A Place To Stay

Introduction

In this page, we have collected housing information about some particular universities. If you find yours in the list, we hope it will be useful. If you don't, please help others by giving a feedback of your experience.

University specific information

• Stanford University
• University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
• Cornell University
• Columbia University
• Ohio State University

Stanford, CA

He strongly advises visiting the website www.housing.umich.edu to get all the necessary and correct information.
For Indians, he advises getting in touch with the ISA, Indian Students Association. You can put up your preferred roommate criterion in a certain form at their website. ISA will book a 2-bedroom apartment for three at the (off-campus) 'Willowtree Apartments' by putting compatible roommates according to your criterion. This is a standard practice for Indian newcomers which makes your housing guaranteed.
Though housing at the Willowtree Apartments is a bit expensive, but it is preferable for a first year Indian student to live among other Indians than among American undergrads or Chinese people. He also warns that in general housing in Ann Arbor is costly and it is not easy to get a campus housing.
In second year, one can either shift to a two bedroom apartment for two, or (if can manage a partner) apply for a university family housing (off-campus). There a few efficiencies for which ,although there is a preference for married couples, singles can manage (and do manage).
However Mr. Biswas has a word of caution to add. Living in Ann Arbor definitely needs a car, which is impossible to buy in the first year. Willowtree has a generous supply of seniors who will supply cars when needed :-)
The housing website also mentions names like 'Bursley', 'Baits' etc. which are probably best to ignore. These are mainly for the undergraduates and in any case on campus housing is very expensive.
His own house rent for the first year (2002-2003) was $840 for three people.

Columbia owns almost all the neighbouring buildings but still has a scarcity of housing. Please refer to the housing website for more details. There is no concept of an on campus housing, since the main campus is too small and is filled with academic buildings. However all residential quarters are within a 7-8 mins walk from the main Broadway gate.

Columbia offers two types of housing solutions. Dorms, mainly for undergrads, which surround the main campus, and will offer you small single/shared bedrooms, and shared kitchens and bathrooms. For grad students it is preferable (and mostly assigned)to have shared apartments. The author personally lives in a three-bedroom shared apartment, which besides the bedrooms has a living room, a bathroom, a kitchen and a guest room. The room rents are sky high. As of 2003-2004, the above room rate is $688 for each of the three partners. However this includes electricity and heating + hot water.

Housing application has to be filled up in the housing website. Few things to remember in this regard:

• Do not take unfurnished apartments. Though they are cheaper, but you really don't want to buy furnitures as soon as you enter US.
• Rents increase every year. You have to renew lease in summer as per the new rent.
• Housing administrators (in general, for all columbia administration) are extremely clumsy. Don't panic if things go wrong, or you are billed for a 1000 dollars. A little running about can settle things.
• Before you leave for the first time, you must settle university housing. You also have to send them a large amount of the first months rent and a security deposit equal to a first months rent before you reach them. So have the money ready.
• Family apartments are available for families only. You have to show some proof of domestic ties. They generall cost about $1100 per month.
• Apartments are not all in excellent conditions. And it is usual to be devoid of sunlight in New York. So, if you unhappy about you assignment, you can try to change it at the end of the first year when you have a good idea of the neighbourhood.
• Lastly, when you have to enter your apartment for the first time, you have to take the keys from the building superintendent. So, make sure your flight reaches NOT in weekends. You can get keys only on Mon through Fri between 10:30 am to 3:30 pm. So, if you land at any other time you have to arrange for temporary stay (at usually a hotel), which will be quite costly.
• Best of Luck! That's definitely one thing you need.