Housing at CSPM

[podi]

---

Members do not see this ad.

🙂Hey guys,

I wanted to know if there were any recommendation on where to live in the bay area? I plan on attending CSPM, but I am coming from New Jersey so I really don't know where or what I should be looking for -i.e: Where in Oakland should I avoid? Is Emeryville a good town? What other towns would have easy transportation to the school because I don't think I'll be bringing my car.

Oh, and if anyone has feedback on CSPM as a school (mostly I'm concerned about clinicals and residency placements) or if any future students want to contact me so that we could possibly find a place together SEND ME A MESSAGE PLEASE.

PEACE, LOVE, AND POWER TO THE LOWER EXTREMITIES!!!!!!

-michele

 

[DrMushroomFoot]

I hear Alameda, the small island is the safest and better choice to stay in Oakland. Its about a 10-15 min commute to campus.

 

[jpevball]

If you live in Alameda, you might need a car... I would look a little closer to a BART station since the MacArthur is the one closest to campus and runs a free shuttle to school every 15 minutes. Have you looked at the East Bay Area (i.e. Orinda/Moraga/Walnut Creek)? I live in Lafayette and take BART every morning (14 minute ride) and catch the shuttle. WAY nicer areas than Oakland. Anyway, something to think about. Some of my classmates live right near campus so they can go home for lunch, but I prefer where I'm at.... Good luck, and you will LOVE school!

 

[caoabunga]

hey there, i live in emeryville and by car it's a 10 min ride. emeryville's a pretty nice/safe area. bay street mall/ikea/movie theatres are right here and pretty convenient. several students from our class and other cspm classes live around here in the following apartment complexes: Pacific Park Plaza, avenue 64, archstone, courtyards at 65th. if you dont have a car, from these apartment complexes you can take the free shuttle bus (emeryville go round) to the Macarther Bart Station, and from there you take the shuttle that takes you directly to school. I live in Pacific Park Plaza so I'd recommend that one. You can PM me if you want more info.

As for alameda, it is a nice and safe area as well, but as jpevball said...you'd need a car if you live in alameda.

ps...i been wonderin who you were jpevball, but i think i have an idea now.

 

[jpevball]

I KNOW who you are A-CAO...abunga!! ;o) See ya in the morning man!

 

[Felt Racing]

...

 

[caoabunga]

i know some students live right around that area as well...and they also go running around lake merritt a lot. from what i hear, the area around lake merritt isn't too bad either. lots of good eats and bars around there too. you should also look into piedmont also. but i dont know of anyone who lives there. avoid east oakland.

Recently accepted to CSPM and starting to try to get an idea for housing. In addition to the places mentioned above, what are current students opinions on the Lake Merritt area? I live more than 12 hours from the bay so its hard for me to just drop in and see a neighborhood. The Lake Merritt area Apartments are cheaper, and walking distance to school but I'm worried about the safety of the areas directly surrounding the school. Thanks!

 

[Felt Racing]

...

 

[jpevball]

Also, the area directly around the school is a medical center. Fairly safe. I wouldn't go walking around a few blocks away after 8pm though. But the only crime we heard about was a student not watching their backpack who had it stolen... and a different student who was walking alone at night with his laptop ON and was focusing on THAT instead of his surroundings. Nothing bad happened to any students...just those thefts. All in all such incidents can easily be avoided with some street smarts...😉

 

[Felt Racing]

...

 

[streetsweeper]

I live as far away as hayward but I'm very happy. Recently moved here too and I love this city! So many restaurants out here and shopping centers/malls nearby. The commute is 30 minutes going the 580 route (much of the traffic is on 880). I also happen to live near the bart so I can just take public transit to campus if I felt like it... which allows me some time to read/study/nap on the way..... and not having to deal with parking which wouldn't be a problem if you came to campus super early. Hey, sometimes you just feel like waking up late. I also happen to do daily rotations in San Francisco so the Bart is super convenient.

Keep in mind that that there is a free shuttle service to and from campus at the MacArthur bart station. The school also provides a 40% discount on bart tickets so do take advantage.

Sounds expensive but it's relatively cheap compared to some of my classmates. I pay ~450 a month total for living which includes cable and internet expenses. Of course I split 50/50 with my female. Then for commute, add another ~$30 per week for commute to clinic/classes. The key to surviving the bay area is to share costs.

 

[Felt Racing]

...

 

[rainynights]

Sweeper - You mentioned you lived in Hayward while attending CSPM. How long would it take you to get to your clinical rotations in SF? The VA in SF is in the upper northwest corner of the city!

Any other thoughts about living arrangements for those attending CSPM?

 

[SLCpod]

I would suggest contacting student services. They are really great about answering these questions and will put you in contact with some students. There is also a "booklet" on the site that gives some ideas of where to live. You could even go to the CSPM C/O 2016 facebook page and try to contact some students there.

 

[laureelee07]

Born and raised in the bay.

Cspm is a few blocks north of an area of Oakland that is getting gentrified (spelling?). I wouldn't turn my cheek at places between 30th and 20th avenue along telegraph. It's cleaning up a bit.

I'd recommend living anywhere along the 24, which js the Lafayette, walnut creek, moraga, and orinda. A'll those towns named have a BART Station. Plus, you're in a safe (wealthy?) Town, so expect to cough up the extra dough. It is beautiful drive...commuting on 24 you get beautiful scenery. Ride into downtown sf on Bart is aboot 20min ride. I shadowed a thirdnyear who lived in pleasant hill, and that's kinda a stretch.

Emeryville is alright, but I view Emeryville as the mixing pot of the crazies from bezerkeley and the ghettos of Oakland. It does have Ikea, outdoor mall, public market. But walnut creek just opened a brand new Neiman Marcus....

Alameda is a gorgeous flat island town. A safe, bikeable neighborhood. I recommend a car as well, although I've seen bikers in the Webster tunnel.

The other side of telegraph is ghetto. I think Martin Luther king way is on that side.

Someone at my interview walked from MacArthur to cspm, I was very surprised. Oakland is Oakland. I'm happy we have a parking structure. Just sayin.

C/o 2017!

Typing on a tablet. Excuse my errors.

 

[rainynights]

Thank you for the replies. I am under the impression that most 3rd and 4th year rotations are in San Francisco. If this is true, do most students move during this time?