CU - Boulder class of 2014 Forum

[LawSchoolPorFavor]

So it looks like I'll be moving to Boulder in June..any idea how hard/easy it will be to find a job as a waiter/bartender/sandwich specialist for the summer? (I just want to be able to pay rent)

[bananeez]

So, I am now sufficiently confused as to the amount of money budgeted for Room and Board by CU. Help me?

-The website here says: *Does not include car expenses, other debt, and rent/utilities more than $525 per month.
--LinkRemoved--

-The website here says: approximately $610 per month for rent & utilities (including telephone).
--LinkRemoved--

-But the sheet of paper I received at the Admitted Students Open House (photo below) said $750 per month for rent & utilities.

--ImageRemoved--

[boilerup89]

So, I am now sufficiently confused as to the amount of money budgeted for Room and Board by CU. Help me?

-The website here says: *Does not include car expenses, other debt, and rent/utilities more than $525 per month.
--LinkRemoved--

-The website here says: approximately $610 per month for rent & utilities (including telephone).
--LinkRemoved--

-But the sheet of paper I received at the Admitted Students Open House (photo below) said $750 per month for rent & utilities.

--ImageRemoved--

From what I remember at ASD the Financial Aid Dean said that the amount allotted to housing was being raised to the maximum allowable by the state (presumably the $750). Perhaps its just not updated on the website.

It is true however the COA does not include car expenses and other debt

[LawSchoolPorFavor]

That second website is from 2010-2011 (last year). Yesterday I got an email from financial aid about my award letter, and it pegged COA as $55k for the 2011-2012/year (out of state). (last year it was about 49k). So, it looks like there was ~6k increase in COA for next year.

(Bananeez- the photo you posted didn't show up)

[oldhippie]

nice to know that the financial aid letters are coming out finally....
but i don't have any idea about the answer to your question, bananeez, sorry...

[bananeez]

Thanks, guys. What you're saying makes sense. I certainly hope the $750 amount is correct.

I'm having issues attaching my beautiful photo, but if anyone wants to see it, pm me and I can e-mail you or something.

[LeDique]

I have a random question: Which bank in Colorado is the best?

[bananeez]

I have a random question: Which bank in Colorado is the best?

Don't know if I know which one is best, but I know there are, like, no Bank of America ATMs in Boulder (I had to get a new bank because it was such a pain), and a lot of Elevations Credit Union ATMs on campus.

[LeDique]

I have a random question: Which bank in Colorado is the best?

Don't know if I know which one is best, but I know there are, like, no Bank of America ATMs in Boulder (I had to get a new bank because it was such a pain), and a lot of Elevations Credit Union ATMs on campus.

I guess I was asking two separate questions there, which you pointed out. A) Which banks have ATMs around? and B) Of those, which don't suck?
I'm guessing you switched to Elevations Credit Union then, or?

[bananeez]

I have a random question: Which bank in Colorado is the best?

Don't know if I know which one is best, but I know there are, like, no Bank of America ATMs in Boulder (I had to get a new bank because it was such a pain), and a lot of Elevations Credit Union ATMs on campus.

I guess I was asking two separate questions there, which you pointed out. A) Which banks have ATMs around? and B) Of those, which don't suck?
I'm guessing you switched to Elevations Credit Union then, or?

Yeah, I switched to Elevations Credit Union and CHASE. Not sure if I can tell you quite yet which ones suck, but I opened those accounts on the recommendation of my parents, who have lived here for a while.

p.s. CU e-mailed me back -- They say the financial aid sheet we received at the ASD is the most current, but they are waiting to update the website until they have the official tuition rates for this year.

[ptblazer]

This COA discussion reminds me of a complaint I have with the whole system. The rent allocation is determined as the average of Colorado rent (other states do the same thing), because the entire state university system uses the same metric. Boulder's COL is one of the highest in the state (as far as I can tell) and using the state average doesn't adequately cover residents of Boulder. I just wish they determined COA based on the area and not the state average. Anyway that is my rant, but I'm glad they increased it to the maximum allowed.

p.s. How is Wells Fargo Bank?

[queenlizzie13]

This COA discussion reminds me of a complaint I have with the whole system. The rent allocation is determined as the average of Colorado rent (other states do the same thing), because the entire state university system uses the same metric. Boulder's COL is one of the highest in the state (as far as I can tell) and using the state average doesn't adequately cover residents of Boulder. I just wish they determined COA based on the area and not the state average. Anyway that is my rant, but I'm glad they increased it to the maximum allowed.

p.s. How is Wells Fargo Bank?

