Sorry for the delayed response, was in class all afternoon!!! If you have any other questions, please just let me know. I will try to help in any way possible.
I attached a few helpful files for you or anyone interested. The Fall 2017 Calendar is already posted, so this may help you plan out times to move down here/get an idea of what the fall will look like. I also uploaded the current schedule (fall 2016 class schedule) that list all the classes you will be taking next year. This has been the same schedule for classes at the school for a while. As far as the lab sections go, you will find out during orientation which section you will be in. Lab sections are not something you get to pick, those are chosen for you.
As far as moving down here, its a bit different than most people are used too. Many students had to use a realtor to help them locate apartments for rent. It was extremely difficult to find places if you are not used to Miami, so I would suggest using a realtor. If you think you will need a realtor, please PM me and I can give you the contact info for one that many of us used.
As far as the neighborhoods go, our class is mostly located in Hollywood, Aventura, Sunny Isles, or on Campus.
The following descriptions of neighborhoods were sent to me when I was first moving down here.....
1. North Bay Village
North Bay Village is the hidden gem of Miami. It’s a one-mile long city that’s about 20 steps wide, so basically anywhere you live will come with a view of the water.
Pros in no particular order:
1. Views of the water (statistically shown to reduce stress)
2. 15 min drive to class (that’s good for Miami)
3. Quiet, safe area
4. You can run to the beach
5. It’s on 79th street so basically in the middle of everything (no more than 15 from downtown Miami, school, or Aventura)
6. Street parking is easy, with tons of spots open for friends that visit
7. Cheap rent, considering it’s Miami
8. Next to a great public park with 3 full basketball courts, open field, and 4 tennis courts
Cons in no particular order:
1. Have to drive over a drawbridge that only goes up when you have a test (jk, it’s never really an issue, maybe once or twice every couple weeks)
2. Construction (they always seem to be building stuff and closing off one lane but it only affects you during rush hour).
2. Miami Shores, across from campus but not on campus
Pros
• 7 minute walk to class, 2 minute bikeride
• During class gaps, being able to go home to eat, nap, etc..
• Time efficient: no time spent in traffic
• When meeting in study groups, very convenient not having to drive to library
• Relatively cheaper versus other cities
• Publix grocery store close by
• During nights off- Brickell, South Beach and other attractions are all within ~15 minute drive
Cons
• Not the safest area
• When it rains, flooding system is poor (sidewalks become flooded)
• Not too many places to eat
3. On Campus Dorms
Cost of dorm: ~ generally $5,000 a semester
Meal Plan: ~ $1,930 a semester
BarryU has separate dorms for graduate students. This includes students in the Biomedical Masters Program, PA program, Law School, Nursing and Podiatry Program. Living on campus definitely has its pros and cons.
Pros:
-Getting to class is about a 5 min max walk
-If you forget something, you can easily walk back to your dorm
-Since you are required to get a meal plan, you don't have to worry about cooking
-The meal plan includes various options of eating at the dining hall or the on-campus stores (Subway, Chick N' Grill, etc.)
-You get to meet people from the other programs
-If you have a car, you get to park in the residential parking lots
-If ever you have maintenance problems, the staff will come the next day instead of having to wait a week
-You don't need to buy furniture
Cons:
-There is no kitchen
-You are required to get a meal plan
-You can be placed in a unit with two other people and share one bathroom or in a single room and share a joined bathroom
-If you don't like your roommates, living can also be stressful
-The dining hall and food options are not 24/7, if you are hungry at 2AM, hopefully you have snacks
-The furniture is not by any means luxurious, but it does get the job done
4. Ft. Lauderdale
Ft. Lauderdale is an awesome place to live! It is more laid back and quieter than the Miami area and a great place to go to the beach. While it may be a commute to school everyday it is nice to get away from the stress. Ft. Lauderdale has everything Miami offers with more of a community feel. Great night life, good restaurants, beach, farmers markets, shopping, and easy access to everything you could possibly need. The Ft. Lauderdale airport is also a really close uber ride which is great for people who will fly home for breaks or vacations. Living in Ft. Lauderdale allows you to go to all different places in South Florida as it is a very central location. You can go to Miami, Davie, and Boca all within 20-30 min. You can get a great place for around $800 - 1,000/month which is super reasonable price for the area.
