Berkeley graduate housing - yay or nay?

[nananiemand]

Hi all

 

I was wondering if anyone could chime in on the experience of living in graduate housing at Berkeley. I've signed up for a spot, but mostly as an alternate plan if I can't figure something else out. From what I can tell, it's only marginally more expensive than an off-campus place if I get a private studio, but its not so good a deal if I get a shared apartment.

 

Any insight is cool, even if it's about grad housing in general (other places, etc.). I've lived with my SO for the last two years, so it's going to be a big adjustment either way... Also, I have a car. This is probably going to be an issue?

[maelia8]

I  am a grad student at Berkeley, and I can confirm what you've already discovered: that the grad housing is vastly overpriced compared to the price of living in a shared apartment, but if you are  set on a private studio, you would probably be paying about the same (but in the grad housing you'd be paying that much for a roommate situation, usually with 4-6 roommates, so I don't think it's worth it). The one person I know who lives in grad housing is moving out at the end of this year because a) it's terribly costly considering that it's shared housing and it's right on frat row so it can get very loud there. Jackson House is also in the heart of southside, the undergrad area immediately south of campus, so if you weren't planning on being around a bunch of undergrads, I wouldn't recommend living there.

 

I live on northside where it's quiet and less student-oriented and a pretty nice neighborhood, and I have a room in a 3-bedroom apartment with two roommates and pay $850 per month for my spot with utilities. You can live much cheaper than that if you're willing to live in the less nice parts of south and west Berkeley, around $600-$700 per month for a room in a shared apartment, but I wanted to still be within walking distance of campus and live somewhere where I felt comfortable. 

 

You should make absolutely sure that you have a guaranteed parking place if you are bringing a car to Berkeley - in the whole downtown and even most residential neighborhoods, parking is only for 2 hours on the street until 6pm at least, and parking near to campus is pretty much impossible to find for free (you'd have to pay to park in a lot all day every day, which would get very pricy). Some apartment buildings require you to pay extra for a parking space in their garage. My building happens to have free parking included so I had a guaranteed spot, but otherwise I wouldn't have a car unless I lived in a neighborhood with street parking all day (which does exist in some of the residential neighborhoods further from downtown, such as those up by Solano avenue, or in Albany). 

 

Feel free to shoot me a private message if you have any more questions about housing in Berkeley

[SublimePZ]

In regards to parking in Berkeley, you can apply to get a parking sticker from the City of Berkeley for $34.50 per calendar year. This is an extremely cheap option that few students know about. The only downside is that you're limited to areas around your residence. For instance, I lived on Northside with a car for 3 years and using an F (I think that was the zone) permit, was able to park within about a 3 block radius around my apartment.

 

Source: http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/Customer_Service/Home/RPP_Residential_Preferential_Parking.aspx

Looks like they bumped up the price to $55.00 per year  but it is still a good deal. Maelia8 is absolutely correct that the parking situation otherwise is complete garbage.

[nananiemand]

I  am a grad student at Berkeley, and I can confirm what you've already discovered: that the grad housing is vastly overpriced compared to the price of living in a shared apartment, but if you are  set on a private studio, you would probably be paying about the same (but in the grad housing you'd be paying that much for a roommate situation, usually with 4-6 roommates, so I don't think it's worth it). The one person I know who lives in grad housing is moving out at the end of this year because a) it's terribly costly considering that it's shared housing and it's right on frat row so it can get very loud there. Jackson House is also in the heart of southside, the undergrad area immediately south of campus, so if you weren't planning on being around a bunch of undergrads, I wouldn't recommend living there.

 

That's unfortunate Most of my friends are grad students at UCSD and they have lovely grad housing in a private village off-campus. I guess this is probably like the family village in Albany which Berkeley has (which I'm assuming there's a nightmare waitlist for). I was really hoping housing would be a good bet (not perfect, but good) and a good way to transition into focusing on my first year exams.

 

So, avoid Southside of campus. Got it... And Albany is a good neighborhood? Is it safe for biking? I'm mostly keeping my car for visiting home, weekend recreation, and brownie points in a carless cohort.

 

 

In regards to parking in Berkeley, you can apply to get a parking sticker from the City of Berkeley for $34.50 per calendar year. This is an extremely cheap option that few students know about. The only downside is that you're limited to areas around your residence. For instance, I lived on Northside with a car for 3 years and using an F (I think that was the zone) permit, was able to park within about a 3 block radius around my apartment.

 

Source: http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/Customer_Service/Home/RPP_Residential_Preferential_Parking.aspx

Looks like they bumped up the price to $55.00 per year  but it is still a good deal. Maelia8 is absolutely correct that the parking situation otherwise is complete garbage.

 

My extra issue is that I will not be in the US or Berkeley until August 15th, so I probably wont have a Berkeley address or registration until the end of September. I guess I'll just be leaving my car in San Diego until I get a place. But yes! Thank you! I will do this City parking permit for sure. 

[maelia8]

That's unfortunate Most of my friends are grad students at UCSD and they have lovely grad housing in a private village off-campus. I guess this is probably like the family village in Albany which Berkeley has (which I'm assuming there's a nightmare waitlist for). I was really hoping housing would be a good bet (not perfect, but good) and a good way to transition into focusing on my first year exams.

 

So, avoid Southside of campus. Got it... And Albany is a good neighborhood? Is it safe for biking? I'm mostly keeping my car for visiting home, weekend recreation, and brownie points in a carless cohort.

 

 

 

My extra issue is that I will not be in the US or Berkeley until August 15th, so I probably wont have a Berkeley address or registration until the end of September. I guess I'll just be leaving my car in San Diego until I get a place. But yes! Thank you! I will do this City parking permit for sure. 

 

I have some friends who live in University Village in Albany, and it's quiet and pleasant, bike-able or bus-able from campus (takes about 25 minutes or so). The thing is that I don't believe the price is worth it unless you actually have a family and preferably a second breadwinner contributing to the rent costs. It is possible to bike in Berkeley - it's not the most bike-friendly city I've been in, but there are designated bike boulevards that are safe to use and if you're experienced in urban biking you'll have no trouble. If you lived in UV you'd also have a parking space, which might be a plus for you. I don't think the waitlist to get in to UV is too bad, as long as you apply in advance. But like I said, it also isn't cheap, and the UC Berkeley grad stipends can get tight if you're overpaying on housing. I'm one of only two first years I know who has saved enough money to afford to live over the summer without a supplemental job or extra summer funding, because I shopped around for a relatively cheap place and was willing to live with roommates. Friends of mine who were dead set on a studio and pay between $1100-1300 per month are really struggling financially now at the end of the semester. Honestly, I think paying anything over $1000 per month is a huge ripoff, as we only make around $1500-$1800 per month, before taxes. I'm always on the lookout for deals and am a bit cheap, though, and some folks I know would say that the price is worth it to be alone and not have to deal with roommates. 

 

On the issue of parking, the sticker may help, but be aware that in some areas, just FINDING a spot might be an issue even if you have permission to park in that area. As I said, I honestly wouldn't live in a Berkeley apartment or house unless it had guaranteed parking, because otherwise you may end up wasting a lot of time trying to find parking places.