lmt007

I got into Teachers College at Columbia and am looking into housing. I would normally opt for graduate housing, but I have a small dog, and as far as I know, animals are only allowed in family housing. It kills me because I know I'll end up shelling out a lot more money for a place off-campus.
 
That said - bringing a small dog to NYC. Good idea? Bad idea? I've visited the city on a few occasions, but am not sure what the vibe is there towards animals. It's very important to me that my girl would have a safe and happy time there while I worked towards my degree. Any thoughts?

Deferring a year, but going to Teachers College.

Wow, excellent advice soapwater! I am leaning more and more towards TC... I don't think I'll be able to make it for the admitted student days, but if I end up there in August it'd be cool to meet up with some of you! I like beer any day of the week.

Discussing rent in NYC is like discussing the weather, so of course I don't mind.  Right now I'm on the cheaper end of things for Morningside Heights: $900 a month and $45 for all utilities, and my room is tiny. That said, I'm ideally located so the price is a bit distorted. The area is much more yuppy-ish compared to (true) Harlem and Manhattan Valley to the south and prices reflect that. Generally rooms in close proximity to Columbia start around $1100 here unsubsidized, but I'd say the average might be more around $1200. You probably won't be living in the immediate vicinity of Columbia unless you get subsidized housing, though.
 
People in Manhattan will say you live in Harlem if you're north of 96th no matter which side of the city you live on because of Spanish Harlem on the Upper East. Harlem on the west side is different, and neither side is particularly scary (it's the north-central area of Harlem that's the sketchiest).
 
North of Columbia starting around the 130s in Manhattanville you'll get equally expensive but probably larger accommodations ranging between $900-$1100 a month, or cheaper/sketchier accommodations ranging from $750-900. I'd be really skeptical of anything below $800, actually, but it's possible (and probably ill-advised). It's generally advisable to remain west of Morningside Park or Frederick Douglas/8th Ave on the west side but that area is amorphous and there are some awesome bars and cultural things there.
 
Below Columbia between 96th and 110th you can find good housing in the same price ranges, but between 94th and 106th east of Amsterdam (and west of CPW) are the projects and can be pretty (but not absurdly) sketchy. It's also a deadzone for bars and nearby things to do, although there's a new shopping development (including Whole Foods) around 97th on Columbus. 
 
Keep in mind, all these prices reflect having one or more roommates (probably at least 2). Studios even in Harlem start at $14-1600/mo for the least space/least desirable areas. Also, even though it's super pricey by any standard, you at least aren't paying the same transportation costs as you do elsewhere. Do not bring a car to NYC.
 
Overall, Manhattan is very safe and so is any area around Columbia. You can also choose to live in parts of Brooklyn on the periphery of Williamsburg, Astoria (Queens), or Sunnyside (also Queens) for even cheaper accommodations and plenty of culture.
 
From my initial research, subsidized/owned/affiliated housing by Columbia is a great price for the area, but still way more expensive than what you can find elsewhere.
 
Hope that's helpful!

Also your stats are terrible. Try aiming lower to see where you get into. Worked for me.

Buahahaha THANKS, OBAMA. Anyone else seen that video?
 
I have this paranoid visual of someone accidentally dropping my application down an elevator shaft and then shrugging it off like "eh..."
 
Given that everything is electronic now, I don't know why this idea haunts me.

Buahahaha THANKS, OBAMA. Anyone else seen that video?
 
I have this paranoid visual of someone accidentally dropping my application down an elevator shaft and then shrugging it off like "eh..."
 
Given that everything is electronic now, I don't know why this idea haunts me.

Buahahaha THANKS, OBAMA. Anyone else seen that video?
 
I have this paranoid visual of someone accidentally dropping my application down an elevator shaft and then shrugging it off like "eh..."
 
Given that everything is electronic now, I don't know why this idea haunts me.

Buahahaha THANKS, OBAMA. Anyone else seen that video?
 
I have this paranoid visual of someone accidentally dropping my application down an elevator shaft and then shrugging it off like "eh..."
 
Given that everything is electronic now, I don't know why this idea haunts me.

Buahahaha THANKS, OBAMA. Anyone else seen that video?
 
I have this paranoid visual of someone accidentally dropping my application down an elevator shaft and then shrugging it off like "eh..."
 
Given that everything is electronic now, I don't know why this idea haunts me.

Buahahaha THANKS, OBAMA. Anyone else seen that video?
 
I have this paranoid visual of someone accidentally dropping my application down an elevator shaft and then shrugging it off like "eh..."
 
Given that everything is electronic now, I don't know why this idea haunts me.