5. South Beach
South beach real estate is sort of pricey, but if you're able to get a place down here its a great experience. I really don't think its that big of a distraction, depending on where you live in south beach the beach is usually a couple blocks away. Everything you need is south beach and is walking distance (publix, best buy, whole foods, hair cuttery, multiple dry cleaners etc). Lincoln road is pretty much an outdoor mall with all the popular stores (Apple store, Zara, banana republic, urban outfitters etc). Its approximately 11 miles away from campus which is usually a 15 minute drive (depending on traffic of course).
6. Sunny Isles Beach
Some Pros are a great location next to the beach and it is a really safe area as well. Some Cons would be a lot of people due to high rises, traffic in the mornings when going to school, and a lot of construction on a1a for more buildings. Prices ranges around this area for a 1-1 would be at least 1300 up to 1800. This was a great place to live and close to Aventura. There are a lot of restaurants and the Aventura mall is right down the road. It is about 30 minutes to downtown Miami and 20 minutes away from Ft. Lauderdale.
7a. Aventura - East
Aventura is a cool place, it takes a little time to drive to school but you can find places to live for reasonable prices if you choose to live together. The area has a ton of restaurants, grocery stores, and the aventura mall. Traffic is manageable most of the time except for a friday afternoon. Places to start looking in aventura are places like camden and parc central.
7b. Aventura – Just West of i95
Tips: Would recommend getting a realtor if you're not from the area. Some of the apartments here are difficult to get access to so a realtor could help you find places that are not on apartment.com etc. Also if you're going to live with a roommate, ask about parking--sometimes they charge extra for an additional spot. Be wary of all the rules living in apartment complexes.
Aventura Pros:
15-20 minute drive to school in the morning--Local road all the way to class. Convient--grocery stores (publix), restaurants (chipotle!), and Aventura Mall (bourgie of malls). Best part of living in Aventura is that it is SAFE!!!
Definitely recommended if you're not from South Florida.
Aventura Cons:
It's little pricey. With a roommate it can be 900+.
8. Midtown/Edgewater
The greatest place to live! You get the best of both worlds, the city and the water. It is about an 8-10 minute drive to school and very easy to get on the highway. You are about 5-10 minutes from all of the fun stuff (south beach and brickell), publix is 2 minutes away, and there are tons of restaurants and shopping in midtown. The price range for a 2 bedroom is around 2300-2500.
9. North Beach
North Beach neighborhood
This neighborhood is 7-8 miles from campus. The commute can be long because there are a few bridges between North Beach and Barry. Rent for a 2 bedroom is around $1700 per month and a 1 bedroom $1200. Some bridges require a toll, which add up to around $75 per month. It is a safe neighborhood that is very family friendly. is less touristy than the other Miami Beach areas and the beach is a 5-minute walk from our place.
10. North Miami
price ranges are around $650-850 a person roughly (I live with a roommate and we pay $1350 plus utilities). Pros are that it’s really close to school. If I oversleep until 30 minutes before class, you can get dressed, brush your teeth, and be at class on time. There are also fast routes to 95 so you can’t get most places quickly and this is cheaper for Miami. However, unfortunately Miami is one of those areas that you get what you pay for. The area is a little rougher and people including myself have had packages that were delivered and left at their door stolen.
11. Brickell
An urban neighborhood with a vibrant atmosphere, Brickell is the ideal home for someone new to the city of Miami. Filled with a diverse group of young professionals, it is a great area to get to know people and expand social networks. The heart of Brickell lies in Mary Brickell Village, a plaza with fun shops, restaurants, and bars, where there is always something to see or do. It is a true representation of the city life for those who are looking for it.
Pros for living in Brickell are that it’s only a short drive from school, you’re constantly driving against traffic, and everything else within the district is walking distance-- -grocery stores, gyms, restaurants, coffee shops, etc.
I have only two negative things to say about Brickell. Firstly, it’s a little pricey compared to some areas in Miami. Being in the city, the average cost of a 1-bedroom apartment ranges from $1200-1800. And lastly, if for any reason walking is not an option, driving through traffic in Brickell is hard, and finding parking is even harder.
12. Hollywood
A great safe area to live in. Its about 10-15 miles from class depending on where you are located. If traffic isn’t to bad, its about a 20 minute drive…but if traffic is backed up, you are looking at 40 minutes to an hour. There are a lot of great shopping areas and restaurants located in Hollywood. Plus its got some of the best/cleanest beaches in the area. Several students live in Hollywood and really enjoy living there.
