Where on these here internets can I find the inside scoop on Columbia Teachers College?

March 18, 2008 5:59 AM

Where can I find "inside scoop" information about grad schools and their surroundings? In particular, Columbia Teachers College? What's the best dorm? Best nearby bar/restaurant? Best place to buy books? and on and on...

I've seen the two posts here about Columbia, but neither are what I'm looking for. I'm applying to a masters program ahd have to prioritize my housing choices-- any place that can tell me if Bancroft hall is better than Sarasota? Or where the best grocery store is? Or hangout? I'm looking for an insider's guide, I guess, and it has been 10 years since I've been in college. Back in my day we didn't use the internet for a whole lot, so I'm looking for the sites the kids are using these days. I know about ratemyprofessors.com. What else is there?

posted by orangemiles to education (7 comments total)

I don't go to TC, but one of my good friends does, and every time I visit her we eat like every meal at the Amsterdam restaurant. Oh God, so good.
posted by olinerd at 6:17 AM on March 18

Wow that posted much earlier than I expected.

Link to Amsterdam Restaurant.

Also, my friend lives/RAs in the TC dorms at 517 W 121st (Don't know if there's another name for the building) -- it's a relatively newer dorm and as dorms go, it's pretty nice inside.
posted by olinerd at 6:18 AM on March 18

I'm in the midst of deciding where to go for grad school too. I wrote the graduate secretary and asked her to put me in contact with a current student who could answer some questions from a students perspective, which was incredibly helpful. So that could be an option if you have specific questions.
posted by carolr at 6:20 AM on March 18

I'll second the suggestion of Amsterdam Restaurant. I hated everything about TC, but loved that restaurant. They had crazy beer specials every day... although that may have changed, since I was last there in 2002.
posted by blaneyphoto at 6:25 AM on March 18

I'm in the middle of looking at colleges and a site I repeatedly visit is campusdirt. I would definitely suggest checking it out. It might be able to help you out with some of your questions.
posted by nokry56 at 8:32 AM on March 18

Posted too soon.

Here's campusdirt's page on Columbia University. They don't have anything specifically on Columbia Teachers College.

Campusdirt does require a free registration to view any info. If you don't want to be bothered with that then you can use one of these logins
posted by nokry56 at 8:37 AM on March 18

Here are a few resources:

Two Columbia student news resources often contain neighborhood news
Columbia Spectator - Columbia student newspaper
BWOG - less formal, more gossipy

There are several grocery stores within a few of blocks of the college. Appletree is a small store at 120th and Amsterdam. I think there's a Gristede's around 123rd and Amsterdam. The Harlem Fairway, arguably the best grocery store in the city, is a long walk down 125th St. Check with TC as there may be a shuttle van. Westside Market at 110th and Broadway is also quite good.

As you might expect with so many college students around, there are several restaurants, bars and coffeeshops nearby. Search the Manhattan board on Chowhound for Columbia/Teacher's College/Morningside Heights for the lowdown on neighborhood restaurants.

Teacher's College has a bookstore at 120th and Amsterdam. Bank Street Books is at 113th and Broadway. They have a lot of teacher resources. Book Culture is on 112th between Broadway and Amsterdam and has an enormous selection of academic titles.
posted by plastic_animals at 11:21 AM on March 18