HGSE Fall 2013

[merrysoprano]

http://huhousing.offcampuslisting.com/ This looks super useful in terms of apartment hunting. Padmapper too. And I bet we can all swing deals from graduating HGSE people.

 

Oh, and CQE: you are quite welcome!

Edited March 12, 2013 by merrysoprano

[merrysoprano]

WUT?

 

I didn't get one.

 

wahhhhhh

 

I'm not in the cool kids club.

 

Sounds like it was for the Higher Ed Cool Kids.

[EdYouKateOr]

 Congratulations! Special Studies is always an eclectic cohort. I look forward to meeting you.

Are you Special Studies?

[EdYouKateOr]

Congrats everyone. I got in as well but will probably pursue other grad opportunities instead. What are you all interested in doing after HGSE? Any prospective EDLD applicants thinking about applying this fall?

I will probably try again!

[EdYouKateOr]

Is anyone applying for on campus housing? Housing in the halls is cheaper than off campus, no?

I applied for housing...just think for 9 months it won't kill me and will be the most convenient!

[EdYouKateOr]

Is anyone applying for on campus housing? Housing in the halls is cheaper than off campus, no?

From the housing site: Cronkhite is Harvard University Housing’s most cost-effective living option because residence hall units are less expensive than apartments and contracts run only for the academic year. Please note that a meal plan is mandatory for all Cronkhite residents.

[CQE]

Erghhhhh...

 

Trying to decide if coming up there for the Open House weekend is worth it! The timing of it is good considering I don't have any tests getting in the way of me coming. However, it would cost around $600-700. On the other hand, I would like to see the place I'm going to live before signing a lease to not only make sure the place looks like the pictures, but to also make sure the location and surrounding area is ideal relative to my handful of alternatives (remember, I'm already limited due to having a huge dog).  At the same time, having only a handful of options is nice in that it's easier to be more decisive since there are far fewer options. Additionally, only having a few options will allow me to see all of the places I'm interested in 1 or 2 days max, which is great.

 

Last of all, I've read that dog-friendly apartments tend to go pretty fast, meaning I feel forced to hurry and find a place.

 

But...uh...if anybody knows of any "cheap" hotels, please let me know.

Edited March 12, 2013 by CQE

[EdYouKateOr]

CQE is there a current student you can stay with?

[CQE]

CQE is there a current student you can stay with?

 

My dad has Marriot Rewards, so I might be able to mooch off the

 

[DanMcD]

Wouldn't necessarily recommend it because commuting can make socializing with the rest of your cohort difficult, but may be worth looking on the Dorchester side of the red line as well (though Somerville is much closer/convenient and highly recommended) if you're strapped for cash. Most 3 bedrooms in my area are about 1500/month, but of course it also means doing about a 25 minute commute on the T + whatever time it takes to walk or bus. 

 

 

For what it's worth the Open House was definitely worth it I thought, though if you're in Higher Ed you may want to look at the schedule ahead of time- I think I left early both days because of the way the program meetings/panels were scheduled.

[Sunshinegrl456]

Gooooooood morning! Whilst waiting for little critters to finish telling me how well they can read via state testing, I have a few goodies for gradcafe! 

 

1. A current EPM student told me her cohort is putting together a packet of current leases they all have to pass forward to next years cohort. I'm not certain every program is doing this but a) it doesn't seem unlikely, so keep an eye out! and if not, I will share when I can  

 

2. A friend who has lived in Cambridge for the last, gosh.....8 years now highly recommends looking into Inman Square and Huron Village as more cost-effective Cambridge alternatives to Harvard Sq. and Central Sq. 

 

3. I feel like there was something else....oh! The COOP - free shipping?!? What?!?! 

[Sunshinegrl456]

Oops, did the classic "attempt to write "b.)" turns into a dude with sunglasses after I hit post. My bad. 

[sharanya89]

From the housing site: Cronkhite is Harvard University Housing’s most cost-effective living option because residence hall units are less expensive than apartments and contracts run only for the academic year. Please note that a meal plan is mandatory for all Cronkhite residents.

Thanks and noted! dont mind paying a bit for a meal plan if it means cheaper housing. and dont really want to go in for an apartment considering it's just 9 months. sigh! just none months. i wish i had 2 years at harvard!!

[Sunshinegrl456]

Is Cronkhite really that much cheaper than getting an apartment? I sort of feel like I'm missing something because the cheapest room is $8k and the meal plan is another $4k so at the very least you're out $12,000 which is like getting a $1000 apartment for the full-year lease. Sure, not accounting for utilities, but almost all the HUH apartments/grad commons have utilities included in the rent. Is it really just about the location when it comes to Cronkhite? 

[RobotinBlue]

Gooooooood morning! Whilst waiting for little critters to finish telling me how well they can read via state testing, I have a few goodies for gradcafe! 

 

1. A current EPM student told me her cohort is putting together a packet of current leases they all have to pass forward to next years cohort. I'm not certain every program is doing this but a) it doesn't seem unlikely, so keep an eye out! and if not, I will share when I can

 

2. A friend who has lived in Cambridge for the last, gosh.....8 years now highly recommends looking into Inman Square and Huron Village as more cost-effective Cambridge alternatives to Harvard Sq. and Central Sq. 

 

3. I feel like there was something else....oh! The COOP - free shipping?!? What?!?! 

I agree with Huron Village and Inman Square. Depends on where in Huron Village though, some of the places there are ridiculously expensive houses. Somerville is also significantly cheaper and better for pets, but it might be harder to get to via public transportation. As for Allston- It's really cheap compared to Cambridge and it's probably going to be more spacious, but I'm not so keen on living in that area. All of my friends that have an apt there either have roaches, or mice, and there are some areas of it that are really seedy. Then again, there might be awesome pest free apartments there that we just haven't found yet?

