Eupa

Thanks! I just checked on Google Maps and am wondering...is Willy Street walkable from campus? And the farmers market is a fantastic idea! Thanks for that one.

I am going to be visiting Madison on the last weekend of March. Can anyone tell me what kind of weather I can expect during my 3-day visit? Also, I have virtually a full day to explore on my own, sans car or bus pass, before school events start. Does anyone have any recommendations on what neighborhoods to explore? I am looking forward to walking around the city and getting lost

Congratulations!! I received my rejection from them on Tuesday it was, I believe. Kinda bums me out even though in the end I probably wouldn't have chosen to go there. Congrats again and thanks for the info!

I finally got a response from Rochele, the admissions coordinator, whom I'd emailed asking for my application status. She said I could expect an official decision by email in the next 2-3 days. The GSE website says that notifications are by mail, though. Do you think the FAQ section just hasn't been updated? I also got the impression that only rejections are sent by email and acceptances by mail...then perhaps this is a bad sign? Does anyone have any news or insight on this?

Oh goodness this is just too stressful! I applied to POME MA/Ph.D. and have been trying to wait very patiently for them to contact me. I feel like the office has been very tight-lipped to those who have called and shared their experiences on this thread though. It's already Friday, so I guess I need to suffer through another weekend of this? Eek.

Can I ask what program you applied for? Or do you think this applies to all of them?

Thanks! When do you think I should start looking for an apartment? And what is the best method? I'm living on the west coast so it would be most convenient if I could somehow search here through online sources...but I know that Craigslist is not necessarily the most complete listing. Also, as you are a non-student, would you happen to have any insight on the current job market there? My boyfriend wants to move there with me but I'm hesitant about this because I'm not sure what kind of job he could find there and how soon. And one last question - it seems that the bus system within Madison is good enough to get around on for most occasions. Do you know if there are trains or buses that will take you to/from Milwaukee? Or Chicago? Thanks very much

As an undergraduate, I did not feel I needed a car for most of my time in Berkeley. However, in my last year I did think that having a car would have broadened my experiences a bit. There are lots of interesting things to do and places to visit in the Bay Area, and having a car makes it that much easier for you to experience those things. For example, if you're an outdoorsy kind of person, it would be difficult to reach the great hiking areas in NorCal without a car. If you enjoy exploring different restaurants, having a car will reduce the headache of constantly planning for the pitfalls of public transit (frequency and transfers, mostly) when going to a new place. You may also feel safer if you drive and can avoid longer walks to/from BART stations and bus stops at night. Though it is *much* more feasible to get around with just public transit in Berkeley than in other places, the convenience of a car is still something to consider. However, you should keep in mind that: -it will cost you extra (can go up to ~$100/mo for covered spaces, though it can also be as low as ~$60; another option is to get a parking permit for your neighborhood and park on the streets...I want to say it's $30/yr, but don't hold me on that) -parking will be difficult and/or expensive at times -bridges = fees -gas is expensive-ish there -there is a risk your car will get broken into (it happens more than I'd like to admit, but it's just a risk you learn to live with) Also, though I can't say for sure because I never tried to rent a studio, I'm a bit doubtful that you will be able to find a decent studio in the area for $700 - and if you do, you would most likely have to pay for water, heat, electricity, and trash! Just based on other friends' experiences, I would imagine $900-1100 is a good working range. Though at $1100, you better be blown away by the place!

Me too! I'm waiting on two other schools but am convinced I will not hear good news from them. And even if I do, I doubt they will offer me enough $ to sway me from Madison. I am going to visit on the last weekend of March, but a weekend is definitely not enough time to get an impression of the town! I am especially curious to know how and when to search for an apartment there. Judging from last year's comments, the Williamson/Jenifer Street area seems to be popular among graduate students. I also want to know what's a fair rent - I studied in NorCal for undergraduate, so anything in the triple digits for an apartment seems amazing to me, but I know that's not right... Also, could anyone offer some tips to find an apartment in Madison while in California? I don't think I can take the time off work to go over, look around, and sign a lease.