Official Boston Housing Thread

[osin83]

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I think it would be a much better idea to keep all of the housing issues separate. Anyone looking for an apartment or roomate or both should post here. Also any questions on where to live should either be asked here or search through past postings.

 

[MedSchoolHopefu]

anyone going to be living on the North End?

 

[osin83]

NOT ME!! I'll be on Clearway St.

 

[mars2213]

I will probably be attending BU MAMS this fall, unless I find a good reason to go to RFU's program. How late is too late to look for an apt? And, anyone going to BU MAMS know if there is a fitness center at the med campus?

 

[osin83]

I will probably be attending BU MAMS this fall, unless I find a good reason to go to RFU's program. How late is too late to look for an apt? And, anyone going to BU MAMS know if there is a fitness center at the med campus?

there isnt a fitness center at teh med campus i dont think. But BU just built a new one at the main campus and its supposed to be the biggest/best in boston. But I dont really reccommend living near the med campus anyway. So much nicer elsewhere. Plus the shuttle goes back and forth all day long between main and med campuses for FREE!!!

 

[etikit]

for 75 bucks (annual) we can get a membership to a south end gym through the division of medical sciences.

I kind of like the south end...concord was nice, a block west ( or south...the city grid is all messed up because of the bay...so i dont know exactly), but over there were some of the nicest brownstones I saw while in Boston. The area by the intersection of mass ave and huntington is nice too, by where Osin said he was living...it is a tad bit farther away...short commute by bus, 20 min. walk.

Here was my perspective...the backbay area around the mass ave and huntington intersection (were the shuttle stops) is nice, and just as expensive as the south end. as you walk down mass ave. the environment generally gets more "liberal" and diverse ethnicities, and then as you get closer to the med campus...still walking on mass ave....you pass tremont street, which has its nice buildings and stores/restaurants, and its more older and run down ones. then when you pass the med campus and just right around there, the area is newer and up and coming...pretty nice.

so if you are looking for nice areas, I would say the south end, but immediately around the med campus, tremont street around mass ave, and the backbay (around mass ave and huntington....and anywhere in between there and back bay t-station).

studios were way overpriced and extremely small....i wouldnt even consider it.

So, i went in thinking about gettting a studio, but now i want to share a place with other students.

I'm still looking for a place or roomates, and my preference has now shifted from the backbay places...to living right by the med campus in the south end, or tremont st.

post back if you're interested...but im in chicago, so unless youre in boston, we may have to get someone to email us pics of the place.

 

[aeroluvr15]

for 75 bucks (annual) we can get a membership to a south end gym through the division of medical sciences.

I kind of like the south end...concord was nice, a block west ( or south...the city grid is all messed up because of the bay...so i dont know exactly), but over there were some of the nicest brownstones I saw while in Boston. The area by the intersection of mass ave and huntington is nice too, by where Osin said he was living...it is a tad bit farther away...short commute by bus, 20 min. walk.

Here was my perspective...the backbay area around the mass ave and huntington intersection (were the shuttle stops) is nice, and just as expensive as the south end. as you walk down mass ave. the environment generally gets more "liberal" and diverse ethnicities, and then as you get closer to the med campus...still walking on mass ave....you pass tremont street, which has its nice buildings and stores/restaurants, and its more older and run down ones. then when you pass the med campus and just right around there, the area is newer and up and coming...pretty nice.

so if you are looking for nice areas, I would say the south end, but immediately around the med campus, tremont street around mass ave, and the backbay (around mass ave and huntington....and anywhere in between there and back bay t-station).

studios were way overpriced and extremely small....i wouldnt even consider it.

So, i went in thinking about gettting a studio, but now i want to share a place with other students.

I'm still looking for a place or roomates, and my preference has now shifted from the backbay places...to living right by the med campus in the south end, or tremont st.

post back if you're interested...but im in chicago, so unless youre in boston, we may have to get someone to email us pics of the place.

