Syracuse, NY

[Jasim95]

Updates: It seems no one is going to Syracuse this fall. This thread is dead. But no problem I like to perform monologues.

 

This is what I have learnt so far:

 

1- Banking:

International students with no SSN and no credit history can't get a credit card from the beginning, they should start with a checking/savings account with a debit card and try to use it as much as possible. Once they build their credit history and start paying their bills they will be able to get a credit card.

 

Some of the banks choices for Syracuse University students are

JP Morgan-Chase, HSBC, M&T Bank, Key Bank, Bank of America.

 

No info on travel checks yet, whether they are still used or not.

 

Western union and wire transfer work just fine but it depends on the rates of conversion and the amount being transferred.

 

2- Housing:

Almost always hotels ask for a credit card for security. It won't be charged but an amount of money will be held (blocked). Upon check out, the resident can pay everything by cash. Just make sure that the hotel releases the amount held before. In case no credit card is shown a money deposit may be required.

 

Can I rent an apartment with no SSN and no credit history? Yes.

 

I have got a teaching assistant with a stipend of $17k per year, that is, $1954.34 per month (without taxing). Is the letter of acceptance, I-20 and passport enough to get an apartment for an international student in Syracuse Area?

Usually yes. Unless the landlord has a strict policy regarding renting to international students.

 

Should the rent be at maximum one third of my stipend?

Approximately. The golden rule is that at most 30% of your income should be for rent but it also depends on the person's circumstances. 

 

I was able to rent an apartment online and sign the lease electronically. So that answers almost all the remaining questions on the housing section.

 

According to what I heard. Syracuse has no graduate housing anymore. Graduate students must live off campus. There is a temporary housing for international teaching assistants but only for the orientation period.

 

To get the discounted rate of $119/night for international students in Sheraton University Hotel, send an email. Don't call! The staff at the front desk don't know a thing about the discount. Only the reservation specialist knows about it which can be reached by email. 

 

4- Books:

From the most expensive to the cheapest:

 

New Books

Used Books

Rented Books

 

Amazon can be anywhere in between. I will bring my favorite undergrad books with me as I love to have my own copy at hand. They should be all in the library or if not something similar to them.

[HOP]

Hi Everybody,

I just recently got accepted to graduate school at Syracuse University and was wondering if anybody could give me a better idea of how it's like living there? Pros and Cons about the city are appreciated!

Thank you,

OP

[catsbloom]

Depending how you feel about snow, the winters could be a plus or a minus. Be prepared for a decent amount of snow! Have you ever lived in the north? You will experience all four seasons in Syracuse. If you enjoy winter activities, you can find local-ish places to ski or snowboard.

Syracuse is similar to other upstate cities like Buffalo or Rochester, in my opinion. Upstate is fairly affordable compared to other areas of the state. It won't be as difficult living on a grad student's budget in the area. 

[Warelin]

This topic has more insight.

[ndrun]

On 3/6/2017 at 7:54 PM, oparrale said:

Hi Everybody,

I just recently got accepted to graduate school at Syracuse University and was wondering if anybody could give me a better idea of how it's like living there? Pros and Cons about the city are appreciated!

Thank you,

OP

Hey, so I'm currently getting a Master's at SU and I also happen to be from Syracuse. The thread posted above could be helpful, too, but just glancing at some of the posts made back in 2006, some of the information is out of date. The first post I read said that Thornden Park (adjacent to campus) is a nice place, which is not the case in my opinion. A friend of mine was mugged in the middle of the day there last year...and crime being committed there is not a rare occurrence.

