Moving to Columbia, SC: Graduate Student Relocation Project Alpha

April 7, 2009 12:08 PM

It looks more and more as if I will be attending University of South Carolina, in Columbia, SC, as a graduate student in Philosophy this fall. Please help me

Let us view this as an update to this question from 2007 but with some more issues.

Yes, I would like to know where to live close to campus. I'm familiar with the Irmo / St. Andrews area of Columbia, primarily, but would like to live closer to campus than those areas. Preferably, closer to the north end of campus / state capitol area. Are there any places near there to avoid or look for? I may be living with a friend who is buying a house, but if that falls through, this is a very pressing question.

Two, I am a native of Atlanta, born and raised in town. How big of a shock will the Columbia bus system be to me? Is it better or worse than MARTA? Is it "safe" for a city wise female white girl who is used to riding MARTA and GCT? Is it reliable? Or will it have the same schedule issues MARTA does? Could I use it to commute to campus every day? Also - how are the shuttle services on campus?

Three - how bad IS the parking situation on campus? Do consider that I am used to parking in down town Atlanta, and find myself gobsmacked at how much cheaper the parking pass for USC is than GSU. I will have a graduate parking pass, but I need to know if parking is in fact regularly available in the student and all tag lots. As in, every day available, in the same lots, on the north side of campus.

Four - given that I am in fact a city folk by heart, how much of a shock is living in down town Columbia going to be for me? What are the marked differences between Atlanta and Columbia in terms of living there? Will roughly 1500 a month be enough to live a starving student life in a small apartment in town, and still be able to enjoy myself and enjoy living there? I realize my concept of living wage is way off because of having lived in ATL my entire life.

Hive mind, home me!

posted by strixus to work & money (11 comments total)

One: You should look at the Shandon and South of Rosewood areas. Lots of homes and apartments within walking and biking distance of the University. No really scary neighborhoods there. Avoid Elmwood and anything around Five Points due to noise/crowds.

Two: The bus system is okay, but no MARTA. Conversely the town itself is much smaller, but the bus won't run often out to the outlying areas (Irmo, West Columbia, etc). Currently the bus system is not very well funded, so I'm not sure what the future of it is. Campus shuttles are pretty good. The campus itself is very compact. Columbia is a very car-based city, but ymmv. I know people who do well with only a bike.

Three: Parking on campus is bad. Really bad. All the big commuter lots are downhill from campus. Literally. Some are quite unsafe. Buy a garage pass if you can afford it. The grad pass is nice in that it allows your to park in staff lots after 4, but don't rely on it. If you're in philosophy, the Bull Street garage will be best for you.

Four: 1500 a month is a prince's wage to live in Columbia. I live comfortably for around that and I know grad students who live well on far less.

Drop me a line if you want to know anything specific or if you want general friendly advice. I've lived here for ten years and worked for the University for six, so I can probably help you out.
posted by 1f2frfbf at 12:35 PM on April 7 [1 favorite has favorites]

I can't help, but I wanted to say Congrats! Graduate work in philosophy (speaking as someone who has been there), is such an exciting and wonderful challenge. Go you!
posted by dejah420 at 1:01 PM on April 7

I am the opposite - born and raised in Columbia, been in ATL for nearly 20 years. I am in a rush this evening, but memail me if you want (and I will do likewise).
Your money will go further there (rent is MUCH cheaper) but I find the entertainment options and public transport to be sadly limiting.

As for safe, several HS classmates wanted to come to Emory or Tech for college but their folks deemed the big city of ATL waaay too dangerous (no, not kidding, alas).
posted by pointystick at 1:24 PM on April 7

I lived there last year and the year before and the going rate for downtown 1 bedrooms that were decently nice is around 600-700.

Some leasing companies are really good. I had great experiences with Fowler Company (google em) at their Hampton House property at 1800 Senate St, 1 block away from the BA Building and humanities buildings. You should be able to walk to pretty much anything, otherwise you'll be close to a USC shuttle stop which can take you to the other end of campus in about the same time it takes to walk (8-10 blocks end to end). This is what is considered University Hill sandwiched between the University and 5 Points.

After I graduated I moved just north of Elmwood in the Cottontown neighborhood, which was nice and convenient to the downtown business district (between state house and Elmwood), but was quieter and less busy than being right on campus. It borders sketchy areas and its about 10 blocks south to get to the north side of campus.


Five Points has nice areas and bad areas, you must go there in person and see what the neighborhood is like. Coming from ATL, I believe you'll be able to handle yourself, but strap up with some pepper spray/taser just in case.
Shandon is nice, but is a further bike ride/drive to campus.
posted by ijoyner at 2:56 PM on April 7

I wouldn't count on the bus system as it has it's share of problems and is very poorly funded. The shuttlebus is much better and honestly, if you're able, campus is small enough (as 1f2frfbf mentioned) that you can walk just about anywhere. Maybe you can use some of the money you've budgeted for rent for a garage parking pass. You should be able to find a place to live somewhere very much to your liking for less than 1500/mo.

I agree that the Shandon/Rosewood area is cool and convenient if you want to rent a house, duplex, or apt. in a neighborhood. Not sure if that's what you want if you're used to living in a trendy big city apt., but that's the area I would recommend as well, even though it's on the south end of campus.