Hey, I'm looking for a roommate, and I really wouldn't mind living within walking distance of the med campus. I'm going to be in Boston next week to check things out, so if you're interested I can send you info on what I find or I can check out some places that you've found online.

 

[jklasser17]

anyone going to be living on the North End?

While the North End is a sweet place to live, it is not a sweet place to live if you have to be going to the med campus everyday. Even though it is not that far as the crow flies, utilizing public transportation to get there will involve two subways lines and a bus.

I had a buddy who lived there first semester and then moved for the spring semester, just bc he was so annoyed with it. Save living in the North End for when you get ur residency at Mass Gen. 😉

 

[djyujin]

Looking for roomies in the southend!

 

[osin83]

If you guys are looking to find a place together and aeroluvr15 is going to be in boston, you should definitely exchange numbers and try to talk in between visiting different places. Especially if you plan on putting a deposit on a place while you are there (which I reccommend since places go fast).

 

[HouseIsMyHero]

If somebody is looking for a roommate and will be looking for apartments in July PM me. I'm a 23/male/non-smoker/currently living in Seattle and would be willing to fly over to Boston to meet and help look for apts.

Only catch is, I'm still waiting for Georgetown (waitlist). But that seems less and less likely.

 

[mars2213]

thanks etikit on the fitness center & south end info. I've been looking a lot at westland ave & mass ave or huntington ave & mass ave. I'll try looking at south end places too. also, I'm from Chicago too, is anyone else coming from here? maybe we can carpool, that is if our stuff fits in the car. lol.

I would be interested in a roommate, but I'd prefer female roommates only and no pets. I have asthma and allergies 🙁 I'm female and pretty easy going, a little bit on the organizing/neat side but just with my stuff. The only thing catch I have is that I am waiting on RFU, but I will have to make a decision soon if I want an apt.

It would be nice if all of us were in the same area... so where else are people looking?

 

[MedSchoolHopefu]

While the North End is a sweet place to live, it is not a sweet place to live if you have to be going to the med campus everyday. Even though it is not that far as the crow flies, utilizing public transportation to get there will involve two subways lines and a bus.

I had a buddy who lived there first semester and then moved for the spring semester, just bc he was so annoyed with it. Save living in the North End for when you get ur residency at Mass Gen. 😉

Well, would HES students be going all the way to the Med School Campus? or just the science center in the cambridge main campus?

 

[jklasser17]

Well, would HES students be going all the way to the Med School Campus? or just the science center in the cambridge main campus?

Sorry! My comment was aimed at those in the BU MAMS program. I am not very familiar with the HES program, but I do believe all your classes are at the Cambridge campus. (Someone can flame me if I am wrong!) As such, the Red Line is convenient as is living near Mass Ave.

 

[luvs2learn]

Hi everyone... I just returned from Boston today. It was my first time ever in Boston. I did'nt get to see too much of the surrounding area because I was only there for one day. However, I was able to look at the campus and a few apartments just outside the campus. I really wanna live close to the campus because I think it will make my life a whole lot easier not having to hop on a shuttle or subway to get to class everyday. I spoke with Laurie Dubois from housing resources and she was VERY helpful. If your looking for a place close to the BU medical campus that are popular among the GMS and medical students... she told me that these are places that I should look into: Harbor Point, Parmelee Court, Langham Court, and James Court. James Court is just across from the campus it is a new apartment and will open in July. I am really interested in any one of these places (ecspecially James Court) I am also interested in rooming with someone (female, nonsmoker, friendly, and clean) If anyone is interested send me a pm. Thanks 🙂

 

[MedSchoolHopefu]

So I decided against the North End. I saw a few places in Cambridge yesterday (Central Square) and I am almost 100% sure I'll be there...it's one stop on the redline from Harvard Sqaure and 1 or 2 from MGH. It's also really close to the Charles River. If anyone else is going to be at HES and living in the area let me know.

