Storrs, CT

[VanillaChaiTeaTime]

Do grad students from different departments ever meet up? Are there group events? (for what little free time there is, haha)

 

If anyone has any info on Manchester or Vernon, I'm looking at apartments there (mostly). I hear there are some bad parts of Manchester? I'm emailing the current grad students in my program for more info, but it doesn't hurt to ask everyone!

 

I'm trying to think of other questions... I'm sure more will pop up.

Again, I appreciate the responses from everyone!

The graduate student senate organizes events for graduate students of all departments (grad prom, mohegan sun trips, ted nights/nathan hale nights, Thanksgiving luncheon, etc), at various points throughout the semester. Haha..free time lol.

 

I know a few people who live in Vernon and they really like it. I don't know about housing prices, but I've heard there are a ton of strip malls, so you would have easy access to a lot of places. 

[Starsandsound]

What are you studying and where are you comin from?

[leSpyFox]

Glad to hear that about Vernon and the grad senate! Grad prom sounds... weird haha. Might give it a shot!

 

And I did my undergrad out in Colorado, but originally I'm from Illinois. I guess I'm going to eventually end up living in every part of the U.S., haha. Luckily I'll be moving my crap from Illinois (sort of closer?) and selling my furnitiure out in CO so we don't have to get a truck. IKEA here I come

 

Thanks, all!

[Aenrichus]

Hello, all!

 

I have also accepted my PhD admittance to UConn for this fall. I interviewed there in February and asked around quite a bit as to the best place to live. Roughly half of the current students recommended Willimantic, but others seemed quite opposed to it as a result of the high crime rate. I was told to steer clear or New Haven and Hardford as well. West Hartford was recommended as liveable, but rather expensive and not walkable.

 

I think the best advice I was given was to live in Providence, RI and just accept the ~70 minute commute each way. Downtown looks relatively safe and bustling, but rent can be up there as well. This cost could be somewhat alleviated by not needing a second car. My wife and I will be coming from Tokyo, where we have lived for the last six years. My guess is that it will be easier for her to find a job in Providence or Boston (just 45 minutes by train) than in Storrs.

 

That said, Storrs does have a growing "downtown" area. It is just very limited at the moment.

 

Can anyone support or contest what I have been told?

[stint thy clappe]

I have decided that the rural setting is perfect for me, but I'm having trouble finding a place for me and my dog. I have a 70 pound husky mix that tends to fall on breed restriction lists. Anyone know of an apartment/condo community that would allow her? I'm steps away from just forking over all my money to buy a place so I can resolve this problem.

 

Also, if the mascot is a husky, they should allow my husky to live wherever she wants. Just saying! 

[lunarrabbit]

I am going to start my PhD at UConn this fall. As I don't have a car--and can't have one in the future for some personal reasons--, I find places located in Mansfield or Willimantic is best for my needs. What makes me worry is the horrible opinions about the places on this thread. Is it so terrible to live in those areas as a grad student? What I most care is 1) public transit, 2) safety, 3) access to stores or Walmart and 4) price. I don't care about having roommates or not having places to have fun. I very appreciate any advice about my preferences! 

[qualiafreak]

Bumping this - I'm considering UConn. Is it an exaggeration to say there is nothing to do in or near Storrs?? I know it is small but from looking at yelp it looked like there were lots of restaurants and things nearby. Perhaps you're comparing it to an actual city? For reference, I grew up in a town with literally only a gas station. No stores, no coffee shops, no restaurants or anything. There was a city about 30 min away, not huge but enough. I was fine. I'm more of a homebody anyway. But I do like to have restaurants and coffee shops to study at nearby. So considering this, would Storrs and it's vicinity probably not be as bad for somebody like me?? Academically UConn seems perfect for me but I have heard only bad things about the city..

