janusnori

I agree with the two posters above, it definitely is a consensus: if you are coming to Austin, stay clear of Riverside and West Campus and try to find a place in North Campus/Hyde Park area. When I had an apartment in that area, the rent was lower, the place quieter and the over all experience better. Its definitely the area to aim for.

Frankly, in my opinion, most of the talk about the "bad parts" of Austin (specifically the areas that UT shuttles service) is due to racism. Austin is still a highly segregated city, cross I-35 and you enter into the historically black part of town. That combined with the depressed economic situation in that area of town causes a lot of people to decry it as a "bad area." I know many people that live in this area as students, and none have had any problems, while people living in the more rich/white/student-y places have had a lot of trouble with theft. I think you'll be just fine finding a place along one of those shuttles, and your rent will be cheaper too.

I don't know, I don't think that it has lost too much of its indie vibe as long as I have been here. I mean I would say that it has probably gotten a bit more crowded, and as a result there has been more big names/non-indie stuff in the area. However, there is still a pretty big indie music scene and lots of people that insist on the local mantra "Keep Austin Weird." So basically to answer your question, I don't think that it has changed very much since you left in 05. I'm currently completing my undergrad at UT so if anyone has any questions, I'll be happy to help.

The Madison thread seems to have died since the 2006 season, any more information about the city in the last couple years? I haven't seen any mention about ethnic/asian restaurants in Madison, does anyone know of any good ones in the city? I know rent here in Austin has been increasing over the last couple years, has a similar effect been happening in Madison? What do rents look like now days for studio/one-bedroom?

Woo hoo!Well since I didn't receive anything today from grad schools, this is the best news I've gotten today! Thanks! Oh and in regards to UW-M funding, I sent a note to the department and they said that they won't be making any decisions about funding (other than the fellowships that they already sent out) until after April 15th when they know exactly who will be attending. At that point, they will send out an application to TA and any RA job listings they have from professors. In my opinion it is very crappy to withhold that information until after I have to make decisions (although at this point I guess I shouldn't be assuming I'll have to make any decisions =) )

I know! Considering their website says that they don't offer TA positions to incoming grad students, I figure thats the only way that I am going to receive any funding there, but I guess not... Oh, and who was the person that got the email from Washington? Did it seem like an email sent out to all the acceptances.. cause if so.. then I guess thats that.