Good luck with your search

 

[Iain]

22/M/non-smoker looking for a quiet abode somewhere close to HES - flying out Aug 15th.

Pets are more then welcome......

 

[mars2213]

So I'm a little bored and thought this might be helpful... 🙂

Add the following info if you want to be PM'd about apts and roommates:
name - post-bac program, Age/ gender/ smoking or non/ pets ok? / possible locations for apts / other notes.

For those already listed, feel free to change anything. I didn't know if people preferred male or female roommates, so you might be listed under no preference?


Looking for Female Roommates

mars2213 - BU MAMS, 22/Female/non-smoker/no pets/symphony area (westland ave & mass ave, huntington ave & mass ave) or right next to BUMC / looking in July
luvs2learn - BU MAMS, Female/non-smoker


Looking for Male Roommates

HouseisMyHero - BU MAMS, 23/male/non-smoker/looking in July


No preference?

etikit - BU MAMS, Male
aeroluvr15 - BU MAMS, has friendly & tiny dog
djyujin - BU MAMS, Male/South End
MedSchoolHopefu - HES, Central Square
Iain - HES, 22/M/non-smoker/pets ok

 

[LinnyTrap]

z

 

[Lu E Lee]

I am also looking for roommates/an apartment. I was in Boston last weekend but unsuccessful at finding a place. I really want to live close to the medical center. My friend currently has a place in Harrison Court which she is giving up in August and I am working with the property manager to take over the lease. If that works out, then I will be looking for a roommate for the second bedroom. I've also added my name to the list below.

Add the following info if you want to be PM'd about apts and roommates:
name - post-bac program, Age/ gender/ smoking or non/ pets ok? / possible locations for apts / other notes.



Looking for Female Roommates

mars2213 - BU MAMS, 22/Female/non-smoker/no pets/symphony area (westland ave & mass ave, huntington ave & mass ave) or right next to BUMC / looking in July
luvs2learn - BU MAMS, Female/non-smoker


Looking for Male Roommates

HouseisMyHero - BU MAMS, 23/male/non-smoker/looking in July


No preference?

etikit - BU MAMS, Male
aeroluvr15 - BU MAMS, has friendly & tiny dog
djyujin - BU MAMS, Male/South End
MedSchoolHopefu - HES, Central Square
Iain - HES, 22/M/non-smoker/pets ok[/QUOTE]
Lu E Lee - BU MAMS, 24/female/non-smoker/no pets/South End/August or Sept

 

[djyujin]

good looks Lu. haha helps a lot.

 

[etikit]

****UPDATED 06/18/2006

Add the following info if you want to be PM'd about apts and roommates:
name - post-bac program, Age/ gender/ smoking or non/ pets ok? / possible locations for apts / other notes.



Looking for Female Roommates

mars2213 - BU MAMS, 22/Female/non-smoker/no pets/symphony area (westland ave & mass ave, huntington ave & mass ave) or right next to BUMC / looking in July
luvs2learn - BU MAMS, Female/non-smoker


Looking for Male Roommates

HouseisMyHero - BU MAMS, 23/male/non-smoker/looking in July
etikit - BU MAMS, 22/Male/Non-smoker/straight/wants sept. 1st lease


No preference?

aeroluvr15 - BU MAMS, has friendly & tiny dog
djyujin - BU MAMS, Male/South End
MedSchoolHopefu - HES, Central Square
Iain - HES, 22/M/non-smoker/pets ok[/QUOTE]
Lu E Lee - BU MAMS, 24/female/non-smoker/no pets/South End/August or Sept

 

[etikit]

I went out to Boston and checked things out already, so I have an idea of the feel of each area. The problem I keep running into with finding a roommate over the internet when both of us are not in Boston, is that it no end of the party can really make progress without seeing the place and being there. Unless you want to blindly go into a place, or the landlord will send pics, etc., but from my experience, the craigslist ads are way off base with what the place actually looks like. 🙂

I wish that while I was in Boston, I would have just signed a lease on a two or three bedroom apartment, then posted up on student doctor that I am trying to fill the place with students.

