SUNY Downstate Housing

[SarahGM]

The housing at downstate is either cramped and impersonal, or highly expensive.

What are people doing with the housing application? Should I just wait and check out the options for off-campus housing? Anyone know anything about those options (price, quality, etc)?

Thanks!

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[Bendrix]

Most Downstate students I know (including my roommate) live in Brooklyn Heights, Prospect Heights or Park Slope; that is, along the 2 train between Manhattan and Prospect Park. For an idea of the market rents, I would recommend doing a few searches on Craigs List.

 

[BushBaby]

Not sure where you are living now but you can start looking off-campus for backup incase you don't like their on-campus housing situation.

Nearby neighborhoods to look at:
Park Slope
Fort Greene
Brooklyn Heights
Mill Basin
Old Mill Basin
the Midwood area

You have a better bet looking in the first 3 neighborhoods as those are more "roommate" friendly. The last three are more family style housing, so you might be able to get a basement apartment but not a "roommate" situation.

 

[bubbajones]

how much does rent cost in te brooklyn heights area

 

[bubbajones]

bump

 

[BushBaby]

Originally posted by bubbajones
how much does rent cost in te brooklyn heights area

Well the amount of rent can depend on the size of the space but I will reckon $900+. The brooklyn heights/park slope/fort greene area is pricey since those areas are becoming the "new manhattan".

 

[bubbajones]

what are the dorms like at Downstate?

 

[SarahGM]

From the packet they gave me, they have either dorm-style or studio apartments. Both are one big room with two single beds right next to each other, but one has it's own bathroom and a little kitchen nook.

To live in such a room by oneself, it costs upwards of 5,000 a semester.

I'm coming from Durham, NC, where I am paying under $300 for my portion a rather plush 3 bedroom apartment. Now, I have lived in NYC before, so I know about the price difference in cost of living... but I don't think that I can really justify either a) paying that much to live alone or b) living in one big room with someone else!

 

[SarahGM]

So folks, what I'm saying is... if anyone wants to get in on an off-campus apartment in Brooklyn, let's keep in touch in case we decide to go Downstate!

 

[nrosigh]

The dorms are pretty "crusty" - they're right across the street from the main building where all the classes are, but I would definitely recommend living off campus. The dorms seem to have been built in the 60's or something and have industrial style toilets and rather cruddy sinks. The area where the school is also pretty unexciting - i.e. no restaurants, coffeshops, bars, bookstores... at least none that I found in my walking around. I also posted this in the allopathic forum and I didn't see anyone mention it here:

If you live off campus you can get instate tuition for years 2, 3, and 4! : )

But good idea, let's keep in touch and if we do end up at Downstate we can talk about housing... (I interviewed there and am waiting to hear back)

 

[Kashue]

Originally posted by SarahGM
From the packet they gave me, they have either dorm-style or studio apartments. Both are one big room with two single beds right next to each other, but one has it's own bathroom and a little kitchen nook.

To live in such a room by oneself, it costs upwards of 5,000 a semester.

I'm coming from Durham, NC, where I am paying under $300 for my portion a rather plush 3 bedroom apartment. Now, I have lived in NYC before, so I know about the price difference in cost of living... but I don't think that I can really justify either a) paying that much to live alone or b) living in one big room with someone else!

I still haven't gotten the housing information yet. Did they mail it to you? Has anyone else recieved housing information from Downstate?

 

[acab]

Originally posted by Kashue
I still haven't gotten the housing information yet. Did they mail it to you? Has anyone else recieved housing information from Downstate?

I got it too. I think it came around 1st week of January.

 

[bubbajones]

dont you have to live in NY for a period of one year without being a student to be considered a resident?

 

[nrosigh]

No, you can be a student as long as you don't live in the dorms. If you contact Downstate's financial aid office they can give you the exact procedure how you'd do it. You need to get a NY drivers licence, register to vote, and live in NY for a year, but that can be your first year in med school. of course, you have to pay full tuition for that year, but the next three are significantly reduced.

 

[met19]

If anyone has any questions about Downstate let me know...laters....