That being said I'd say the two biggest cons are the crime and the snow. First, Syracuse's campus is located right next to some high crime neighborhoods and inevitably this effects safety on campus. I've spoken with some undergrads who say that everyone has been or knows someone that has been a victim of crime (usually property crime or, in more extreme cases, being mugged). Depending on what you're used to, this can be a bit disconcerting if you have night classes and walk home alone. Like any city, just be aware of your surroundings but I would also avoid certain neighborhoods. That being said, if you're willing to commute to campus, I definitely suggest it! I live a few miles from campus and it's an easy 8-10 minute drive. Some areas I'd suggest: South Campus, Outer Comstock, and Nob Hill. South Campus and Outer Comstock are within short biking distance but Nob Hill is a bit farther (and thus more residential and more safe) and all are on SU bus routes. Apartments/housing off of East Genesee St. and Euclid Ave are more "urban" but more vulnerable to crime.

Second, the snow. Syracuse is the snowiest city in the U.S. So if you decide to commute, I suggest investing in snow tires. Especially if you're driving from Nob Hill, which, as its name suggests, is located atop a large hill that can be extremely treacherous in the winter. Winter lasts from November to March and the snow is relentless. Spring and summer are lovely, though, and temperatures can reach the 80s and occasionally the 90s in peak summer.

As far as pros go, cost of living is probably the best advantage of the area. If you're looking to buy a house, it's very inexpensive if you look in neighborhoods outside the city, even in safe, family-friendly ones. Also, since it's a pretty small city (~150,000 in the city itself, ~600,000 in the metro area), traffic is not usually a problem. If you're used to living in a big city, the cost of living and (lack of) traffic in Syracuse will amaze you. There are lots of places to hike, run, swim (in lakes) etc. in the area as well. 

[HOP]

On 3/21/2017 at 8:57 AM, ndrun said:

Hey, so I'm currently getting a Master's at SU and I also happen to be from Syracuse. The thread posted above could be helpful, too, but just glancing at some of the posts made back in 2006, some of the information is out of date. The first post I read said that Thornden Park (adjacent to campus) is a nice place, which is not the case in my opinion. A friend of mine was mugged in the middle of the day there last year...and crime being committed there is not a rare occurrence.

That being said I'd say the two biggest cons are the crime and the snow. First, Syracuse's campus is located right next to some high crime neighborhoods and inevitably this effects safety on campus. I've spoken with some undergrads who say that everyone has been or knows someone that has been a victim of crime (usually property crime or, in more extreme cases, being mugged). Depending on what you're used to, this can be a bit disconcerting if you have night classes and walk home alone. Like any city, just be aware of your surroundings but I would also avoid certain neighborhoods. That being said, if you're willing to commute to campus, I definitely suggest it! I live a few miles from campus and it's an easy 8-10 minute drive. Some areas I'd suggest: South Campus, Outer Comstock, and Nob Hill. South Campus and Outer Comstock are within short biking distance but Nob Hill is a bit farther (and thus more residential and more safe) and all are on SU bus routes. Apartments/housing off of East Genesee St. and Euclid Ave are more "urban" but more vulnerable to crime.

Second, the snow. Syracuse is the snowiest city in the U.S. So if you decide to commute, I suggest investing in snow tires. Especially if you're driving from Nob Hill, which, as its name suggests, is located atop a large hill that can be extremely treacherous in the winter. Winter lasts from November to March and the snow is relentless. Spring and summer are lovely, though, and temperatures can reach the 80s and occasionally the 90s in peak summer.

As far as pros go, cost of living is probably the best advantage of the area. If you're looking to buy a house, it's very inexpensive if you look in neighborhoods outside the city, even in safe, family-friendly ones. Also, since it's a pretty small city (~150,000 in the city itself, ~600,000 in the metro area), traffic is not usually a problem. If you're used to living in a big city, the cost of living and (lack of) traffic in Syracuse will amaze you. There are lots of places to hike, run, swim (in lakes) etc. in the area as well. 

Thank you so much for the info!

[HOP]

On 3/6/2017 at 7:33 PM, catsbloom said:

Depending how you feel about snow, the winters could be a plus or a minus. Be prepared for a decent amount of snow! Have you ever lived in the north? You will experience all four seasons in Syracuse. If you enjoy winter activities, you can find local-ish places to ski or snowboard.