So, I'm throwing this out there, if any students, male of female are out in boston or can legitimately find a nice place over the internet, and can somehow convey the info about the place, and describe it, I will most likely be ready to send you a check to cover whatever (security deposit, 1st months rent, etc)....in order to finish this crapshoot of a housing search. If you are a female, I would prefer living in a three-bedroom, male...it doesn't really matter. I am a male.

send me a private message, e-mail, or call if you are serious about making progress.

It seems there are quite a few of us looking for roomates, but no one has any housing to fill. Maybe we should just find like a 8 bedroom house in the south end and go nuts.....who's in? 😀

 

[djyujin]

i'm down with the 8 bedroom house in the south end! that would be great

 

[Iain]

When I was in Uni in England we rented a 6 beroom farmhouse - once we rented out the butlers quarters, the gardeners house, and the 200 acres to a local farmer to graze his livestock on we were paying competitive rent. Not sure I would want do it again, as having such a large house in Uni people are always over, drinking, partying.

 

[djyujin]

even like a 4/5 person house would be good... i don't know, from what i hear about the MAMS program, i'm sure i'll just be going out friday night....

 

[ramanujam]

BU MAMS, 29/M/NS/pets fine/location flexible as long as it is near easy transport to the medical campus.

 

[Sandman01]

Hey ya'll. I just got my packet of admissions crap from BU. I am now on the hunt for housing like all of you. I'm planning on heading out to Boston in the second week of July to find a place. If anyone is planning to do the same around that time, then maybe we should meet up and find a place. Before I forget..Male/ 22/non-smoker/willing to live with either male or female. I promise I'm not wierd (Or does saying that prove I'm wierd). Seriously, I think it would be awsome to live with someone from the same program. If anyone if interested...shoot me an e-mail.

[email protected]

 

[junebuguf]

even like a 4/5 person house would be good... i don't know, from what i hear about the MAMS program, i'm sure i'll just be going out friday night....

Yeah, I don't know about this. Your goal in the program should be to excel. That means doing as well as you possibly can, not taking the first three weeks of a block off and then cramming as much as you can before the exam. This is the primary reason I chose not to have roommates. I wasted a lot of time/money in undergrad following the path of least effort, and it brought me all the way to BUMC. But there were a lot of flakes that started in August, and a lot of people who could have gotten a whole lot more out of this program than they ultimately did. A good gpa is considered 3.7+, and an excellent gpa would be 3.85+. That translates to one A- the whole year, with the rest being A's in classes like Histo, Biochem and Physio. I cannot even begin to tell you how impossibly hard it is to fall on the right side of the tracks with that kind of margin for error. Needless to say, the people who do are not out on most Friday nights. Not to get preachy (on a housing thread, no less), but I don't think that is a good assumption to make.

On the housing front, you people should really be expanding your search options to include the undergrad campus, which is a lot nicer, with a supermarket and several restaurants near by. The only down side is that you will assuredly be living with a lot of undergrads who can get loud at the most inopportune times.

 

[djyujin]

oh yeah, i meant if i do go out... haha i doubt i will be though 😀
i was thinking the same thing, that itd be best for me to get a studio or something...its just so expensive... 🙁

 

[Sandman01]

Yeah, I don't know about this. Your goal in the program should be to excel. That means doing as well as you possibly can, not taking the first three weeks of a block off and then cramming as much as you can before the exam. This is the primary reason I chose not to have roommates. I wasted a lot of time/money in undergrad following the path of least effort, and it brought me all the way to BUMC. But there were a lot of flakes that started in August, and a lot of people who could have gotten a whole lot more out of this program than they ultimately did. A good gpa is considered 3.7+, and an excellent gpa would be 3.85+. That translates to one A- the whole year, with the rest being A's in classes like Histo, Biochem and Physio. I cannot even begin to tell you how impossibly hard it is to fall on the right side of the tracks with that kind of margin for error. Needless to say, the people who do are not out on most Friday nights. Not to get preachy (on a housing thread, no less), but I don't think that is a good assumption to make.

