Liz86

Hi! My name is Elizabeth and I'm starting the MSW program this fall, too! I'm SUPER excited. I did receive an email with a possible field placement site in late July. I'm in California for the summer and won't be able to do my interview until the Wednesday before classes start. I turned my field application in really early, so that may be the reason I heard sooner. Are you from Buffalo? Tell me more about yourself! It's great to see another UB student on here.

I moved here for a one year work position. I got into UB's Masters in Social Work program for this fall, so I will likely stay. The biggest problem I've had is the weather and how long the cold lasts! I'd recommend moving somewhere where utilities are included in rent because my heating bill was SUPER expensive this winter. There are broken down and abandoned parts of Buffalo (much of the eastside and parts of the westside) and there are really nice, "trendy" areas like Elmwood Village, Allentown, Delaware Park area, North Buffalo, etc. Just be aware that Buffalo is the third poorest big city in the US and so there are a lot of impoverished neighborhoods. It was an eye opening experience for me because I lived in Santa Barbara & Pasadena before moving here. I think weather and poor public transportation are the two main negatives. I've really loved it here!

I'm a Southern California native who moved to Buffalo last year. Even on the tiny stipend I receive, I've been able to live well here. I live in the Elmwood Village (in my opinion, the best place to live) and only pay $300 to share a two story house with one other person. Elmwood Village is full of cute restaurants, bars, and coffee shops. A night out is relatively inexpensive (especially compared to other larger cities). I'm considering a Masters program at UB and the main selling point is the low cost of living coupled with the liveliness/warmth of the city. I always say that Buffalo is a big city with a small town feel. I often run into people I know, but it's big enough that there are all sorts of great hidden and unexplored spots. I don't have a car and rely on the bus, which is not something I would recommend long-term for anyone. The city is fairly spread apart (UB campus in relation to Elmwood, etc) and waiting for a bus in the snow is not a lot of fun. Living my entire life with CA weather and moving here has been quite a change. I found the cold/snow to be manageable, but lasts SO long. It's the end of March now and it's snowing outside.