shaina

I did the same exact thing in the summer & fall and I agree with everything you said, exactly. Elizalou, Davis is an awesome place to live and you may actually enjoy being a bit removed from the college-y vibe in the neighborhoods near BU and the tourist mobs that inundate Fenway in the fall. If you like to bike, you could also shave 20-ish minutes off of your commute. Part of it would probably be quite nice because I believe there are bike paths all along the river.

Just had an awkward phone call with Emerson admissions. They didn't provide any instructions on how to decline the offer so I decided to call in, but I guess that was the wrong move because I still need to e-mail the head of the apartment to explain my reasons for declining. A break-up indeed!

Thank you! I visited MGH and I was so impressed. It was already my top choice because of the medical emphasis and the fact that I could choose a concentration, but when I visited, it really solidified everything for me. The facilities are super modern and Marjorie Nicholas took me around to meet a bunch of staff members, which felt very personal and genuine. (At other school visits I felt very "wooed," but at MGH it just felt like a comfortable, friendly environment.) I also know that MGH is known for being very rigorous and it is one of the only schools in Boston with a major emphasis on Voice Disorders and the accompanying research, which is what I want to pursue. The professors seem to be true experts in the classes they teach (though that also seems to be the case at BU). For me, getting out of a big university is something I am looking for, but BU has all of the the resources and research of that setting, which is certainly good for potential grad students who want that. I guess BU also does a lot of work with Aphasia, if that's an area you're interested in. One of my profs at BU was also a pretty big name in fluency disorders, I think. MGH is located in the Charlestown Navy Yard, which is a bit tough to reach by public transportation. However, the MGH hospital runs a shuttle service between the Navy Yard, the North Station T stop (orange line), and the main hospital campus, which is right by the Charles MGH T stop (red line). I live near the red line in Somerville, so commuting shouldn't be too terrible with the red line + shuttle and would even be pretty easy if I drive. I don't know where most students live, but anywhere on the orange or red lines seems doable. Shuttle Info: http://www.partners.org/ourhosp/ourhosp_shuttle.html

Most BU undergrads live in Allston or Brighton, which is close to campus, inexpensive, and very eclectic. However, it's not necessarily the classiest place to live- depending on your location, there can be lots of parties, noise, etc. My sister in law commuted into BU for work from Cambridge (which is an awesome place to live!) and though she grew to hate the public transportation system, it was very doable. (She even drove once in a while, which she totally preferred over the subway.) I think driving is definitely a possibility, especially considering that your classes may not necessarily be at rush hour times. Learning to drive around the city is a challenge, but I eventually figured it out. I assume you can get a parking permit of some sort and there's also metered parking throughout the campus. If you'd like to live near public transportation, but not necessarily right near campus, Brookline and Newton are nice areas to live on the green line (which is the same subway line as BU). If public transportation is less of a concern, consider Watertown or Waltham.

For those who are nervous about moving to Boston, yes it is expensive, but I came here for undergrad and I plan to stick around because it's a really great city! Public transportation makes it possible to live in less expensive areas and commute to school easily. I used to live in a teeny tiny absurdly expensive 1 BR downtown, but now I live outside the city in an enormous lovely 2 BR/ 2 BA with parking and heat, right by the subway for the same price. For those asking about BU, I took some of my pre-reqs there and did some observations in their clinic. Overall, it seems like a very well-rounded program. I had a few amazing profs who were super passionate and knowledgeable. For some, I think the option to enroll without having all your pre-reqs is a nice thing, although not something I was considering (and an added expense). The enrolled students I met there seemed very happy with the program and seemed to get plenty of personal attention.

Same here. In fact, I wore essentially that same outfit.

Ditto on Emerson- haven't heard anything and have that message on Ecommon. I guess they're just rolling through the apps.

Got the call from MGH today and I couldn't be more excited!!!! (Unfortunately, I can't attend the accepted students reception, so I won't be meeting any of y'all quite yet...)

I am so jealous of anyone who has heard from anyone. This waiting is making me crazy!!