Finding an apartment/roommate at Boston-Grad Student
June 25, 2013 1:43 PM Subscribe
It looks like I am going to Boston University - School of Public Health in the fall. How do I go about finding affordable and safe housing? I am from Chicago, so I was thinking of paying $900 for a studio. I have quickly learned that will not happen in Boston. So hivemind, what is a safe neighborhood that I should look into that will be close to campus? And, how do I go about finding a roommate? I learned of a program house called Fisk house which is only 1800 a semester and is a women's grad co-op- but it is full.
I used to live in Somerville when I was attending grad school in Boston, and would just take the T.
posted by discopolo at 1:59 PM on June 25, 2013
posted by discopolo at 1:59 PM on June 25, 2013
BU? Ideally you want to be on/along the Green 'B' Line, preferably on the Alston/Brighton line - probably no more than 2-3 blocks away from it. Being on another Green line is a VERY bad idea. It is better to be in Cambridge on the Red Line than being on the 'E' line over by Northeastern, or anywhere near Coolidge Corner. This isn't a saftey issue, this is a time issue. The green line is an above-ground non-elevated glorified trolley car that occasionally goes underground for a handful of stops. You will easily double or triple the length of time it takes to get to school by living in JP (also on one of the green lines) over that of living out on the red line.
Start looking on Craigslist for people needing a roommate or with a spare room. A September lease at this late in the game is like trying to buy a unicorn - it isn't likely and in the event that you do find one it is going to be over priced and probably just a mutated goat with one horn.
Boston is largely a safe city. The towns you'll be looking to avoid are Dorchester, Roxbury, West Roxbury, Roslindale, Mission Hill, Revere, and that's really about it... Maybe Chinatown too, but only in the context of places to live - it is great to visit. Realistically though they are nowhere near BU (well, maybe Mission hill is sort of near BU), but all of them are nowhere near the B line or the Red Line towards Harvard/Alewife. In other words - they should all be easily avoidable. Try to avoid planning a route to school avoiding bus routes (unless you find something really good near Coolidge Corner), as I'd have a lot more to qualify with how to avoid dangerous neighborhoods by that direction. (JP good - West Roxbury less so - distance between the two - 2 blocks.)
As for 3 blocks from the T suggestion: think slushy wet snow for slogging in on your way to class. We generally don't have pretty snow in New England - mostly wet nasty road salt filled crap. The shorter the walk the better.
posted by Nanukthedog at 2:18 PM on June 25, 2013 [3 favorites]
Start looking on Craigslist for people needing a roommate or with a spare room. A September lease at this late in the game is like trying to buy a unicorn - it isn't likely and in the event that you do find one it is going to be over priced and probably just a mutated goat with one horn.
Boston is largely a safe city. The towns you'll be looking to avoid are Dorchester, Roxbury, West Roxbury, Roslindale, Mission Hill, Revere, and that's really about it... Maybe Chinatown too, but only in the context of places to live - it is great to visit. Realistically though they are nowhere near BU (well, maybe Mission hill is sort of near BU), but all of them are nowhere near the B line or the Red Line towards Harvard/Alewife. In other words - they should all be easily avoidable. Try to avoid planning a route to school avoiding bus routes (unless you find something really good near Coolidge Corner), as I'd have a lot more to qualify with how to avoid dangerous neighborhoods by that direction. (JP good - West Roxbury less so - distance between the two - 2 blocks.)
As for 3 blocks from the T suggestion: think slushy wet snow for slogging in on your way to class. We generally don't have pretty snow in New England - mostly wet nasty road salt filled crap. The shorter the walk the better.
posted by Nanukthedog at 2:18 PM on June 25, 2013 [3 favorites]
I'd recommend the upper Allston or Brighton neighborhoods.
posted by killdevil at 2:32 PM on June 25, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by killdevil at 2:32 PM on June 25, 2013 [2 favorites]
I'm partial to Cambridge / Somerville and taking the T - as long as you're not too far from a Red line station, you should be fine with the commute.
posted by RedOrGreen at 2:46 PM on June 25, 2013
posted by RedOrGreen at 2:46 PM on June 25, 2013
You might also look into the HER House, on the BU campus. It's frickin' gorgeous.
posted by homodachi at 2:53 PM on June 25, 2013
posted by homodachi at 2:53 PM on June 25, 2013
Wait! West Roxbury is a lovely suburby area near JP, perhaps Nanukthedog above meant "Roxbury", not "West Roxbury". And the BU School of Public Health isn't on the main campus on the green line, so you don't want to be on the B line unless you have classes on the main campus (because the above-ground trolleys are Slow).
At any rate, I agree with the above that most neighborhoods are quite safe. THAT SAID, the BU School of Public Health is near the Roxbury border in a neighborhood that some folks would be uncomfortable in. However, I have friends that live in Roxbury, and as long as you're near the universities or the JP border, the neighborhoods are perfectly liveable.
If I were you I'd look along the orange line in places like JP, or along the red line, maybe even in Southie. Network with future classmates if you can to find out where your fellow students already live.
Lastly, nearby places to avoid as too expensive for good rent: South End, Brookline, Back Bay.
Welcome to Boston!
posted by ldthomps at 3:06 PM on June 25, 2013 [1 favorite]
At any rate, I agree with the above that most neighborhoods are quite safe. THAT SAID, the BU School of Public Health is near the Roxbury border in a neighborhood that some folks would be uncomfortable in. However, I have friends that live in Roxbury, and as long as you're near the universities or the JP border, the neighborhoods are perfectly liveable.
If I were you I'd look along the orange line in places like JP, or along the red line, maybe even in Southie. Network with future classmates if you can to find out where your fellow students already live.
Lastly, nearby places to avoid as too expensive for good rent: South End, Brookline, Back Bay.
Welcome to Boston!
posted by ldthomps at 3:06 PM on June 25, 2013 [1 favorite]
Hi there. Current student at BUSPH here. Keep in mind that the school of public health is actually located near bu's medical campus, which is in the south end, and not at all close to the main undergrad campus. There is a shuttle that runs between both of them that is pretty good during the school year, but it's just something to think about regarding your commute. Definitely check out the Facebook group for accepted students-- there are plenty of people looking for roommates, and site administrators whose job it is to help you with this stuff. Feel free to mefi mail with any other questions.
posted by leedly at 3:06 PM on June 25, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by leedly at 3:06 PM on June 25, 2013 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: Bummer, looks like HER house is only for undergrads- I guess Fisk house was the grad equivalent. If you know of something similar for a graduate student like me........ Thanks! And, yes I am on the BUSPH accepted students FB page.
posted by TRUELOTUS at 3:42 PM on June 25, 2013
posted by TRUELOTUS at 3:42 PM on June 25, 2013
This thread is closed to new comments.
My BF is moving to Cambridge for grad school in a couple months and that's how he found a place.
posted by phunniemee at 1:56 PM on June 25, 2013