On the housing front, you people should really be expanding your search
options to include the undergrad campus, which is a lot nicer, with a supermarket and several restaurants near by. The only down side is that you will assuredly be living with a lot of undergrads who can get loud at the most inopportune times.

How much of a hassle is it to get to the med campus from the undergrad campus? I know there is a shuttle, but I hear the trafffic is rediculous at times (especially if there is a red sox game). I am considering living at the main campus after talking to some friends already in the program. Appearently no one who lives near the med center walks around at night. Also I hear there aren't many convenient public transportation options. I wouldnt mind having the use of the new gym at the main campus either.

 

[HouseIsMyHero]

****UPDATED 06/18/2006

Add the following info if you want to be PM'd about apts and roommates:
name - post-bac program, Age/ gender/ smoking or non/ pets ok? / possible locations for apts / other notes.



Looking for Female Roommates

mars2213 - BU MAMS, 22/Female/non-smoker/no pets/symphony area (westland ave & mass ave, huntington ave & mass ave) or right next to BUMC / looking in July
luvs2learn - BU MAMS, Female/non-smoker


Looking for Male Roommates

etikit - BU MAMS, 22/Male/Non-smoker/straight/wants sept. 1st lease


No preference?
HouseisMyHero - BU MAMS, 23/male/non-smoker/looking in July
aeroluvr15 - BU MAMS, has friendly & tiny dog
djyujin - BU MAMS, Male/South End
MedSchoolHopefu - HES, Central Square
Iain - HES, 22/M/non-smoker/pets ok
Lu E Lee - BU MAMS, 24/female/non-smoker/no pets/South End/August or Sept

It doesn't matter if I have male or female roommates, as long as they want to study a lot and are nice.

 

[djyujin]

i'm also open to getting a 2/3 bedroom apt... so if anybody needs an apt.mate, PM me.

 

[Lu E Lee]

yeah i agree with etikit, that i wish i'd found a 2 or 3 bedroom while i was in boston and then could find roommates to fill it. plus, i'm not planning on being back in boston until orientation, so it makes it extra hard to find a place to live now. my next thought was to contact some of the larger apartment buildings and see if i can get pictures and estimates on rent. have any of you guys done this? james court is the new building right across from the medical center but i have a feeling its really expensive. from the BU and apartment websites - parmelee court, about 5 min from med center on washington street, states that rent for a 2 bedroom is $1500 and a 3 bedroom is $2050. (although when i visited, everyone said not to go on that side of mass ave) langham court on worcester street close to the med center says that a 2 bedroom is $1885. Dawson-Longley Apartments, again on the other side of mass ave, state that their 2 bedrooms are $1700 and 3 bedrooms $2200. so i guess i'll call them to make sure the figures are updated and also to try and get pictures. do any of you guys know of other buildings close by? my only reasoning for choosing the south end is that i haven't braved snow in 10 years, so the closer classes are, the better.
i would love to get a big place with lots of bedrooms for all of us. great big study parties. =)

 

[jklasser17]

Yeah, I don't know about this. Your goal in the program should be to excel. That means doing as well as you possibly can, not taking the first three weeks of a block off and then cramming as much as you can before the exam. This is the primary reason I chose not to have roommates. I wasted a lot of time/money in undergrad following the path of least effort, and it brought me all the way to BUMC. But there were a lot of flakes that started in August, and a lot of people who could have gotten a whole lot more out of this program than they ultimately did. A good gpa is considered 3.7+, and an excellent gpa would be 3.85+. That translates to one A- the whole year, with the rest being A's in classes like Histo, Biochem and Physio. I cannot even begin to tell you how impossibly hard it is to fall on the right side of the tracks with that kind of margin for error. Needless to say, the people who do are not out on most Friday nights. Not to get preachy (on a housing thread, no less), but I don't think that is a good assumption to make.

