SLP12 Posted April 12, 2010 Posted April 12, 2010 Hello! I am going to UNC next year to get my masters in speech pathology. I did my undergrad here so let me know if you have any general questions about the area.
airylyssa Posted April 13, 2010 Author Posted April 13, 2010 Thanks so much SLP12! I am moving from NYC so it will be a big change! I was actually there this past weekend looking at apartments. It seems like there are a ton of options but I really liked Southern Village.... do you know anything about those apartments? Any other apartment complexes you recommend I look into? Ideally I want to be on the bus line and close to campus (in Chapel Hill not Carrboro, at least for my first year I think), and I would like to be somewhere where other grad students live so I can meet people!
SLP12 Posted April 14, 2010 Posted April 14, 2010 Moving from NYC will probably be a big change, but there is definitely still a lot of fun stuff to do in the Triangle (Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill). Southern Village Apartments are nice, a little pricier than other apartments in the area. I think there are a good amount of professionals/grad students in them. Southern Village is on several bus lines also. Meadowmont Apartments are similar to southern village (from what I have heard). I live in Chapel View Apartments, which are nice because the price includes utilities (elec., water, cable, internet), you can get a furnished apt. if you need it, and the bus runs very frequently. They have one and two bedroom apartments and are geared towards students. However, they are pretty quiet and I think there are not too many undergrads in the complex. Website: http://viewstudenthousing.com/. Mill Creek is close to campus, but it is mostly undergrads. Any apartment complex off of Martin Luther King Blvd. would have access to the NS and the T buses, which run quite often. If you look up chapel hill transit, you can find all the info. about the bus routes and compare that to places you are looking at. A lot of grad students actually live in Carrboro, which can be closer or just as close to campus as Southern Village. There are also several bus lines that run in Carrboro and if you bike it is a great location for that. I don't know too much about the apartments there, I would just avoid Kingswood, Abbey Court, Pinegate, Estes Park, and any other properties owned by GSC Apartment Communities. They are really cheap...but you get what you pay for. I looked into Hillmont apartments, which are one bedroom places in Carrboro, but I never actually viewed them so I can only say they look nice from the pictures I've seen. Craigslist for Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill is a pretty good source for privately leased places, especially places close to campus. If you want roommates, there is a section for that and they normally say whether they are grad students, etc. Sorry for the rambling post! Just let me know if you have any other questions
airylyssa Posted April 14, 2010 Author Posted April 14, 2010 THANK YOU SOO MUCH!!! This is so helpful! I really appreciate it!
GK Chesterton Posted April 14, 2010 Posted April 14, 2010 Don't live in Southern Village - a long way away and mostly bougie divorcees. Would not recommend it at all.
airylyssa Posted April 14, 2010 Author Posted April 14, 2010 Don't live in Southern Village - a long way away and mostly bougie divorcees. Would not recommend it at all. Thanks for the input. It was a less than 5 minute drive for me from campus when I visited, which I really liked. But maybe I got lucky with no traffic or maybe I just drive too fast because I'm a New Yorker?! If you don't recommend Southern Village could you recommend another place or two to check out? Thanks so much!
GK Chesterton Posted April 14, 2010 Posted April 14, 2010 Ah - I suppose that's possible, but it normally takes a bit longer. I didn't realize you had a car - my other concern would be whether you can find parking on campus or near campus, as that's often difficult. I suppose my general impression of Southern Village has been that it's more of a suburb/retiree/divorcee community and probably not one where you would have a lot of social interaction with other grad students. However, I realized that I don't know your age, so that is probably a factor. Honestly, it depends on if you want to live in an apartment or share a house. I would suggest a house in Carrboro if you have to walk, but if not, then I suppose Southern Village is a much more reasonable option. JoeySsance 1
Marebear Posted April 15, 2010 Posted April 15, 2010 Thanks for the input. It was a less than 5 minute drive for me from campus when I visited, which I really liked. But maybe I got lucky with no traffic or maybe I just drive too fast because I'm a New Yorker?! If you don't recommend Southern Village could you recommend another place or two to check out? Thanks so much! I live near Southern Village currently, and it's a pretty nice area. If you're wanting to live right in Southern Village though, you'll be paying way more than you should be for rent in Chapel Hill. Also, one of the issues I've encountered is seemingly nonsensical bus times-- sometimes the V and the NS run all the time it seems like, but sometimes my roommates and I will get randomly stranded on campus. I would highly recommend Carrboro; it's a little farther away, but the people are generally lovely and it's still within walking distance from campus. If you like tex-mex, make sure to eat at armadillo grill-- amazing chicken tacos. Also all the buses are free, so just make sure you're on the bus line and you're set!
airylyssa Posted April 15, 2010 Author Posted April 15, 2010 I live near Southern Village currently, and it's a pretty nice area. If you're wanting to live right in Southern Village though, you'll be paying way more than you should be for rent in Chapel Hill. Also, one of the issues I've encountered is seemingly nonsensical bus times-- sometimes the V and the NS run all the time it seems like, but sometimes my roommates and I will get randomly stranded on campus. I would highly recommend Carrboro; it's a little farther away, but the people are generally lovely and it's still within walking distance from campus. If you like tex-mex, make sure to eat at armadillo grill-- amazing chicken tacos. Also all the buses are free, so just make sure you're on the bus line and you're set! Thanks so much Marebear! That is really helpful.... and I love tex-mex so I will definitely be sure to check out armadillo grill! What program are you in, if you don't mind my asking? I am heading into the Human Development section of the ed. school..... the Education PhD in Early Childhood Intervention and Literacy.
