Well depending when your heading it's only 38 days - mental.
Just some advice to everyone heading to New York from what I've learned over the pas six months trying to sort out jobs and accommodation.
Jobs - Emails are useless!! I rang around a load of different places instead and while I didn't find a solid job I got talking to people who advised me where to look. While I seriously dislike Craigslist there's a load of jobs with open interviews listed where you can turn up and give it a shot on the day.
I know a few people who went over the last two years and bars/resturaunts/retail seem to be the best bet but there's also a massive amount of security jobs available if you fancy it - security guard in NYC..... Fuck that. To supplement your income and to get money for drink look at handing out leaflets ( shit money but you choose your own hours in many places and your outside) these are usually advertised on the subway but walk up and ask someone in time square (literally people everywhere handing them out)
Accommodation - Every post in here is talking about Woodlawn and wildwood which means roughly 450 J1 heads going to NY around the first of June will be floating around there looking for gaffs. Try the city! We found one near midtown in a savage location and it's working out less than 100 per week! Your more likely to get one in the city as a lot of people living in manhattan move out of the city for the summer (google vacation rentals).
If your going over without accommodation/jobs don't worry about it 70% of people who go on a J1 are in the same position. Hope this helps!