[pachydermatus]

I think you are right in people comparing Storrs to a city, or even a traditional college town. Storrs is in no way a city. It is a village in an historically agrarian town. To attract more people there, they just built/are building a kind of shopping center and residential development across from campus. I don't know all the details (haven't been to UCONN in probably 1.5 years), but here's the website for more info:  http://www.storrscenter.com/

 

Other than that, there's not really much to do in Storrs proper. People tend to live in Willimantic because it's cheap and it's the closest city. There's another, smaller, state school there (Eastern CT State University). That's a mainly undergrad university, so lots of undergrads and undergrad bars in Willi. Since UCONN is a land grant in a very pure sense of the term, and it has a very large agricultural focus, you'll find your typical ag school stuff (farmland, livestock, dairy bar, etc.). If you grew up in a rural town and were fine, then UCONN and Storrs will probably be ok for you. You will definitely need to have a car there, since Hartford and Manchester (two largest nearby cities) are about 30 minutes away. New London is a good 45 minutes, but an amazing small city with a really interesting and rich history and worth the drive.

 

Hope that helps, and if you're going into their Philosophy program you'll be making an excellent decision. Their program is fantastic! Best of luck!

[KWIKKI]

Hey I am in the process of applying to UConn and I am already scared after reading this tread. Are there any international students who do not have a car? Where do you guys live and how do you get to campus and grocery stores? I am just curious.

[phdinsports]

I'm considering a PhD program at UConn and visited the campus last month for a recruitment visit. It seemed like the grad students and faculty were all pretty spread out--I think Manchester is the only area where more than one person told me that they lived.

I really love the program, but I'm trying to convince both myself and my husband that we can find an area that we will like to live in for the next four years. Some of the things on our wish list:

• House with a yard for the dog
• Near people of a similar age (we're in our early 30s...definitely want to avoid the undergrad scene but also don't want to end up in too much of an older community)
• Ideally within 30-minute drive to campus

Any advice on areas to look at?

[Ash_Fcb]

Hi, I just got accepted into UConn so I'm pretty excited about their program, but this thread has me slightly terrified. I'm from Puerto Rico and I'm thinking this might be a huge cultural shock, especially considering that my university is right pretty much in the middle of the city. Can you guys give me tips about housing, especially since I probably won't have a car? How is the public transportation around there? Where can you find things to do? Thanks for your help!

[NNnantes]

Hi! I was also considering UConn as a serious option (though I haven't heard about funding yet...), but I also found this thread a little terrifying... I don't think I'll be able to afford a car either. I think I could survive if the surroundings are nice - is there any nice countryside to escape to? 

[eaherder]

Hey everyone!

Just decided to attend UConns MCB PHD program this fall! I am very excited. Though, as it seems that everyone is, I am nervous about affording housing on my stipend. I have reached out to a few apartments but it is obviously way too early to do much other than get on a waitlist. I was wondering how early we should be arriving at Storrs? My assistantship begins on August 23 and I have been told that week is basically an orientation. Did everyone arrive about a week or so before then to get settled? Am I really going to be starting at the university before that week and just haven't been given that information yet? I don't want to arrive too early (I am working right now and would much rather work as long as possible to get some extra money) but I also want to give myself a week or so to unpack and get acquainted with the area before I actually need to be on campus every day.

 

I was also wondering what fees they will be taking out of this stipend. How much is parking? How much is health insurance? etc? I can't seem to find it, a lot of it appears to be broken links on UConns website. I am a big budgeter and I feel like I should know this before signing a lease for an apartment that I may not even be able to afford.

I know this is a lot, thanks so much in advance!

 

[bookofkels_]

On 2/15/2016 at 3:59 PM, phdinsports said:

I really love the program, but I'm trying to convince both myself and my husband that we can find an area that we will like to live in for the next four years. Some of the things on our wish list:

• House with a yard for the dog
• Near people of a similar age (we're in our early 30s...definitely want to avoid the undergrad scene but also don't want to end up in too much of an older community)
• Ideally within 30-minute drive to campus

Hi I'm from the area, grew up in a town near UConn and went to the next closest university, in Willimantic, Connecticut. Willi has all the things you're looking for and is about 15 minutes from Storrs. Except it does have a small undergrad scene due to Eastern Connecticut State University (my alma mater). However, if you don't live near the ECSU campus, you won't notice them much. Its a fraction of the size of UConn- ~5,000 enrolled and many commute or go home on the weekends. The campus is very condensed and the students keep to a pretty small radius around it. I know some of locals that live right on our doorstep have complained about finding beer bottles in their yard ans such. Willimantic is nicer than many of the student give it credit for, Main Street is nice. I know a few UConn Ph.D's live in Willimantic, so you wouldn't be the only ones. I know you posted a while ago, but hopefully this helps!