On the housing front, you people should really be expanding your search options to include the undergrad campus, which is a lot nicer, with a supermarket and several restaurants near by. The only down side is that you will assuredly be living with a lot of undergrads who can get loud at the most inopportune times.

excellent advice junebug!

honestly, the goal in your housing search should be to minimize distractions.

 

[etikit]

yeah i agree with etikit, that i wish i'd found a 2 or 3 bedroom while i was in boston and then could find roommates to fill it. plus, i'm not planning on being back in boston until orientation, so it makes it extra hard to find a place to live now. my next thought was to contact some of the larger apartment buildings and see if i can get pictures and estimates on rent. have any of you guys done this? james court is the new building right across from the medical center but i have a feeling its really expensive. from the BU and apartment websites - parmelee court, about 5 min from med center on washington street, states that rent for a 2 bedroom is $1500 and a 3 bedroom is $2050. (although when i visited, everyone said not to go on that side of mass ave) langham court on worcester street close to the med center says that a 2 bedroom is $1885. Dawson-Longley Apartments, again on the other side of mass ave, state that their 2 bedrooms are $1700 and 3 bedrooms $2200. so i guess i'll call them to make sure the figures are updated and also to try and get pictures. do any of you guys know of other buildings close by? my only reasoning for choosing the south end is that i haven't braved snow in 10 years, so the closer classes are, the better.
i would love to get a big place with lots of bedrooms for all of us. great big study parties. =)

I just called Parmalee and Langham....nothing available for september 1st. Called James Court, no answer...left voicemail. Don't know about the Dawson-Longley Apartments, but the prices seem reasonable. Let me know if you hear back from them.

You seem like you have the same thought process and are in the same boat I'm in. I found a few "well written descriptions" of some three and four bedroom places on Craigslist.com.

Maybe we can investigate some of those postings as well, and see if those pan out??

 

[Go Lance!]

FYI ... last time I spoke with Natasha Hall she said that our Orientation (BU MAMS) will tentatively be sometime during that last week of August. So finding an apartment for 9/1 might make getting settled in Boston a little tight. I found an apartment near BU undergrad campus for 8/1 a while ago. I will fly out out to meet my things (I will move using ABF U-Pack) on 8/9. This way I can get settled and start the program without a million things going at once.

I called many realtors that I found via websites, mainly craigslist, and just put out feelers for what I was looking for. Found a nice 1 bedroom for $1225 per month no fee, starting 8/1.

 

[HouseIsMyHero]

FYI ... last time I spoke with Natasha Hall she said that our Orientation (BU MAMS) will tentatively be sometime during that last week of August. So finding an apartment for 9/1 might make getting settled in Boston a little tight. I found an apartment near BU undergrad campus for 8/1 a while ago. I will fly out out to meet my things (I will move using ABF U-Pack) on 8/9. This way I can get settled and start the program without a million things going at once.

I called many realtors that I found via websites, mainly craigslist, and just put out feelers for what I was looking for. Found a nice 1 bedroom for $1225 per month no fee, starting 8/1.

Anybody else poor/cheap like me? 1225 is double what i'm paying for a studio in Seattle. I really don't want to pay more than 800 a month for living expenses, so if anybody needs roommates let me know. I'm on facebook.com so if any of you guys are, PM me and we can talk on that.

 

[Lu E Lee]

yup, called parmelee, nothing available, called langham, nothing available, left messages at james court and dawson-langley. we'll see what they come back with...although i had seen somewhere that 2 bedrooms are james court were around 2200, which is definitely out of budget. i'm hoping not to go over 800 either. i would definitely be interested into looking at those craigslist apartments, it appears as though that might be the only way...craigslist was going to be my next stop.

