[Cornell]

Oh wow, found housing already? That's impressive! I'm a bit stressed about housing, not sure how to go about finding roommates, or if I will even be able to make it to Ithaca to look at places! I am going tomorrow to visit with my parents, but I feel like I am not ready to look at housing since I have no idea about who to live with and thus what size place to do! People in my program seem to wait until they come for TA training in July to find housing, but that makes me a bit nervous since I don't want to wind up in a crap-hole. So for now I am stressing! Gah!

Ya... i found a room in a house on craigslist.... seems really nice. There might be one room left. If your interested you can PM me.

[Cornell]

Just accepted my offer to Cornell. Phd in Government (theory). I am very very excited.

Best part is that i already found housing in Fall Creek. A big furnished room of amazingness!

Yay yay!

[Fall 2010 Admission Results]

I just turned down an offer to UCLA for theory... I dont know if that will make a difference to anyone (oh and it was an unfunded offer just btw).

Cornell University here i come.

[Fall 2010 Admission Results]

Accepted at the University of Houston with full funding (TA)

Think Houston is better than Texas Tech and Ole Miss? Opinions?

Ya... im for houston as well.... i actually grew up there - its a great city once you get to know the place.... U will of course need a car!!!

[Fall 2010 Admission Results]

Finally rejected by Chicago; completely expected at this point. I was admitted to MAPSS, which makes me feel a little better, at least.

I also got into the MAPSS - half scholarship (the tuition is ridiculous btw i think $43,000 a year). But with a full funding offer, its not really an option.

[I'm Planning to Visit...]

I would be happy to! I will probably send a message to you (and anyone else unable to make it) just so I don't clog up the thread/forum will another topic.

Ooh so please throw me on your list as well. I dont know if ill make it to the Cornell weekend either and id really love to know what you think.

[Ithaca, NY]

As a Cornell alum, current Ithaca resident and very likely future Cornell grad student, I just wanted to chime in on this thread.

I really, really love Ithaca. However, housing can be kind of a pain. It's WAY overpriced for the size of the town, and a lot of the apartments are really shabby and depressing. However, you can find nice places if you are persistent and know where to look. I'm starting this process right now, reluctantly. I am hoping to share a two bedroom with another incoming grad if I stay, because I need to be shaken out of my habits and get to know some new people if I'm signing on for another 5 years here.

Fall Creek is the best area to live as a grad/young professional, IMHO. It's near a campus shuttle that runs once every ten minutes during the week, the apartments tend to be nicer and cheaper, it's closer to the few good bars, the houses are charming, and there are nice antique stores and coffee shops in the area. Downtown has a little pedestrian mall, with restaurants and several festivals throughout the year.

AVOID Collegetown (undergrad ghetto south of campus), with the possible exception of State Street or below Stewart Ave. North is ok, but the bus service isn't really as helpful as landlords would have you think, although it's improved quite a bit since I've been here. Cayuga Heights would be a nightmare for getting to/from campus in the snow - mostly downhill from campus, no real bus service. East Hill has lots of new-ish, carpeted apartment complexes, but again, bus service may not be as good as it sounds, depending on your schedule. If you want to have a social life at all, it might be very difficult to do living in East Hill, North and Cayuga Heights.

There's not really parking on campus, and it's super expensive. You may be able to drive to campus late at night or on the weekends, but you will not be able to just drive to your lab on a Monday morning. Buses and hills really start to matter!

I don't know much about Hasbrouck. There seem to be a lot of grad families with babies. Also, they occasionally thrown undergrads in there when they admit too many; it's caused friction recently. I remember dismantling the XL bed frame in my dorm back in the day with little trouble. Bus service directly from Hasbrouck to campus runs from 7ish am to 6ish pm. Otherwise, it's more efficient to walk than to try catching the bus. Bus service to Collegetown and Downtown is improving - every 15 minutes on weekends, every 30-15 minutes during the week, depending on the time of day.

I'm trying to keep my post short - feel free to send me a message if you want more details about places to live.

Thanks. That was very helpful.

Do you happen to know anything about the Maple Park Apartments???? Just wondering because its the only student graduate housing on south campus. The north seems like a place of social life suicide.

[Fall 2010 Admission Results]

What a night. Came back from McDonalds (had the munchies) just after a night of drinking - to sort of celebrate my phone interview with Emory (just feeling good to go through with it) - and then to receive an email from Cornell.

It's in comparative politics.

Tally thus far.

Rejected: Stanford, Berkeley, NYU (Likely), Princeton, Wisconsin, UC Irvine (from advisor back at alma mater), Northwestern, UPenn (likely), Columbia (likely), Chicago (likely).

Interview: Emory.

Waiting: Brown, MIT.

So if my story can be an inspiration for anyone, all I can say is all it takes it one. Stay positive folks. I'm happy beyond belief.

Wow. Good News. I also got into Cornell. I cant wait to hear about the package.

3 rejects

2 acceptances

3 ????

[Cornell]

Not sure if i am going yet, but i got a very nice offer. So we shall seee.....