Syracuse is similar to other upstate cities like Buffalo or Rochester, in my opinion. Upstate is fairly affordable compared to other areas of the state. It won't be as difficult living on a grad student's budget in the area. 

Thank you for your response, I truly appreciate it!

[positivitize]

On 3/21/2017 at 9:57 AM, ndrun said:

Hey, so I'm currently getting a Master's at SU and I also happen to be from Syracuse. The thread posted above could be helpful, too, but just glancing at some of the posts made back in 2006, some of the information is out of date. The first post I read said that Thornden Park (adjacent to campus) is a nice place, which is not the case in my opinion. A friend of mine was mugged in the middle of the day there last year...and crime being committed there is not a rare occurrence.

That being said I'd say the two biggest cons are the crime and the snow. First, Syracuse's campus is located right next to some high crime neighborhoods and inevitably this effects safety on campus. I've spoken with some undergrads who say that everyone has been or knows someone that has been a victim of crime (usually property crime or, in more extreme cases, being mugged). Depending on what you're used to, this can be a bit disconcerting if you have night classes and walk home alone. Like any city, just be aware of your surroundings but I would also avoid certain neighborhoods. That being said, if you're willing to commute to campus, I definitely suggest it! I live a few miles from campus and it's an easy 8-10 minute drive. Some areas I'd suggest: South Campus, Outer Comstock, and Nob Hill. South Campus and Outer Comstock are within short biking distance but Nob Hill is a bit farther (and thus more residential and more safe) and all are on SU bus routes. Apartments/housing off of East Genesee St. and Euclid Ave are more "urban" but more vulnerable to crime.

Second, the snow. Syracuse is the snowiest city in the U.S. So if you decide to commute, I suggest investing in snow tires. Especially if you're driving from Nob Hill, which, as its name suggests, is located atop a large hill that can be extremely treacherous in the winter. Winter lasts from November to March and the snow is relentless. Spring and summer are lovely, though, and temperatures can reach the 80s and occasionally the 90s in peak summer.

As far as pros go, cost of living is probably the best advantage of the area. If you're looking to buy a house, it's very inexpensive if you look in neighborhoods outside the city, even in safe, family-friendly ones. Also, since it's a pretty small city (~150,000 in the city itself, ~600,000 in the metro area), traffic is not usually a problem. If you're used to living in a big city, the cost of living and (lack of) traffic in Syracuse will amaze you. There are lots of places to hike, run, swim (in lakes) etc. in the area as well. 

 

Have you heard anything (positive or negative) about Copper Beech Commons? 

[ndrun]

55 minutes ago, positivitize said:

Have you heard anything (positive or negative) about Copper Beech Commons? 

Not specifically, no. I do see the shuttle bus around campus a lot so while it is within bike/long walking distance, there seems to be a free shuttle to campus too. It is located in a relatively urban area, right down the street from campus so I'd use the shuttle at night. I'd also recommend stopping by the apartments before you choose to see if you like the area. I'm sure it's popular with students.

[positivitize]

23 minutes ago, ndrun said:

Not specifically, no. I do see the shuttle bus around campus a lot so while it is within bike/long walking distance, there seems to be a free shuttle to campus too. It is located in a relatively urban area, right down the street from campus so I'd use the shuttle at night. I'd also recommend stopping by the apartments before you choose to see if you like the area. I'm sure it's popular with students.

 

Unfortunately, I'm located about 17 hours drive from Syracuse and lack the financial mobility to take a trip up to scope out the place. Although it's not preferred, the reality is that I'm looking at moving to a new apartment sight unseen. Thank you for the response. Even the little bit about the walking distance/shuttle was useful. Cheers!

