A while back, I was worried about how I was going to pay for my graduate study. I applied to three different grad programs, one a long shot, one a good chance, and one a sure thing. Well, I got the long shot! Even after that horrible interview! My tuition will be paid in full, and I will receive a stipend on top of that! The stipend the first year is $28,000 so I'll be living off of that. The program starts in June, so now my energies will be spent trying to find an apartment in NYC by then! THen I have to worry about how to (frugally) furnish my apartment...
All that hard work paid off...
April 20th, 2006 at 03:02 am
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1) Does the school have any student housing available to you?
2) Check out CraigsList. My brother is starting out (again) and he found a room to rent through them, but they also list regular apartments for rent. I understand it's pretty competitive to get one.
3) Try living outside of Manhattan, like Brooklyn, or across the river in NJ. You need to factor in commuting costs, but the rent may be significantly less...
Good luck...
April 21st, 2006 at 03:03 am 1145588628
I'm looking at apts in Upper Manhattan (Inwood & Washington Hts) as well as the Bronx & Queens. I'll take anything close to Columbia U. I also have to decide whether to look for an apt on my own, or rent only a bedroom (ie share the rest of the apt with roommates) Most of the apt shares I've been finding are pretty close in price to the out-of-the-way single apartments, so I think I might opt for the commute rather than pay a premium for the location. The school does have some housing, but you really had to apply back in December for summer housing. Also, on campus, I could be sharing a kitchen & bathroom with a whole floor of grad students... I could pay the same price for an apt on my own (or maybe with just 2-3 other people)
I'm planning on teaching HS Mathematics when I'm done with my Master's. That's why the program was offering so much...they're doing all they can to snag more Math teachers... offer free tuition and some stipends, and they'll come! For any other math-types out there interested in next near's program, you can visit Math for America's website & look for info on the Newton Fellowship.