Comment by hack1312

1 day ago

I really like this idea, but I’m not clear how the logistics work out. It’s “free” but 1.5 - 3 months in NYC is not cheap and would mean carrying double rent for that period of time on top of living expenses. Is there financial assistance or are participants expected to cover all of their own costs? If so doesn’t that make this only accessible to those quite well off already? That is, those who can afford to take off 1.5-3 months while covering the cost of living in one of the most expensive cities in the world. I see there’s a remote option but the in-person aspect of this really feels key to the experience.

Really not trying to be a spoil sport because the idea is incredible and worthwhile but I couldn’t find the answers looking at your website.

8 comments

hack1312

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kraken_cult  1 day ago

I think it's more for folks who were making ~150k starting in 2012-2018. Most of them can afford to keep a place in new york and take a sabbatical.

good-idea  14 hours ago

when I did my batch, almost everyone I met was scrappy. it was tinkerers, artists, hacker types, drawn by curiosity and the RC community. most had been laid off, were making a career change, or simply weirdos not on the usual ladder.

I got a cheap bedroom sublet through a former recurser and sublet my own place back home.

not your comment, but some replies below make it sound like RC would be otherwise, full of rich kids or "retreat" types maybe, but it's the opposite.

leaving work, paying NYC rent, yes it's all expensive but places like RC that create free spaces like this are part of the solution

nullbyte808  1 day ago

https://www.recurse.com/virtual-rc

  • hack1312  1 day ago

    > I see there’s a remote option but the in-person aspect of this really feels key to the experience.

    • pjg1  20 hours ago

      I've been part of RC community entirely remotely for a few years, and have no intentions of going to the hub yet. Being at the hub might be a better overall experience, but a remote batch alone was life-changing for me, so the mindset and principles can be very much felt and experienced online too. It takes more effort, but it is possible.

    • zahlman  21 hours ago

      Personally I'd be interested in trying it remotely, but I don't have a webcam and don't really want to transmit my voice or image over the Internet.