[terbo]

there's been some good replies to this thread but I'm going to add my two cents. I was a grad student at SU for four years. I lived off campus every year, though each time in generally the same neighborhood. i would highly recommend living near Westcott. it's a small neighborhood about a mile east of SU. it's small but it's got two great cafes, a good bike shop, a venue for regional/local acts, and a couple solid places to eat. some houses are in rough shape so i'd definitely check em out before you sign on. i'd also recommend living by barry park. there's no bars or restaurants but its quieter, got more grad students, and you're likely to find a nicer place to live (if you care about that sort of thing). housing near the university, especially on euclid, can be rugged. it's also pretty loud. the undergrads at SU are animals. i never did myself, but i had a couple friends that lived downtown in very cool apartments. i don't think they were that expensive. you had the option of taking the bus or driving. i always thought the buses in syracuse were fantastic. they run in snowstorms and don't stop service until pretty late at night. they're also free to SU students. downtown's got a pretty solid bar scene for a small city. it's also got a couple good restaurants but for some reason they can get pretty pricey. 

if you're a cyclist, syracuse has incredible riding. i've lived in north carolina, massachusetts, and new jersey, and outside syracuse is some of the best terrain there is. the roads are in fantastic condition, it's scenic, and there's almost no traffic. of course the main difficulty with being outdoorsy and liking warm weather sports is that the syracuse winter is BRUTAL. the first winter i was there we had a total of 15 feet of snow for the season. one time it snowed for 4 days STRAIGHT. you could go a couple weeks without seeing the sun. the good thing is syracuse has got some big time athletics and going to games at the carrier dome is a ton of fun.

syracuse also has a ton of awesome diners (mother's cupboard, the egg plant, stella's, etc.), a top notch farmer's market, destiny usa (a crazy big mall, which is actually kind of cool), and the everson art museum. the cost of living is low. the most I ever paid for rent was $500 to share an apartment with one other roommate. most places will charge you $4-5 for a pint of beer. there's plenty of good, cheap food shopping (wegman's, asian grocer's, price chopper). you don't NEED a car but it's certainly nice to have one. if you do have one, four wheel/all wheel drive is highly recommended.  

[KAM13]

I went to SU for grad school. It was great! You do not really need a car. They have a great bus system and you can ride both the school and city bus as long as you have your SU ID with you. Also, if you absolutely need to drive somewhere, you can join Zipcar. It is a car program that has cars parked all over campus and you rent by the hour. Also, if you are going to rent off campus, I recommend living near Westcott (it is on the bus line) but don't go past Genesse St. IF possible don't rent from Syracuse Quality living. They are really bad about fixing things and their internet sucks. 

[a_photo]

Hey everyone! I'll be in the MFA program at SU in the fall. The info here has been very helpful but I have a couple more questions!

In undergrad I had to find my housing for the next year the spring before. What is the timeline like for Syracuse? Do I need to go visit ASAP and find a place to live before all the good ones go or will I be able to find a place as easily next month?

I have spent my fair share of time living with a roommate and would like to get my own place, ideally a one bedroom. Is it possible to find a clean, safe place walking distance from campus for $600 or under? It does not have to be anything fancy! 

I know of Orange Housing but are there any other good places to look for apartment listings?

Any other general advice anyone has would be awesome! I def want something far away from any crazy undergrads  Thank you!

[EnvChm]

In August I will be attending SUNY-ESF and living in Syracuse, NY. I have very little experience with larger cities and no experience living on the East Coast, let's just say I am in kind of over my head. Any advice on what areas to avoid, where to look for housing, or fun things to do?

[2stressed]

Hey! I'll be moving to Syracuse in August too. Before I went apartment hunting, some of the people in my program gave me a bit of advice on where to stay away from. Apparently, things are less than favorable on East Genesee St, and they get worse the further west you go. The housing will be cheaper on the west side of 81, but that's also where there's the most crime. They also said that Eastside is a good place to live, especially around Westcott St. And downtown is pretty good too.