stuart

I felt sick to my stomach after mine too (two years ago). I woke up in a panic after having decided extremely late the night before (after a long, long drive). Reading these really brings back memories. My decision was a lot like yours, genesisy. You guys will be OK. Try to relax and be happy again about where you're going.

I have no personal experience with graduate housing, I'm afraid. So I can't comment at all on the quality or style of the apartments. Perhaps somebody else can? In any case, check out here of course: http://www.yale.edu/gradhousing/gateways/students.html As far as rates, the rates listed on the website are certainly not less expensive than off-campus housing. Perhaps the convenience of the apartments makes up for it, or perhaps they're nicer than average; I don't know. In any case, I think you could do better than the more expensive ones, but the less expensive ones are about comparable to market.

Congratulations! I think the money you list should be plenty. I pay just under $900 a month for a nice if somewhat old-fashioned one-room East Rock apartment (including heat). Food and stuff is expensive, but probably no moreso than elsewhere on the east coast. This is especially true if you have a car. You'll pay a no-car premium. As for the social scene, I too can't comment too personally, but there are certainly a lot of popular and busy downtown restaurants and bars, and the grad school has mixers and happy hours and such that usually seem to be very well attended. There are lots of graduate students, as was pointed out.

That's certainly possible, straightshooting. Though I will mention that I have lived in the downtowns of far larger cities than New Haven and greatly preferred them inasmuch as they were efficient and convenient to get around, either on foot or by car. But yes, some people may like New Haven's quirkiness I suppose. If you are one, then I hope my message was helpful in letting you know what kind of place it is. Two notes, though -- if you think that crime like New Haven's is "just how it goes in a city," then I'm sorry your urban experience has been so negative, and assure you that many of the United States's largest cities offer much more than you apparently have so far demanded of them. Second, even most of those in Yale who like a pedestrian, urban lifestyle far more than I do seem to be nonplussed by the unavailability of such basic necessities as food without going to the suburbs. Good luck!

I have lived in New Haven for over two years, going to graduate school. I've really disliked the city. I think people who don't are probably mainly undergrads who successfully remained in the Yale / downtown bubble, or people who just have bizarre tastes in towns. Some more specific thoughts. When I say I dislike New Haven, I am not suggesting you not come here if you got into Yale and are excited about it and strongly want to come for academic reasons. You can make NH work, and you can go to school and be happy here. Just be aware that the city will probably be detracting from that happiness, not adding to it, so if Yale is in a tie with another school, and city is the determining factor, I'd guess Yale probably loses. Why does New Haven suck? Well, most obvious would be the crime. It's never comforting to get messages biweekly or so from the campus police about how some Yale student (usually grad) was mugged. Note that I live in East Rock, and as other people have noted, it does feel safer, though my (short) street was terrorized by an armed robber for a few weeks, and my car has had the window smashed and been broken into while parked behind my apartment building. Next, it is crowded, traffic is terrible and badly engineered, and everything is expensive, including parking. On the other hand, if you are going to come to New Haven without a car, you should be aware that the town itself holds essentially none of the conveniences of modern life. The only supermarket near the downtown / Yale (arguably the only one in town) is about to close. There are no chain stores of essentially any type anywhere close to downtown (though some people probably find this charming); and the only cinema in town is expensive and spotty in coverage (it's as likely not to carry a blockbuster as to carry it. Upside: it does carry some obscure artsy stuff). One of the real comforts while living here has been getting out of town to the much superior suburbs. So, if you are going to come here, here are some nice places that have made life better for me. First, and notably, Wooster Street pizza. This may be the best thing about living in New Haven -- you must try it! Heck, if you live in NYC or Providence, you should come try it, too. Sally's is amazing, and Pepe's is pretty good. If you like late-night restaurants and have a car, there's an amazing diner in Branford, a 10 minute drive away. I-95 exit 55 and turn right at the end of the ramp. It's the best diner you'll ever have eaten at. There's also a movie theater on this exit, one that shows normal movies and is open late like normal theaters. Go to five mile point (the lighthouse). It's charming and cool and there are swings. Exit 8 on I-91 is your friend (turn right onto 80). So is exit 9 (turn left under the freeway and right onto Universal Drive). Between the two, you will find most of the modern conveniences you have come to expect while living in America, and come to miss while living in New Haven. Go eat at Swagat in West Haven -- it's right off route 1. It's wonderful and inexpensive Indian food with great service. Don't ask me -- check the New York Times review. And if you like Mexican food, check out the awesome "Taqueria Mexicano #2," also on Rte. 1 in West Haven. Well, that's all that occurs to me right now. These places have made life in New Haven a lot better, so I hope you enjoy them. Life here can be OK, but it's because it's life, not because it's here. Stuart PS. I wanted to add that my interactions with Yale itself have been much more positive. I feel bad if the above post tends to convince people not to come here, because the school has been good to me and has been, overall, a worthwhile experience. I just felt that a realistic and knowledgeable assessment of New Haven might be helpful.