.org/locations/msd-japanese-medical-practice
- https://www.mountsinai.org/locations/westchester
- https://www.mountsinai.org/locations/westchester/locations/hartsdale
- https://profiles.mountsinai.org/maki-kano
- https://www.ny.us.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_en/aboutus.html
- https://www.ny.us.emb-japan.go.jp/itprtop_en/index.html
- https://www.jmsa.org/
まとめ
パーチェイスでの留学は、都会の喧騒から離れて自分を磨きつつ、必要な時には日本語のサポートや都市の利便性を享受できる、非常にバランスの良い選択です。英語や現地の生活に不安を感じるのは当然ですが、ここにはその不安を補って余りある安心の環境が整っています。一歩踏み出すあなたの挑戦を、心から応援しています!
(※リサーチ日:2026年1月5日)