The best thing to do would be to come visit and check it out for yourself! You're not that far away and there is always something going on here, especially this time of year. Not knowing your hobbies, likes, & dislikes, it's hard to suggest specifics, but having lived my entire adult life here, I can tell you (and pointystick, too) that Columbia has come a long way in the last 20 years. Yes, it's different from Atlanta (which I love, too)....but is that such a bad thing? You might come to find that you will come to appreciate a little culture shock!

Congratulations and enjoy your studies!
posted by ourroute at 3:05 PM on April 7

I was a GSU undergraduate student who lived and worked in Atlanta for a few years after graduating and then moved to USC for grad school (business, in my case). I spent a lot of time moving around by myself on buses and on foot in Columbia. Coming from Atlanta, you should be fine as far as being comfortable in the area goes. Like any place, Columbia has good and bad parts of town - you will soon learn which is which if you interact with locals.
The bus system is nowhere near as good as MARTA, and from what I understand it's gone downhill from when I lived in Columbia. The campus shuttle buses were awesome, though, and it's a tiny campus that is easily traversable by foot or by bike. We left our car parked most of the time, but parking was always a hassle if you had to move it.

As for culture shock, you should be fine. Yes, it's a bit more "sleepy" than Atlanta, but it's still a university town with the activity that brings. It's just a matter of doing some exploring to find the kinds of things you like to do, and with a very diverse student population you should have no problems finding people to do it with.

I'm kind of jealous, to be honest. I loved being a grad student in Columbia, we had some great times there. I'll add a plug here too for the Blue Cactus, our favorite restaurant in Columbia. I crave their Bee Bim Bob often, and we eat there every time we go back to visit friends.
posted by gemmy at 4:41 PM on April 7

And I'll plug Hunter-Gatherer, a small brew-pub with excellent food, right on the edge of campus. I am making a special trip to Columbia in May just to go there.

Campus is entirely walkable. When I was a freshman I trekked from Capstone (north east edge of campus) to the Coliseum (southwest edge of campus) every day, no problem. Parking can be a pain, and a garage spot is golden. However, there is plenty of housing within walking distance from campus as well, so you might not even need a parking pass. In fact, you can always buy a garage pass and if you discover you don't need it, sell it to the highest bidder.

You'll learn Five Points and it will be your friend. It wasn't until after I graduated college that I learned that not every bar is within walking distance of twenty-three others. Or if you prefer to avoid the fratties, just go to the Vista area of town on the other side of campus. There are plenty of "cultural" things to see and do, including a cool indie theater. Even if you hate football, you can't help but get wrapped up in tailgating season - the whole city gets behind the Gamecocks. And there's baseball in the spring (tickets are a whole $6!).

In case you can't tell, I recently graduated from USC and really miss it. I wouldn't want to live there forever, but Columbia is a GREAT southern town for the student life.
posted by kidsleepy at 7:20 PM on April 7

Thank you everyone! This has been really helpful.

I'm pretty nervous about this - as you can probably tell. Thank you all for your answers. I'll try to get in touch with folks as I find out more details, and ask more detailed questions.

Maybe we can do a USC meetup once I get moved in.

Again - THANKS!
posted by strixus at 1:55 AM on April 8

Bonus hint: Huger Street is pronounced HUE-gee, I have no idea why. Drop the name like that and you'll fit right in.

Come visit, the school and town are at their best right now.
posted by 1f2frfbf at 6:07 AM on April 8

I loved living in Five Points. I am a current partial landlord and former resident. Living on Greene street is a pretty sweet deal and very convenient. (Outside of the garbage trucks in the early am near my place, kidsleepy care to second my thoughts?) Average rent in Columbia near campus can run anywhere between 400 and 700 bucks a month depending on where you live. I did have friends who commuted from Casey, Irmo and West Columbia and they hated it. (1) you can’t go home between classes unless you have lots of time and (2) you have to get up earlier in the morning. As such, I support your reasoning to want to walk or bike to class every day. Parking can be hassle and the money you save renting far away is paid out in parking tickets ($5 - $12), garage passes ($250+), gas and cabs (~$8 per mile).

As for the bus system, the USC bus line isn’t half bad but I would not want to use it every day. I cannot comment on the city system.

kidsleepy – Avoid the fratties by going to the Vista?! That is misleading. Five points = $2 beam and coke in plastic. Vista = $5 beam in coke in a glass. You will see a mix of people everywhere. I will second your thoughts on Hunter Gatherer. (Maybe I’ll see you there in May…) But I will add the best pulled pork in town is at the Palmetto Pig on Friday nights with your student ID. It used to be all you can eat for $5 or $8.

With $1500 a month you can live like a king. I would say $600-$700 for housing, cable, internet etc. $300 - $500 for food. $300 to blow in Five Points and the Vista. May I add you can easily drink all night in Five Points for less than $35... maybe $40 if you get an Everclear slushy at Dr. Rocs. $2 drink specials! Fuck yeah!
posted by thetenthstory at 8:25 AM on April 8

An update. It seems I will not be moving at all. The local History department managed to find funding for me, and as such, I decided to change fields and stay here.

But thank you, everyone, for your great input!
posted by strixus at 8:14 AM on April 13