Columbia Law School 2012! Forum

[06132010]

Apparently Columbia's gym sucks and it's impossible to get a machine. I'm probably joining New York Sports Club.

[express01]

anybody been to the gym? is it easily accessible/well equipped?

If not, i am thinking about buying an Air Dyne or a Concept Rower for my room.

Everyone I know there says the gym is the most "unfortunate" part about the law school, aside from maybe the library.

I think I am going to have exercise equipment in my room also.

ahh.. how truly unfortunate... I won't get used to that situation since it takes me literally a minute (20 seconds if i run) to go to my school gym from my current dorm. I guess I gotta start saving up some money.

[DankoM]

Does anyone know of a reasonably priced gym in the area?

Also, is it a CLS specific gym that sucks or the Columbia University gym. If the former, how is the University gym and can we use it?

[Lem37]

Hey all,

I just deposited at CLS yesterday and will be in non-CLS housing. I checked out a bunch of areas since I'm married and have animals so on-campus housing wasn't really my thing. There seems to be some good stuff that's relatively cheap up in Harlem (140-160s) and right off Broadway so the 1 train would be super easy. I'm moving into a one-bedroom right on the other side of the park. Walking through the park isn't hard during the day but I agree that you shouldn't walk through when it's dark. My rent is not low (1500 or so) but there are 2 bedrooms to be had for like 1700-1800. These aren't by any means luxury buildings with all the amenities but I liked its proximity to CLS (I can walk around morningside park to CLS in about 15 minutes) and central park. Plus, if anyone is married, I heard that the on-campus one bedrooms are not extremely nice until you pay 1600 or so.

Looking forward to the fall!

Firstly, I want to wish you good luck with your apartment hunting outside of CLS housing.

However, two things. One, I was under the impression that Columbia gives preference to couples in their assignment of one-bedroom apartments. I know you've heard that one bedrooms aren't "extremely nice until you pay 1600 or so", but since you're already paying $1500, I'd think that the extra $100 would be worth the proximity to the school, etc. Furthermore, I was told that there are pet-friendly apartments available.

Second, having lived in NYC for a few years, and being a single female, I would really not live above 125th St (and that's basically a stretch for me regardless). My friend and her boyfriend live on 125th (near the Apollo), which is alright but not exactly for walking around after dark. As for the 140's-160's, a friend of mine lives up in Washington Heights with his brother, and when I've visited him, the area struck me as unsafe. I mean, we're talking Harlem here. Now, I'm not sure if your $1500 apartment is in that area, but it just sounds like you might be getting less than what you're paying for.

If I were to live outside of Columbia Housing for any reason, I would probably look into finding some roommates and moving to Midtown or the Village. If it were a matter of money, Brooklyn has some great options as well.

[Lem37]

Does anyone know of a reasonably priced gym in the area?

Also, is it a CLS specific gym that sucks or the Columbia University gym. If the former, how is the University gym and can we use it?

Yes, it's called "Central Park" and it's actually just a few blocks away from the law school.

[HugerThanSoup]

Just sent in my deposit!

I feel a lot better now; though my wallet does not.

[DankoM]

....

[MeTalkPrettyOneDay]

Has anyone received their housing assignment yet?
I'm leaving the country for the summer and I'd really like to know when I can move in (which preferred period they granted me)/check out the apartment before I'm thousands of miles away..

I recommend calling CLS directly about this. They may direct you to UAH, but I think CLS will be more helpful than UAH, so I'd try talking with CLS first. We don't get our housing assignment until over the summer, and we're supposed to place a lease deposit within a few days of receiving the assignment. So definitely let CLS/UAH know about your situation.

Congrats to everyone who just placed a deposit!

[jmat]

I don't know why you wouldn't feel safe at night on 125th, it's not the nicest area ever, but everyone there is friendly and it's well lit. As long as you stay out of Morningside Park you'll be fine, I have tons of female friends and had female roommates who navigated there are perfectly well. Washington Heights is also very nice too if you don't mind a slight commute.

[DankoM]

I don't know why you wouldn't feel safe at night on 125th, it's not the nicest area ever, but everyone there is friendly and it's well lit. As long as you stay out of Morningside Park you'll be fine, I have tons of female friends and had female roommates who navigated there are perfectly well. Washington Heights is also very nice too if you don't mind a slight commute.

To be clear though, Morningside park isn't particularly dangerous it's just that you shouldn't walk through parks at night because they are dimly lit and there is no traffic. You can live on 125th and just walk to CLS everyday and night in about 15 minutes and it will be perfectly safe as long as you walk around the park. I'd feel comfortable walking around the park at night on any side.

Washington heights is fine, I agree, but I hate dealing with subways at night. If you are going three stops the trip is short but sometimes getting a 1 train will take 10 minutes itself.