They did base it on COL in Boulder this year I think, which is why it is $750 this year. I had no problem finding a 2-bedroom for $750/person. (Total was - $1500 for the rent) and this is in Boulder. There appears to be a decent # of 2-bedrooms on Craigslist for $1400-$1600.

[CanadianWolf]

Definitely wasn't based on COL in Aspen.

[queenlizzie13]

Definitely wasn't based on COL in Aspen.

LOL. Very true

I saw a house featured in either WSJ or NY Times and it was sooo beautiful but also super expensive.

[ptblazer]

In case you're wondering where my post went, I deleted it. I found the COA sheet I got at ASD and the $750/month only includes rent and utilities for the 9 month school year and $505/month for food, for a total of $11,294. This is more than enough to live off of, as long as you get a paying job in the summer.

[queenlizzie13]

In case you're wondering where my post went, I deleted it. I found my sheet I got at ASD and the $750/month only includes rent and utilities for the 9 month school year and $505/month for food, for a total of $11,294.

Hmm...I wonder how that compares to other schools? $505 is $16/day. I bet I can make it more like $10-$12/day and save the rest of it for running expenses.

[ptblazer]

In case you're wondering where my post went, I deleted it. I found my sheet I got at ASD and the $750/month only includes rent and utilities for the 9 month school year and $505/month for food, for a total of $11,294.

Hmm...I wonder how that compares to other schools? $505 is $16/day. I bet I can make it more like $10-$12/day and save the rest of it for running expenses.

If you ate out only a few times a week, you could definitely do it for way less than $16/day. During undergrad I made a lot of quesadillas and got the ingrediants at Costco. Each meal cost me like $.75. haha.

[bananeez]

In case you're wondering where my post went, I deleted it. I found my sheet I got at ASD and the $750/month only includes rent and utilities for the 9 month school year and $505/month for food, for a total of $11,294.

Hmm...I wonder how that compares to other schools? $505 is $16/day. I bet I can make it more like $10-$12/day and save the rest of it for running expenses.

If you ate out only a few times a week, you could definitely do it for way less than $16/day. During undergrad I made a lot of quesadillas and got the ingrediants at Costco. Each meal cost me like $.75. haha.

Dude, just go to Costco, eat their awesome samples, and spend $0/day.

[LeDique]

In case you're wondering where my post went, I deleted it. I found my sheet I got at ASD and the $750/month only includes rent and utilities for the 9 month school year and $505/month for food, for a total of $11,294.

Hmm...I wonder how that compares to other schools? $505 is $16/day. I bet I can make it more like $10-$12/day and save the rest of it for running expenses.

You can do this really easily, especially if you don't eat out. If you eat out for lunch each day, this is still possible but a little harder. If you eat out for lunch 2-3 days a week, it's possible. Basically, as long as you can cook and can cook ahead for the week, you'll be fine. For example, one of the things I like to do for lunch is just make a huge thing of lemon couscous (3 cups or so) w/2 tomatoes, feta, and 1/2 green pepper for lunch for half the week. Takes like 20 minutes total on Sunday, and then I just have to put it into a container each day. That's lunch for most of the week and costs >$10.

[ArchRoark]

Weird, one of my old high school friends I hadn't talked to in awhile just hit me up on facebook. Apparently he is attending CU Law and got my name off some admitted students list they were distributing. /cool story bro

[ptblazer]

Weird, one of my old high school friends I hadn't talked to in awhile just hit me up on facebook. Apparently he is attending CU Law and got my name off some admitted students list they were distributing. /cool story bro

Hahaha

[upfish]

Weird, one of my old high school friends I hadn't talked to in awhile just hit me up on facebook. Apparently he is attending CU Law and got my name off some admitted students list they were distributing. /cool story bro

Hahaha

I laughed so hard.

[Pronkbaggins]

Sent in my seat deposit early this week! Thanks to all of you for the really helpful information. I'm also continuing with the housing search. I'm not sure if I'll be able to have a car while I'm in Colorado, and I'm a little worried about searching while out of state since I don't have a feel for the area.

[oldhippie]

i love that this thread is alive again:)
good to know about b of a, i have all my accounts there and it sounds like i ought to have at least one account at a bank with a friggin ATM!
and i'm glad y'all did the math (i hate math) - pretty sure i can live off of $16/day easy! and i'm a huge fan of the cook a big amount on the weekends and live on it all week...ledique, the couscous sounds YUMMY!!
so impatient for july to get here!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[queenlizzie13]

I love couscous <3333. Also Boulder has a farmer's market, I think so I will be taking full advantage of that, especially because Whole Foods is kind of pricey.