cmg0610

Where are you going to be? There very well might be a brass band around the area. I'm a tuba player, and played in one all of last year, which was a blast. I'm actually starting my doctorate in tuba performance this fall, though, so I think I'll have my playing opportunities covered.

brooklyn, the stipend goes a long way. Cost of living in Athens is pretty low, and the stipends are very generous. I lived in a pretty nice 1BR my first year, and that cost $520 plus utilities. It's not hard to live comfortably on the stipend and have money left over.

May I make a suggestion to the OP? I don't know if you've ever had a drink or not, but if you haven't, consider having one. I was totally dry for half of my undergrad, also for non-religious reasons, and when I finally had a drink, it cleared up a lot of the issues I had with it. Again, I have no idea if this would be relevant for you, but it might be something to think about.

I'd be interested in any updates about Athens as well. Anyone have any experience with Mi Casa apartments?

I'm starting an MM in music this fall. Also in the looking-for-a-place-to-live boat, but I'll probably try to find a 1br/1bath apartment.

I'm really surprised to hear someone worried about homelessness in Ann Arbor as compared to Berkeley. Yes, it's safe to walk around at night. No, I don't think muggings are common.

Hey guys, I just finished up my undergrad at WMU and I'm from the area originally. There's a ton of housing around Kalamazoo, and most of it is pretty cheap. There are a ton of student apartments (because most Western students live off-campus), as well as plenty of apartments that aren't saturated with undergrads. There's a big residential area just south of campus that's mostly houses available for rent to students, and a lot of them are quite cheap (I lived in one of these for a couple of years, and paid $200 a month plus utilities with a couple of housemates). There are a number of apartments available in the area, and many of them are pretty reputable. As a grad student, I'd stay away from The Pointe and Copper Beech, because they're both full of undergrads and are usually the sites of loud parties at least three nights a week. If you're looking at renting a house, try to stay away from the north side--that's where Kalamazoo's serious crime tends to take place. Otherwise, I really like the area. It's definitely not a huge city, but it has a lot of the college town amenities like cheap food and plenty of places with student discounts. Bell's Eccentric Cafe, the brewpub of Bell's, a well-respected microbrewery, is downtown and is a great place to hang out. It's cold in the winter. The winter lasts a long time. It snowed yesterday, and I'm sure it won't be the last snow of the year. Being this close to Lake Michigan brings lake-effect snow and all that entails. The summer, however, is really nice. Quick edit--the city is pretty pet-friendly as well. Quite a few apartments allow pets. If anyone has any more questions, feel free to ask.