It's REALLY hard to find parking around Cambridge, especially around Harvard Square. But I'm hoping that we can get Harvard permits or something?

 

I went to the Coop the other day to get a sweatshirt but then decided to wait on it, since they're so expensive!

Edited March 12, 2013 by RobotinBlue

[merrysoprano]

Gooooooood morning! Whilst waiting for little critters to finish telling me how well they can read via state testing, I have a few goodies for gradcafe! 

 

1. A current EPM student told me her cohort is putting together a packet of current leases they all have to pass forward to next years cohort. I'm not certain every program is doing this but a) it doesn't seem unlikely, so keep an eye out! and if not, I will share when I can

 

2. A friend who has lived in Cambridge for the last, gosh.....8 years now highly recommends looking into Inman Square and Huron Village as more cost-effective Cambridge alternatives to Harvard Sq. and Central Sq. 

 

3. I feel like there was something else....oh! The COOP - free shipping?!? What?!?! 

 

This is all such great info! I wish I could upvote it more than once. I made a whole bunch of apartment hunting docs yesterday, haha, and started making an apartment wishlist... I'm getting carried away. I'm hoping to be in Boston for a few years, so I suppose it'll be worth it!

 

Erghhhhh...

 

Trying to decide if coming up there for the Open House weekend is worth it! The timing of it is good considering I don't have any tests getting in the way of me coming. However, it would cost around $600-700. On the other hand, I would like to see the place I'm going to live before signing a lease to not only make sure the place looks like the pictures, but to also make sure the location and surrounding area is ideal relative to my handful of alternatives (remember, I'm already limited due to having a huge dog).  At the same time, having only a handful of options is nice in that it's easier to be more decisive since there are far fewer options. Additionally, only having a few options will allow me to see all of the places I'm interested in 1 or 2 days max, which is great.

 

Last of all, I've read that dog-friendly apartments tend to go pretty fast, meaning I feel forced to hurry and find a place.

 

But...uh...if anybody knows of any "cheap" hotels, please let me know.

 

I think it'd be worth it... hmm. Cheap hotels. Or stay with a student (I saw people did that on last year's HGSE thread, great tip by EdYouKateOr). I have stayed at the Boston Buckminster before, which is closer to the Fenway, but is fairly cheap. http://www.bostonhotelbuckminster.com/reservations2.html

 

Looks like there's a handful of Courtyards around the city so Marriott rewards'll come in handy!

[Fleet23]

I really don't think I can attend the Open House--state testing coming up.  I would just feel too guilty missing another day to get my kids ready (they have to pass this test to graduate HS).  Can those of you who go please PM me your thoughts?

[RobotinBlue]

Cheap hotels- probably one of the Holiday Inns?

[Sunshinegrl456]

I made a whole bunch of apartment hunting docs yesterday, haha, and started making an apartment wishlist... I'm getting carried away. I'm hoping to be in Boston for a few years, so I suppose it'll be worth it!

 

Haha, me too merrysoprano, me too! It's ok, I justify my need to gather and assimilate massive amounts of information way too enthusiastically as a symptom of being a research nerd (which is always ok in my book) 

 

Are people looking into getting grad apartments through HUH? If not, I'm assuming you're fairing on your own? If so, why? (cost, location, duration, unusual constraints, etc?) 

Edited March 12, 2013 by Sunshinegrl456

[merrysoprano]

Haha, me too merrysoprano, me too! It's ok, I justify my need to gather and assimilate massive amounts of information way too enthusiastically as a symptom of being a research nerd (which is always ok in my book) 

 

Are people looking into getting grad apartments through HUH? If not, I'm assuming you're fairing on your own? If so, why? (cost, location, duration, unusual constraints, etc?) 

 

Research is just so satisfying, haha! All that beautiful information.

 

My mom really wants me to apply for housing through HUH, but since I'll likely be with some non-HGSE people, I probably will just look for leases through HGSE people, friends in the area (I'll keep everyone posted if any friends have leases up! lots of Swarthmore grads end up flitting in and out of Boston so chances are good), and padmapper.com. The HUH off-campus site looks helpful, too - better than most university classified sites, at a glance.

 

I'm also going to look for an awesome tea or coffee shop to curl up and do work in. High priorities here, haha.

[RobotinBlue]

Does anyone know around how much the HUH apts are?

[merrysoprano]

I think it varies. They say on their website that they try to be comparable to off-campus apartments.

http://www.huhousing.harvard.edu/HarvardUniversityHousing/index.aspx

http://www.huhousing.harvard.edu/documentmanager/rent_ranges1.pdf

[RobotinBlue]

Thanks a bunch!

[Lbessmer]

Robotinblue good to see another Cantabrigian in here! I just found out that Armando's pizza delivers now, and I am terrified that if I attend, I won't be able to resist it.

 

If you are strapped for cash, I would look for places other than Harvard housing. Especially if they require a meal plan. I pretty much agree with everything that Dan McD and Robotinblue have said already, but I would like to add that there are in fact ratless and roachless apartments to be  found, even if Allston has a reputation for being a student wasteland.

 

Seeing everyone so excited is getting me excited! I don't know how I will be able to take more time off work, but I really want to come to the campus visit days.

[CQE]

I'm not having much luck when it comes to getting apartments to contact me back, lol.

 

Time to nag, nag, nag.