 

[luvs2learn]

I spoke with Jim a representative at James Court and he gave me the run down on how much it would be to rent there:
(Range depends on what floor your room is located, view, and floor dimensions)
1 bedroom $1900-2400
2 bedroom $2750-3300
studio $1850-1900

He also said if your interested in moving in August 1st, this 1st month's rent would be free.
All rent includes heat and hotwater.

 

[etikit]

I've been making craigslist phonecalls today...nothing great panned out. I'm also looking to spend about 800 dollars...but that is for just the place (including brokers fee)....i would like heat and hot water to be included in that, but if I have no other option, I can deal with paying it off the top.

If any of you find a good deal on a two, three, or four bedroom place....get a hold of me.

There are some new loft apartments on harrison and east berkeley...located east of the med campus....3 bedroom, some 1 bath, some 2 bath, full kitchen, exposed ceilings (industrial conversions)...polished concrete floors, clean and new, No Fee, ranging from 2400-2600. Utilites not included.

^^This was the best deal I could find. I think it may be like a 15 min walk though.

The problem is when I find a place on craigslist, next thing you know there is a full fee...which is like adding a hundred dollars to the monthly rent. Or when I find a cheap place, I find out heat and hot water is not included, and one bedroom is massive and the other is tiny. crap like that.

 

[djyujin]

Is there still a lot of housing available??

 

[djyujin]

If any of you find a good deal on a two, three, or four bedroom place....get a hold of me.

Ditto

 

[Lu E Lee]

yeah i've been going through craigslist ads today but i've never had to deal with this broker business, so its quite frustrating. i haven't called anyone yet, but unless one of us is going to be in boston, its going to be hard to nail something down. did you happen to contact ringo realty? PAUL MCCUSKER AT 617-595-6591 was the name and number associated with some of the ads - a couple had 4 or 5 bedrooms, claimed to be in the south end and at a good price, but i don't know. the pictures looked nice =) there was also another 4 bedroom at oneshowapartments that looked suitable. (plus it was available 9/1) i just need to start calling these places as well but i'm sure i'll run into the same trouble. i'm going to keep looking and try to make some calls but i'm going on a quick trip til friday, so i'll see what i can do. this is just the last thing i need to complete before everything's ready in boston and i'm anxious to get it done. oh and those james court apartment quotes seemed awful pricey.

 

[bat28]

How much of a hassle is it to get to the med campus from the undergrad campus? I know there is a shuttle, but I hear the trafffic is rediculous at times (especially if there is a red sox game). I am considering living at the main campus after talking to some friends already in the program. Appearently no one who lives near the med center walks around at night. Also I hear there aren't many convenient public transportation options. I wouldnt mind having the use of the new gym at the main campus either.

it is easy. you will have class in the mornings and will prbably have to take the 730am shuttle (for 8am class). There is some traffic, so it takes about 20 mins in the morning... any other time it only takes 10. Sox traffic can be bad, but doesn't really effect the shuttle.

The main campus is so much better and the commute is easy. I have been at BU for 6 yrs, (BUMC for almost 3)... after living everywhere I would highly recommend staying very close to the main campus (close enough for an easy walk to a shuttle stop).

 

[etikit]

yeah i've been going through craigslist ads today but i've never had to deal with this broker business, so its quite frustrating. i haven't called anyone yet, but unless one of us is going to be in boston, its going to be hard to nail something down. did you happen to contact ringo realty? PAUL MCCUSKER AT 617-595-6591 was the name and number associated with some of the ads - a couple had 4 or 5 bedrooms, claimed to be in the south end and at a good price, but i don't know. the pictures looked nice =) there was also another 4 bedroom at oneshowapartments that looked suitable. (plus it was available 9/1) i just need to start calling these places as well but i'm sure i'll run into the same trouble. i'm going to keep looking and try to make some calls but i'm going on a quick trip til friday, so i'll see what i can do. this is just the last thing i need to complete before everything's ready in boston and i'm anxious to get it done. oh and those james court apartment quotes seemed awful pricey.