[jmat]

I don't know why you wouldn't feel safe at night on 125th, it's not the nicest area ever, but everyone there is friendly and it's well lit. As long as you stay out of Morningside Park you'll be fine, I have tons of female friends and had female roommates who navigated there are perfectly well. Washington Heights is also very nice too if you don't mind a slight commute.

To be clear though, Morningside park isn't particularly dangerous it's just that you shouldn't walk through parks at night because they are dimly lit and there is no traffic. You can live on 125th and just walk to CLS everyday and night in about 15 minutes and it will be perfectly safe as long as you walk around the park. I'd feel comfortable walking around the park at night on any side.

Washington heights is fine, I agree, but I hate dealing with subways at night. If you are going three stops the trip is short but sometimes getting a 1 train will take 10 minutes itself.

No Morningside Park is very much particularly dangerous at night. I have a lot of friends who were at CLS and they'd constantly get notices about muggings in there at night. Now, I would recommend most parks at night, but walking through Central Park at night during the spring is fine, MP not so much.

[Lem37]

I don't know why you wouldn't feel safe at night on 125th, it's not the nicest area ever, but everyone there is friendly and it's well lit. As long as you stay out of Morningside Park you'll be fine, I have tons of female friends and had female roommates who navigated there are perfectly well. Washington Heights is also very nice too if you don't mind a slight commute.

I'll be frank. There are two places in New York City I've been mugged: Bed-Stuy (in Brooklyn) and around 130th Street. Thankfully I had my pepper spray on me both times (the first time, the guy got away with my wallet and cell), but I avoid those areas when I'm not in a group.

[daisyduck]

I don't know why you wouldn't feel safe at night on 125th, it's not the nicest area ever, but everyone there is friendly and it's well lit. As long as you stay out of Morningside Park you'll be fine, I have tons of female friends and had female roommates who navigated there are perfectly well. Washington Heights is also very nice too if you don't mind a slight commute.

I definitely agree. I used to live in 140s and I didn't feel unsafe at all. People are friendly, families live there, and it is well lit and lively. But then again, I've known some people that automatically feel threatened when.. hmm how do I put this delicately... when they're surrounded by people other than their race, as if they'll just come rob and shank you. So, I guess to his/her own, but if you don't mind the commute (2 or 3 stops) Hamilton Heights or City College area is perfectly fine.

[sbalive]

I don't think your statements are all that inconsistent. I'm not so much worried about the places I'd end up living. I'm worried about the in-between areas. I live in Philly, which a lot of people think is a crime-ridden hellhole. My neighborhood is actually very safe, and where I work is well policed. But in between, there are a few blocks where stuff could happen in alleyways. And, it's one thing if you "run the gauntlet" a few times a year, but if you're doing it every night, carrying law books and a laptop and not just a guy in a hoodie or a windbreaker, it's a different situation.

Thank you all for your comments; it's very helpful!

[Lem37]

I don't know why you wouldn't feel safe at night on 125th, it's not the nicest area ever, but everyone there is friendly and it's well lit. As long as you stay out of Morningside Park you'll be fine, I have tons of female friends and had female roommates who navigated there are perfectly well. Washington Heights is also very nice too if you don't mind a slight commute.

I definitely agree. I used to live in 140s and I didn't feel unsafe at all. People are friendly, families live there, and it is well lit and lively. But then again, I've known some people that automatically feel threatened when.. hmm how do I put this delicately... when they're surrounded by people other than their race, as if they'll just come rob and shank you. So, I guess to his/her own, but if you don't mind the commute (2 or 3 stops) Hamilton Heights or City College area is perfectly fine.

I think some people automatically feel threatened when there's a lot of poorly-lit areas where muggings have been known to occur more frequently. Like I said, I've been mugged around 130th street - and as the poster a few posts up remarked (and I can corroborate, as I have several friends in CLS undergrad), Columbia students are frequently getting e-mails about muggings in the area.

I'm not saying that there aren't safe "pockets", and I'm not saying that muggings don't occur down in the Village as well, but there are definitely areas up in Harlem that I don't want to be traveling around alone.

[Lem37]

I don't think your statements are all that inconsistent. I'm not so much worried about the places I'd end up living. I'm worried about the in-between areas. I live in Philly, which a lot of people think is a crime-ridden hellhole. My neighborhood is actually very safe, and where I work is well policed. But in between, there are a few blocks where stuff could happen in alleyways. And, it's one thing if you "run the gauntlet" a few times a year, but if you're doing it every night, carrying law books and a laptop and not just a guy in a hoodie or a windbreaker, it's a different situation.

Thank you all for your comments; it's very helpful!

Yay Philly! I grew up outside of Philly (Cherry Hill), but I'm often in the city and feel so much safer there, perhaps because of familiarity. And yeah, the area outside of Penn can be a little sketchy.

[DankoM]

I don't know why you wouldn't feel safe at night on 125th, it's not the nicest area ever, but everyone there is friendly and it's well lit. As long as you stay out of Morningside Park you'll be fine, I have tons of female friends and had female roommates who navigated there are perfectly well. Washington Heights is also very nice too if you don't mind a slight commute.

