Five of us college-aged girls are traveling to NYC between Christmas and New Years. I have been to NYC many times before, and feel like I have a pretty good idea of the city.
I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions on different places to go, eat, or shop that are "off the beaten tracks," unique to NYC, and are on a college budget.
Thanks so much!

Well, to suggest "off the beaten track" it would help to know where you've already been and consider ON the Beaten track

Places to go--Art Galleries? Museums? Clubs? (Are all you all over 21?) Are you from another big city--or would just walking around with the crowds be a lot of fun?

Where have you been that you liked or didn't like?

I would have a look at the web sites of Time Out New York and New York Magazine. Both list a host of activities. the latter is searchable by dat and by type of activity.

Since we don;t know what you've done or not - and what you like or not - this will let you search hundreds of options to see what strikes your fancy.

foodsofny.com tour of Greenwich Village. Accomplicenewyork.com is great fun. Another idea is phototrektours.com

You might want to explore some of Brooklyn.

PS there are some free walking tours mentioned here
nymag.com/cheap

I've done all the "touristy" things: Statue of Liberty, Times Square, Grand Central, Central Park, Empire State Building, etc. I've also been the the Museum of Natural History, explored Chinatown, Little Italy, SoHo, Greenwich Village, Ground Zero area, Financial District, 5th Avenue, Theatre District, Columbus Circle, a little of the Upper East Side, Morningside Heights around Colombia, and a little bit of Brooklyn around Grimaldi's Pizza.

I think my favorite thing to do is to walk around Chinatown for a while, then wander up Broadway to NYU's campus...I love walking around in Pearl River Market and all the other trendy stores along the way.

You don't mention the lower east side in your list of places you've visited. It's a very intersting area that has lots of history as well as lots of hip, new, young shops, restaurants and bars. Someone on Chowhound has done a self guided culinary tour. It's described here http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/417466

You'll also find the Tenement Museum (must reserve if you want to go in) and the New Museum http://www.newmuseum.org/
there. For young designers, edgeny.com is interesting and not far. I also notice the only museum on your list is the AMNH. If you haven't been to the Metropolitan, it's amazing. Even if you're not much into art and museums, just seeing the architecture and some of the rooms if very cool. Metmuseum.org

There are also loads of smaller museums that are easier to manage. The Frick is a favorite of many NYers and visitors. http://frickmuseum.org/
It's about 10 very walkable blocks from the Met on the upper east side.

PS, is this a day trip or do you have some place booked to stay? Be aware that many hotels will not allow under 21's to register. Just a heads up.