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Just figured I would get this thing started. I'm 95% sure I will be going since it's the closest to home.

Anyone have any insight on good places to live?

I am pretty sure I am going to UGA Law as well! I actually go to UGA as an undergrad right now and I live downtown. It's super convenient and the SLC (student learning center)/library are only a few minutes away. I walk to class, to the bars, etc. Check out 909 Apartments, Gameday Condominiums, or the Georgia Traditions. I live in one of those and have friends who live in the other two.

People knock it but IMO family housing (on campus and run by the school) is pretty good. 2BR is $674 including cable, internet, and all utilities except electricity. Catch the bus right outside my door and less than ten minutes ride to the law school. Reason I chose here is because its hard to know a good area or housing development to live when you just move to a place.

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I am currently a 1st year law student at UGA, and I WOULD NOT recommend living at 909 Broad. Initially, the setup might seem ideal for people new to the area. The location seems great, and the leasing office will tempt you with the promise that they "try and lump all of the law students together".

Rent an apartment at 909 at your own risk. The walls, floors and ceilings are paper thin, and you'll probably share any number of them with undergrad students (and their dogs, weight sets, subwoofers, beer pong tables etc). Not everyone will have noise problems; I have a few 1L friends who don't ever hear anyone else. However, several other law students and I have had ongoing noise problems in the complex. Because of the noise, I have pretty much given up trying to study at my apartment, so I spend most of my days at the library, and I usually end up spending the night at my girlfriend's place on the weekends if I have a lot of work the next day. There is a reason 909 only retains about 50% of the 1L's that live there every year.

My suggestions would be to rent a town home or something similar in Five Points. Ideally get 4 people, split the costs of 2 parking passes amongst you, and just drive to and from school.

Just received an facebook post about an interview with UGA's Dean of Admissions. Just thought I'd share the link.

I will probably be at UGA next fall barring a huge (surprising) scholarship from a few schools I've yet to even hear back from. Are there a lot of houses available to rent near the campus/law school ?

Also - anyone going to the ATL admitted students reception first week in March?

I'm also 95% sure to enroll at UGA and have started looking at housing options. It'll be my first time living in Athens so I'm sorta shooting in the dark. Thanks to those who have offered insight so far.

909 Broad is strange in that its advocates and detractors are both really enthusiastic about their stances. Then again this is the internet, so maybe that's not so strange.

I toured the Lofts @ 945 (--LinkRemoved--), which are still being developed but will be ready for fall. Really spectacular units, close to campus, but not cheap. The manager also seemed a little scatterbrained. Still worth checking out if you're looking for a higher-end place that'll price out most undergrads (and probably me).

Of the many cheaper, slightly-off-campus apt complexes, anyone have any specific suggestions? Any experiences with the Farmer's Exchange Lofts or Gameday Condominiums as downtown alternatives?

mreid27,

In regards to your thoughts about 909... I think it really boils down to your particular location in the building. If you have noisy neighbors then you dislike it, if you get next to quiet people you don't mind it. It also depends on what kind of person you are. Maybe you don't mind undergrad noise late at night, or maybe you are the one making noise at night so it also doesn't bother you. It all really boils down to what you are looking for in an apartment, the location is fairly convenient, and if you are willing to occasionally sacrifice a little peace and quiet then go for it. I am just trying to throw a warning out there to people who might not want that kind of environment. Had someone given me similar warning, I probably would not be living there right now.

When looking for a new place for next year, I too checked out the 945's. They look awesome, but they are right next to the train tracks.

I eventually settled on Baxter Street Lofts for next year. Not walking distance, but they are biking distance, and the guy who is in charge of leasing them is also a partial owner (so he might actually care if you have a gripe). Also, he's trying to lease to only grad students, law students, and professionals.

Thanks for the advice! Very helpful.

mreid27 wrote: Any experiences with the Farmer's Exchange Lofts or Gameday Condominiums as downtown alternatives?

DO NOT go to Farmer's Exchange. Noisy as hell and run down. Had several friends that lived there get their cars broken into/tires slashed (because you park right on the street of a major intersection, plain view of anyone). If you want to live in that area just stay at 909 Broad. Ya its noisy, but at least its a decent place. Farmers Exchange is the same noise level but less safe and apartments in worse condition. Not sure what the price difference is though.

mreid27 wrote: Of the many cheaper, slightly-off-campus apt complexes, anyone have any specific suggestions? Any experiences with the Farmer's Exchange Lofts or Gameday Condominiums as downtown alternatives?