To be clear though, Morningside park isn't particularly dangerous it's just that you shouldn't walk through parks at night because they are dimly lit and there is no traffic. You can live on 125th and just walk to CLS everyday and night in about 15 minutes and it will be perfectly safe as long as you walk around the park. I'd feel comfortable walking around the park at night on any side.

Washington heights is fine, I agree, but I hate dealing with subways at night. If you are going three stops the trip is short but sometimes getting a 1 train will take 10 minutes itself.

No Morningside Park is very much particularly dangerous at night. I have a lot of friends who were at CLS and they'd constantly get notices about muggings in there at night. Now, I would recommend most parks at night, but walking through Central Park at night during the spring is fine, MP not so much.

Let me clarify. Morningside park isn't any more dangerous an area than other parks that are similarly lit and of similar size. The whole point was to say that Morningside park isn't dangerous at night because the surrounding neighborhood is bad but because no-traffic + no lights = mugger's paradise. Central Park is in a league of its own but any park set up like morningside where there are places that can't be seen from any street are going to be dangerous no matter what neighboorhood your in.

Correct me if I'm wrong but it has been my impression that walking around the park at night (ie morningside drive, morningside ave, 110th and 125th) are all fine.

And for those thinking of living off campus, the market is in a lull right now and you can get cheap housing around the area (read: can be cheaper than CLS housing). However, as we get closer to summer and the fall, prices will rise again as students come to town. What can be had for 1600 now will probably be 1800 or so by july/august.

[jmat]

I always found it fine, me and my friends live on one side of the park and used to regularly walk right next to it to get to the Appletree Market at 2/3 AM. If you don't know the Appletree, you will, it's an awesome deli market right near Columbia open 24/7.

[facker09]

So about the gym:

I heard (would have loved to have seen this mess, but our tour guides refused to take us there) that the gym has around...3 running machines. There's a sign-up board, but your name will be erased if you are not looking at it. So...it's cut-throat to keep fit at the CU gym.

If anyone finds an awesome deal (pref. with a swimming pool) do let me know. I've heard that there are 3 or so private gyms nearby and all of them offer some form of CU discount.

[sbalive]

So about the gym:

I heard (would have loved to have seen this mess, but our tour guides refused to take us there) that the gym has around...3 running machines. There's a sign-up board, but your name will be erased if you are not looking at it. So...it's cut-throat to keep fit at the CU gym.

If anyone finds an awesome deal (pref. with a swimming pool) do let me know. I've heard that there are 3 or so private gyms nearby and all of them offer some form of CU discount.

LOL @ gym gunners.

It doesn't look that bad.



Well, maybe it does. Why didn't they build a gym when everyone else was building amazing new fitness facilities? Sigh.

[06132010]

So about the gym:

I heard (would have loved to have seen this mess, but our tour guides refused to take us there) that the gym has around...3 running machines. There's a sign-up board, but your name will be erased if you are not looking at it. So...it's cut-throat to keep fit at the CU gym.

If anyone finds an awesome deal (pref. with a swimming pool) do let me know. I've heard that there are 3 or so private gyms nearby and all of them offer some form of CU discount.

haha wow.

[frank_the_tank]

booyakasha-

What is going to be the name of your IM team? Better start brainstorming...~

[jpaul09]

I convinced the girl manning the front desk to let me in to look at the gym (although she wouldn't let me use the machines) during ASW. It's pretty sad. And there aren't any windows, so it was a bit claustrophobic.
I'm going to try to use Riverside and Central Park for as long as I can. Does anyone know if there's a month-to-month gym in the area, or do they all require yearlong contracts?

[imchuckbass58]

Anyone NOT planning on living in Columbia housing or even....on the west side? I live on the east side now and I think Columbia housing is a ripoff. My tour guide on Monday said something like 90% of students live on campus...any of you in that rogue 10% with me?

I'm definitely not living on campus.

Probably living on the UWS with a couple of friends from the city. Same price/cheaper + better area + roommates I know and like + bigger apt = no brainer.

[kewlsamurai]

So about the gym:

I heard (would have loved to have seen this mess, but our tour guides refused to take us there) that the gym has around...3 running machines. There's a sign-up board, but your name will be erased if you are not looking at it. So...it's cut-throat to keep fit at the CU gym.

If anyone finds an awesome deal (pref. with a swimming pool) do let me know. I've heard that there are 3 or so private gyms nearby and all of them offer some form of CU discount.

LOL @ gym gunners.

It doesn't look that bad.



Well, maybe it does. Why didn't they build a gym when everyone else was building amazing new fitness facilities? Sigh.

The gym honestly is not the best in the world. It's small and gets crowded unless you go at the right times.

Legend has it in the 60's the school was were going to build a new gym in the park, but there were protests. They decided to build it underground, and Princeton got the plans for the gym that would have been built in the park.