[bookofkels_]

On 3/10/2016 at 0:15 AM, Ash_Fcb said:

Hi, I just got accepted into UConn so I'm pretty excited about their program, but this thread has me slightly terrified. I'm from Puerto Rico and I'm thinking this might be a huge cultural shock, especially considering that my university is right pretty much in the middle of the city. Can you guys give me tips about housing, especially since I probably won't have a car? How is the public transportation around there? Where can you find things to do? Thanks for your help!

I'm from the area and have spent some time at UConn despite never having been enrolled. Its a pretty self contained little town, they have shops, a full-sized grocery store, bars and resteraunts, even their own candy store. The campus is large, but walkable and a lot of people bike. UConn has its own bus system on campus, and there's the local bus system that also went to the next town over and its pretty reliable. It would at least drop you in walking distance of where you wanted to go (usually) (also, if there are no side walks, beware walking in winter when snow piles up and makes the roads narrower!). I know many students use it and its free for UConn students. It obviously wouldn't give you the same freedom as a car, but you'd have some options. I believe you can also get a commuter bus from Storrs (Uconn) into Manchester, CT and from there you can easily get to Hartford, the Capitol. As for things to do, there's the bars and shops, and UConn's very big of sports, especially basketball, and they regularly have good concerts and plays on. Also you'll probably make at least one friend with a car. Hold that person close and never let go. 

[bookofkels_]

On 3/10/2016 at 10:46 AM, NNnantes said:

I think I could survive if the surroundings are nice - is there any nice countryside to escape to? 

You're in luck! UConn has an agriculture school, which means they have their own dairy farm! (I think they also have horses, or at least they did.) This means they have some pretty sizable fields with paths you can walk (on the other side of the fence from the cows). There's a big hill with a great view. And its on campus. And they use the cows to make some of the best ice cream in the state. Aside from that, there's also some nice green spaces around the campus with benches, fountains, all that nice brochure stuff. 

[bookofkels_]

Ok I was wrong about some of the things I posted before  sorry folks. They only have a commuter bus to Hartford (the state capitol) from Willimantic, which is a neighboring town and accessible from UConn by local bus (the local bus being free to UConn students). To get directly from Storrs to Hartford its a more expensive Peter Pan bus ($17). From Hartford you can easily get to the rest of the world by bus, Amtrak or get to the airport. But UConn itself is fairly isolated in farmville. There's a reason why this part of the state is called "The Quiet Corner".

Having looked back over the previous few years of posts:

1. There's a consensus that there's not much to do in Storrs. If you like to go on big nights out a lot, you may not be happy here as the closest options are Hartford and Mohegan Sun Casino ~45 minutes away (Foxwoods Casino is like an hour). But the area and the campus had undergone development in the past few years and they've added some shops, restaunts, bars and an entire grocery store (with a starbucks) basically on campus, so they are trying to liven up the place and make it more liveable. There's also a local community center right off campus. You could also explore Willimantic, Stafford and even Coventry if you like small towns. If you're more a nature person there's some good state parks around. 

2. It seems like many postgrads live in Vernon or Manchester. These are good towns, but I don't know anything about accessing them by public transport. Willimantic is also a close option that should not be over looked and can definitly be reached by reliable bus (as linked above). I know there's some nice newer apartments in town, 560 on Main comes to mind. Willimantic is a decent town, don't be put off by its troubled past...but also don't go down by the train tracks at night (that goes without saying right? :p)

Having grown up in the area for 22 years, I never took public transport until I was 21. Everyone I know in CT drives everywhere. That's not to say you can't survive without a car and if you really like your program, go to Uconn. Just trying to give folks an accurate idea of what their options are. Feel free to message me with any other questions and I'll try to answer them the best I can, though I can mostly only speak to the area and what there is to do, not so much the academics. Happy hunting!