I called Paul....he said the 5 bedroom was awesome. Just huge...two kitchens...just a giant house, clean, said the coolest he has seen in Boston. But it is in Brookline far west of Medical Campus....it would be like a 20 minute commute. It is not by the undergrad campus...or anything of interest to us...so I told him to find something with a better location and get back to me.

too bad...it sounded nice...its just that if i wanted to live farther away, i would probably just live by the BU undergrad, or in the back bay.

 

[Lu E Lee]

oh good job. you are definitely on top of things. unfortunately, i am leaving in about an hour to take my sister to undergraduate orientation. i will be back on friday. so if i have time while i'm there, i will work on it, otherwise, i'll start saturday. but i am definitely most interested in staying in the south end, i just prefer to be close to classes etc. but i'll get back to you guys soon on what i find. i'm just keeping my fingers crossed we can find something suitable.

 

[BertieWooster]

Hey all,

I visited Boston a while back and spent several days looking for places in various areas. I knew I wanted to live alone, so studio/one bedroom were really my only options. Here's what I found (and this is just my personal opinion so take it for what it is):

South End:
-I saw several studios here. They were anywhere from $850-1200. Most were very small..though advertised as being larger, I can't really believe any were greater than 200 sq ft total (including bathroom)..I had various rooms in college and knew the exact square footage so I had some good bases for comparison. I looked at a couple places on mass ave and tremont (couple others too but can't recall the street names). Even though I could walk form any of these places, realisitcally it seeemed like the walk would be between 10-15 minutes to BUMC from most places. I also didn't like that the area seemed a lot quieter when i drove through later at night with several seedy characters roaming around. I'm also the type of person who likes to be within a short walking distance to lots of restaurants, shops, groery stores, etc. and this didn't seem to be the case here.

Back Bay:
-The area is noticebaly nicer and safer with lots of restaurants, shops, etc. and from most places I could walk ten minutes to mass ave to catch a bus. The places I saw were similar in size and price to South End. Again, the size/price ratio was kind of a disappointment as the places were quite small
There may be better/larger studios in this area with nicer hardwood floor (probably $1100+ from what i could estimate) but I wasn't able to find them.

****
I eventually found a place near the Back Bay Fens, close to Fenway Park. The walk to the undergrad campus and to mass ave are both short (both under 10 minutes). I also like that the place I found had a separate foyer area as well as a separate kitchen area (all the places in back bay and south end had stove top burners and half fridges). the rent was about $1000 with free heat. Including the foyer area it was considerably larger than other places I had seen and had hardwood floors (I'm not a fan of installed carpeting).




For my apartment search, I spent a couple weeks before heard scouring craigslist and the other online resources and contacted several brokers/companies. I looked under "no-fee" listing on craigslist to avoid that expensive hassle. If you search for "fenway" on craigslist you should be able to find some listings there for similar places



Anyway, this is all merely what I have gathered from my 1.5 day experience in Boston searching for apts. If any current students or other, more knowledgeable people want to disagree or correct me, please feel free!


All the best to everyone in their housing search and see you this fall!

 

[magentamoon]

So I've been looking everywhere trying to find an apartment, and this (Jamaica Plain) is one of the areas that keeps popping up and the rates seem fairly reasonable. However, I haven't heard anyone talk about it so I was wondering if it is really far away from campus or just a sketchy neighborhood. Anyway, any thoughts from someone familiar with the area would be helpful. It also doesn't help that I have a dog and everywhere I sent questions to so far haven't accepted them.

 

[djyujin]

How far is Fenway from BU Med? It looks like it would be somewhat cheaper living in Fenway, but I wouldn't really know...if anybody could give advice that would be great! 🙂 Hopefully I can find a nice studio...?