I live at Gameday now but it is not cheaper than 909 at all. My parents invested in a unit so I don't have to worry about rent, but they still pay a monthly association fee etc. I'm not sure if you can even rent directly from the management; you may need to find an owner to rent from. Gameday is nice because it is fully furnished, you get an assigned parking space, it's a 5 minute walk to the library, law library, and the student learning center. The only time it is ever noisy at all is the Friday night before a home football game- even then, it is not too bad. I study at my apartment all the time. There aren't a lot of college kids who live here year round, maybe 10 tops? (and that's spread out over 8 floors)

I have friends who live in Farmers, and honestly it is kind of gross. I've heard it's really noisy and has some pest control problems.

But you should definitely come and take a tour of all the places to see them!

I'm 95% sure I'm going to be going to UGa next year... and I'm wondering if anyone knows how to go about finding a roommate for the upcoming school year. I'm out of state and only know one other person going to law school at UGa, so I was wondering if anyone knows if there's a service through the school that helps you find someone to live with? Or some other way to figure something out? Thanks!

i'm in w/ 165/3.6. i'm out of state and was not offered any $$$. should i approach UGA about merit aid or 'tuition equalization' ? it would make a huge difference in my decision-making if i could pay in-state costs.

yoyowhatupyo wrote:i'm in w/ 165/3.6. i'm out of state and was not offered any $$$. should i approach UGA about merit aid or 'tuition equalization' ? it would make a huge difference in my decision-making if i could pay in-state costs.

Give it a few days they may send it out later. I received my scholarship info a week and a half after acceptance.

iShotFirst wrote:
Give it a few days they may send it out later. I received my scholarship info a week and a half after acceptance.

I will, thanks. I found some LSN profiles where $$ was offered a bit later than acceptances, from last cycle. UGA for under 20k/year would be pretty tempting.

yoyowhatupyo wrote:

iShotFirst wrote:
Give it a few days they may send it out later. I received my scholarship info a week and a half after acceptance.

I will, thanks. I found some LSN profiles where $$ was offered a bit later than acceptances, from last cycle. UGA for under 20k/year would be pretty tempting.

I found my tuition equalizer a week plus after my acceptance. My GPA is .3 pts lower too.

Does anyone know how much a relatively nice single bedroom costs in Athens? Preferably close to the Trader Joe's.

yoyowhatupyo wrote:

iShotFirst wrote:
Give it a few days they may send it out later. I received my scholarship info a week and a half after acceptance.

I will, thanks. I found some LSN profiles where $$ was offered a bit later than acceptances, from last cycle. UGA for under 20k/year would be pretty tempting.

Yeah, give it some time. I got my tuition equal. 2 weeks later.

Sandro wrote:Also - anyone going to the ATL admitted students reception first week in March?

I'm actually considering this. I signed up for it but since I'm from NJ, this will be quite a hike for me. But, it would give me a reason to venture out and a time to check out the campus.

robertjordan1940 wrote:

Sandro wrote:Also - anyone going to the ATL admitted students reception first week in March?

I'm actually considering this. I signed up for it but since I'm from NJ, this will be quite a hike for me. But, it would give me a reason to venture out and a time to check out the campus.

Driving from NJ to ATL for the reception ?

Sandro wrote:

robertjordan1940 wrote:

Sandro wrote:Also - anyone going to the ATL admitted students reception first week in March?

I'm actually considering this. I signed up for it but since I'm from NJ, this will be quite a hike for me. But, it would give me a reason to venture out and a time to check out the campus.

Driving from NJ to ATL for the reception ?

Instead of driving, it's flying/train-riding. lol. I've never really left the NY-Philly-DC area so this would be interesting. I mean, unless I end up hearing back from a few T14 and/or end up going for army instead of law, I'll be attending UGA. So, I'd like to take a chance to get a feel for the area.

But, I feel like this reception thing is going to be pretty lame...


Ah, you're a football fan, too!

Sandro wrote:Also - anyone going to the ATL admitted students reception first week in March?

Yup. Driving down Thursday, going to a meeting and visiting friends in ATL for the weekend, then checking out a class and apartments on Monday the 7th (UGA Spring Break is the 14-18) of March. So stoked!

Anyone going to the open house March 25? I'm coming in from Texas and have never been to Athens. Any decent (and cheap) places to stay?

ENS Boosh wrote:Anyone going to the open house March 25? I'm coming in from Texas and have never been to Athens. Any decent (and cheap) places to stay?

FYI

Saturday, March 26, 2011
School of Law Rotunda, Hirsch Hall
The program begins at 1:00 p.m.
and will be followed by
a reception with faculty from 3:30 - 5:00 p.m.