slacktivist Posted March 11, 2011 Posted March 11, 2011 I'm leaning toward accepting my offer from Maryland, but I am concerned about finding an affordable rental. My offer was just under $15,000 for the school year, which I don't think I can accept if I can't feel pretty sure that housing will be affordable. There is no way that I will spend 40 percent or more of my stipend on housing. Are there any other admits in the same boat? If so, PM me and maybe we can figure out some sort of roommate situation in advance.
secretly_yes Posted March 11, 2011 Posted March 11, 2011 Hi slacktivist, I have lived in DC for four years. At one point I was a housing coordinator for an internship program here. Since then, I have helped friends and friends of friends find places in and around DC. I would be happy to help in any way I can. I know that most UMd students look for housing along the UMd shuttle route. This includes housing around the Prince George's Plaza metro stop and housing towards downtown Silver Spring. If you are bringing a car and will not have to use the shuttle, that can bring down the cost of housing considerably. I would consider looking at apartments in Silver Spring that are not connected to the metro. You pay a high premium to live close to the metro here. A studio in downtown Silver Spring, for example costs about $1000 to $1200/month. Prince George's County is a less expensive area to live in, but the crime rate is much higher. There are some newer properties in this area (towards the College Park Ikea) but the last time I asked their prices were similar to downtown Silver Spring and the location was not as good. Finally, since not all properties are listed on rent.com and Craigslist can get very shady, I suggest searching for management companies and seeing what they have available. Southern Management Company, for example, has some reasonably priced apartments around University of Maryland. Camden, another management company, has much pricier apartments in the area. I hope this helped.
slacktivist Posted March 11, 2011 Author Posted March 11, 2011 Hi slacktivist, I have lived in DC for four years. At one point I was a housing coordinator for an internship program here. Since then, I have helped friends and friends of friends find places in and around DC. I would be happy to help in any way I can. I know that most UMd students look for housing along the UMd shuttle route. This includes housing around the Prince George's Plaza metro stop and housing towards downtown Silver Spring. If you are bringing a car and will not have to use the shuttle, that can bring down the cost of housing considerably. I would consider looking at apartments in Silver Spring that are not connected to the metro. You pay a high premium to live close to the metro here. A studio in downtown Silver Spring, for example costs about $1000 to $1200/month. Prince George's County is a less expensive area to live in, but the crime rate is much higher. There are some newer properties in this area (towards the College Park Ikea) but the last time I asked their prices were similar to downtown Silver Spring and the location was not as good. Finally, since not all properties are listed on rent.com and Craigslist can get very shady, I suggest searching for management companies and seeing what they have available. Southern Management Company, for example, has some reasonably priced apartments around University of Maryland. Camden, another management company, has much pricier apartments in the area. I hope this helped. I appreciate the advice! Coming from San Francisco, I'm not sure there's a rental market in existence that would give me sticker shock. I did look at some of the management companies and the prices seem a bit more reasonable (~$650-700 per person in a two-bedroom), but am unsure about how I can coordinate a roommate situation on the other side of the country. Of course, I'll also end up asking Maryland nicely if they have a few more dollars they can give.
secretly_yes Posted March 14, 2011 Posted March 14, 2011 I appreciate the advice! Coming from San Francisco, I'm not sure there's a rental market in existence that would give me sticker shock. I did look at some of the management companies and the prices seem a bit more reasonable (~$650-700 per person in a two-bedroom), but am unsure about how I can coordinate a roommate situation on the other side of the country. Of course, I'll also end up asking Maryland nicely if they have a few more dollars they can give. People from my grad program (at a DC school) put together a list of people looking for housing. It was one of the nice things that the grad students did for the incoming class. It worked for a bunch of people. I also know a few students that signed the lease of a 2-bedroom, then advertised the spare bedroom on Craigslist and found a roommate that way. This worked out well because they could be picky about their roommate and because most rental places will let you add a second person to your lease after you move in. In DC-MD-VA people are ALWAYS looking for housing, so filling a room is not difficult at all.
cairalyrics Posted March 14, 2011 Posted March 14, 2011 (edited) People from my grad program (at a DC school) put together a list of people looking for housing. It was one of the nice things that the grad students did for the incoming class. It worked for a bunch of people. I also know a few students that signed the lease of a 2-bedroom, then advertised the spare bedroom on Craigslist and found a roommate that way. This worked out well because they could be picky about their roommate and because most rental places will let you add a second person to your lease after you move in. In DC-MD-VA people are ALWAYS looking for housing, so filling a room is not difficult at all. I'm considering attending Maryland, as well, but am also concerned about the $ situation. I can second what was posted above. I currently live in DC and had to look for someone to sublet, within one day of posting I had received 10+ emails asking to look at the place. Finding someone to fill a room in this area is definitely NOT a problem. Also, there are quite a few homes to rent on craigslist, usually with a max occupancy of 3-5 people, some of which go for 1500-1700/month. I also received a little over 15000 for funding. However, this amount was only guaranteed for 4 years. If you don't mind relaying this info, how many years will you be getting funding? Good luck on your decision! Edited March 14, 2011 by cairalyrics
slacktivist Posted March 14, 2011 Author Posted March 14, 2011 I'm considering attending Maryland, as well, but am also concerned about the $ situation. I can second what was posted above. I currently live in DC and had to look for someone to sublet, within one day of posting I had received 10+ emails asking to look at the place. Finding someone to fill a room in this area is definitely NOT a problem. Also, there are quite a few homes to rent on craigslist, usually with a max occupancy of 3-5 people, some of which go for 1500-1700/month. I also received a little over 15000 for funding. However, this amount was only guaranteed for 4 years. If you don't mind relaying this info, how many years will you be getting funding? Good luck on your decision! Yes, I have four years of guaranteed funding, as well. It's my understanding that the standard package is for four years at between $14,700-$15,900 per year, and I am at the bottom end of that range. If we both take their offer, let's be in touch about housing.
cairalyrics Posted April 11, 2011 Posted April 11, 2011 Yes, I have four years of guaranteed funding, as well. It's my understanding that the standard package is for four years at between $14,700-$15,900 per year, and I am at the bottom end of that range. If we both take their offer, let's be in touch about housing. I've pretty much decided on Maryland. Have you made a decision yet? I"m sure you've stated this elsewhere, so sorry for the repeat questions, but what is your subfield?
slacktivist Posted April 19, 2011 Author Posted April 19, 2011 I've pretty much decided on Maryland. Have you made a decision yet? I"m sure you've stated this elsewhere, so sorry for the repeat questions, but what is your subfield? Just saw this now! I ended up accepting my offer from Brown.
cairalyrics Posted April 20, 2011 Posted April 20, 2011 Congratulations!! Good luck! Just saw this now! I ended up accepting my offer from Brown.
cairalyrics Posted April 20, 2011 Posted April 20, 2011 If you don't mind my asking, what made you choose Brown over Maryland? Congratulations!! Good luck!
slacktivist Posted April 20, 2011 Author Posted April 20, 2011 If you don't mind my asking, what made you choose Brown over Maryland? Strictly a personal call. It was tough to turn down a great program like Maryland.
cairalyrics Posted April 21, 2011 Posted April 21, 2011 Thanks! Good luck! Strictly a personal call. It was tough to turn down a great program like Maryland.
YAGSA Posted April 24, 2011 Posted April 24, 2011 At Brown be sure to get well acquainted with Mark Blyth. Brilliant guy, but most importantly he is hilarious as hell. Strictly a personal call. It was tough to turn down a great program like Maryland.
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