Marebear Posted April 16, 2010 Posted April 16, 2010 Thanks so much Marebear! That is really helpful.... and I love tex-mex so I will definitely be sure to check out armadillo grill! What program are you in, if you don't mind my asking? I am heading into the Human Development section of the ed. school..... the Education PhD in Early Childhood Intervention and Literacy. I'm actually just finishing my undergrad here this semester. I'm off to UVA in the fall for a Masters in English! I hope you enjoy Chapel Hill; it's a great town.
microphd Posted April 17, 2010 Posted April 17, 2010 wow what a coincidence! i am actually heading to UNC-CH from NYC as well! i was looking at housing options as well. one thing they mentioned was the graduate residence apartments in chapel hill i think its called Odum Village Apartments but I am not sure how that would be. If it's really going to nice apartments and all grad students i would consider it maybe for the first years or so; does anyone know any more details about that? i would REALLY appreciate it, or maybe pros/cons. i would really prefer living in chapel hill itself even though carborro seems like a good option i got the impression it was mostly populated with undergrads. thank you!
airylyssa Posted April 17, 2010 Author Posted April 17, 2010 wow what a coincidence! i am actually heading to UNC-CH from NYC as well! i was looking at housing options as well. one thing they mentioned was the graduate residence apartments in chapel hill i think its called Odum Village Apartments but I am not sure how that would be. If it's really going to nice apartments and all grad students i would consider it maybe for the first years or so; does anyone know any more details about that? i would REALLY appreciate it, or maybe pros/cons. i would really prefer living in chapel hill itself even though carborro seems like a good option i got the impression it was mostly populated with undergrads. thank you! i'm so excited to "meet" someone else moving from NYC to Chapel Hill who can relate! i am incredibly excited about it, but it's going to be a big transition..... good things and bad things about leaving the city..... but besides leaving family and friends i think i am going to have serious seamlessweb withdrawals! i looked into the grad housing and drove by ram village and odum village when i visited... which are both grad housing complexes. i read that a limited number of undergrads can live there but i have to say it felt very dorm-like. also, the odum village complex is older and only half the units have central air (which of course i don't have in ny, but i've heard is essential in chapel hill). they looked not so nice, and are not much cheaper than the nicer apartment complex options in chapel hill.... at least from my impression. i also got the feel that many of the apartment complexes in chapel hill are geared towards undergrads but i found some that i think are more populated with grad students (this is my opinion but i was also told this by current grad students in my department, a friend of a friend who has lived in chapel hill her whole life, and i actually stopped people walking around the complexes when i toured them... i ran into several law, business and dental students). these complexes are more expensive, but worth it for me. they are: southern village, alta springs, and meadownmount. what i liked best about southern village and meadowmount is that they are directly attached to like shopping areas with grocery stores, restaurants, etc.... coming from nyc i didn't want to have to get in my car to go everywhere and appreciated the walking distance to these things. other ones to look into are: notting hill and camden governer's village (but it's not on the bus line). what are you doing about a car? i am assuming you don't have one in the city.... are yo buying/leasing down there?
microst Posted April 19, 2010 Posted April 19, 2010 I'm heading to UNC-CH this fall too! I am from Michigan and will be starting out in the BBSP program. Microphd-are you by chance also a new BBSP student? I'm guessing this might be the case based on your username. It'd be nice to meet/get in touch with some other incoming BBSP students. I'm looking into housing options right now as well. I think I'd prefer to live in off campus apartments and don't really mind the location so long as they are on one or several of the bus lines. I also don't want the rent to be too expensive and I think having a roommate would definitely help in that aspect. I'm not sure what the best way to go about finding a roommate is and am thinking about emailing one of the program coordinators to see if there is anyway to email/contact the incoming class to see if any would be interested in being roommates. I plan on having a car down there but taking the bus into campus for the most part.
airylyssa Posted April 19, 2010 Author Posted April 19, 2010 I'm heading to UNC-CH this fall too! I am from Michigan and will be starting out in the BBSP program. Microphd-are you by chance also a new BBSP student? I'm guessing this might be the case based on your username. It'd be nice to meet/get in touch with some other incoming BBSP students. I'm looking into housing options right now as well. I think I'd prefer to live in off campus apartments and don't really mind the location so long as they are on one or several of the bus lines. I also don't want the rent to be too expensive and I think having a roommate would definitely help in that aspect. I'm not sure what the best way to go about finding a roommate is and am thinking about emailing one of the program coordinators to see if there is anyway to email/contact the incoming class to see if any would be interested in being roommates. I plan on having a car down there but taking the bus into campus for the most part. www.heelshousing.com is a UNC housing website that has a roommate board and from browsing it there seem to be a lot of grad students on there, if that helps!
microst Posted April 19, 2010 Posted April 19, 2010 Thanks! I found that site as well, and have been browsing it and making a few inquiries.
airylyssa Posted April 19, 2010 Author Posted April 19, 2010 Thanks! I found that site as well, and have been browsing it and making a few inquiries. are you bringing a car or looking into getting one there?
microst Posted April 19, 2010 Posted April 19, 2010 I plan on bringing a car. The one I have right now is shared between my brother and I so I'm going to buy a used car this summer. The main reason I'm going to do it before moving to NC is so I don't have to deal with finding a car on top of getting settled in and used to the area in August since I'll only have a couple of weeks before orientation and classes start.
microphd Posted April 20, 2010 Posted April 20, 2010 yep i am also a new BBSP student! and i was going to bring my car down from nyc as well. i would prefer off campus housing too but i want to kind of be around other grad students as well not undergrads lol so i'm not sure what the best deal is. i think maybe they will send us on/off campus housing info soon before i head to look around and sign a lease? contacting them seems like a good idea!
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