[Ash_Fcb]

Thanks for the info! Do the buses work after snow storms (I know, newb question but I have like zero experience with snow...or cold lol)? I'm looking into housing and if the buses are reliable, even mid winter, that would open up my options considerably. Thanks again!

[kwils76]

Did undergrad at UConn - it was EXCELLENT fun!

Apartment complexes on a bus route or within walking distance (leaving out Carriage/Celeron as I wouldn't recommend them for grad students):

Hunting Lodge
Clubhouse
Knollwood
The Oaks (expensive but these are the super nice new ones in the new Storrs center complex)
EDIT: Norwood
          Mansfield

That's all I can think of at the moment but if I think of any more I'll add them in here.

I believe that the buses will run as long as campus is open.
If the snow is THAT bad the campus will close so it won't matter.

That said, I would really recommend getting a car. I paid like $2,000 for a beat up old Subaru when i was at UConn and it was the best investment ever, especially given how little there is to do in Storrs itself and how nice it is to be able to go visit all your friends who live in apartments that are further from campus.

Most grad students live a bit further from campus; I lived in Norwegian Wood apartments in Tolland (10 mins drive from campus right down 195) and it was full of grad students and the apartments were GREAT - I recommend them to everyone.

Hopefully this was helpful! 
 

Edited April 1, 2016 by kwils76

[bookofkels_]

On 31/03/2016 at 4:13 AM, Ash_Fcb said:

Thanks for the info! Do the buses work after snow storms (I know, newb question but I have like zero experience with snow...or cold lol)? I'm looking into housing and if the buses are reliable, even mid winter, that would open up my options considerably. Thanks again!

Yes the buses will only stop running if theres a travel ban, in which case the campus is also closed. You should be fine.

 

6 hours ago, kwils76 said:

I lived in Norwegian Wood apartments in Tolland (10 mins drive from campus right down 195)

I'm from Tolland! I had no idea Norwegian Woods was full of grad students, haha, awesome. Its a nice town, no crime except stupid bored teenagers.

[kwils76]

12 minutes ago, bookofkels_ said:

.I'm from Tolland! I had no idea Norwegian Woods was full of grad students, haha, awesome. Its a nice town, no crime except stupid bored teenagers.

Ah sweet!! Yeah I mean there were plenty of upperclassmen there also (like me!) but most of our neighbors were grad students.

I loved Tolland I literally recommend Norwegian to everyone, plenty of parking, 195 is always plowed first after snow and it's close enough that Wings Over still delivers............

 

ALSO I like your username - did my masters at Trinity!

Edited April 1, 2016 by kwils76

[bookofkels_]

On 01/04/2016 at 4:36 PM, kwils76 said:

Ah sweet!! Yeah I mean there were plenty of upperclassmen there also (like me!) but most of our neighbors were grad students.

I loved Tolland I literally recommend Norwegian to everyone, plenty of parking, 195 is always plowed first after snow and it's close enough that Wings Over still delivers............

 

ALSO I like your username - did my masters at Trinity!

Ohh I miss Wings Over now, damn. And thanks! I'm doing my masters in England (Sheffield), and visiting Dublin this summer, so hopefully I can see it my (user)namesake.

[anxiousphd]

Are any current UConn English students free this Thursday night or any time Friday? I will be presenting at the LANGSA conference, and it would be great to meet a student from the English department, since UConn is on my list! 

[WildeThing]

Anyone with recent experience of Storrs I could ask a million questions to?

[Teaching Faculty Wannabe]

On 2/16/2019 at 2:09 AM, WildeThing said:

Anyone with recent experience of Storrs I could ask a million questions to?

I just visited UConn Storrs and UConn Health for a weekend. I THINK I will be attending there.