Columbia Class of 2017 Forum

[bitcheslovecake]

WOOHOOOO got my housing assignment. This is actually real. Pinch me...

I got a 1 bedroom literally just south of Barnard. So pumped.

[FOM]

Hey guys, stupid question so sorry in advance. What is a Dean's certification and how do I get one?

I think you just have to call your undergrad's registrar's office and let them know.

CLS requires their own CLS-specific Dean cert form to be submitted, which you can find (PDF) via the admitted students webpage in the "tasks" section. They do not accept certification forms from your college.

So did you just email your dean with the PDF attached?

[Balthy]

Hey guys, stupid question so sorry in advance. What is a Dean's certification and how do I get one?

I think you just have to call your undergrad's registrar's office and let them know.

CLS requires their own CLS-specific Dean cert form to be submitted, which you can find (PDF) via the admitted students webpage in the "tasks" section. They do not accept certification forms from your college.

So did you just email your dean with the PDF attached?

you should email and ask who would be appropriate. the first person i sent it to forwarded it to someone else, so i had to resend with the right name.

[Theopliske8711]

I signed mine and just faxed it to the office if the Dean with a cover letter.worked out fine.

[kartelite]

I signed mine and just faxed it to the office if the Dean with a cover letter.worked out fine.

How long do the schools usually take to get them signed and returned? I have to do four, so I guess I better get on that...

[Theopliske8711]

I had two; one of them took two weeks or so; the other was lost in mail (though I honestly think that they forgot until I inquired), but once they sent it it took about a week or so.

[iamgeorgebush]

just heard something in response to a housing inquiry i made:

Couples and families will hopefully have housing assignments next week. Single students will be notified the first few weeks of June.

i'm assuming, then, that those who have already heard back are couples?

[papercut]

just heard something in response to a housing inquiry i made:

Couples and families will hopefully have housing assignments next week. Single students will be notified the first few weeks of June.

i'm assuming, then, that those who have already heard back are couples?

Sound like it, thanks for sharing with us.

[Balthy]

I'm a bit confused about the move in date. Is that just the date you sign a lease agreement and receive keys (and then presumably you can move furniture/other crap in whenever you want to after that) or are you only allowed to move in all your crap on the "move in" date?

[jdapplicant]

Hey guys, stupid question so sorry in advance. What is a Dean's certification and how do I get one?

I think you just have to call your undergrad's registrar's office and let them know.

CLS requires their own CLS-specific Dean cert form to be submitted, which you can find (PDF) via the admitted students webpage in the "tasks" section. They do not accept certification forms from your college.

So did you just email your dean with the PDF attached?

I filled out my portion and mailed it, including a stamped envelope addressed to CLS admissions so they could mail it over. That's what my college required. Call and make sure faxing is okay with them.

[ph5354a]

I'm a bit confused about the move in date. Is that just the date you sign a lease agreement and receive keys (and then presumably you can move furniture/other crap in whenever you want to after that) or are you only allowed to move in all your crap on the "move in" date?

You'll start paying rent on that date, so it's ideal to move in then or as close to that as possible, but you can theoretically move in your crap whenever. Most buildings will have some restrictions on move-ins though. Mine has a sign in the lobby that says no moving on Sundays, I think, but who knows if it's enforced.

[Hitchensian]

Does anyone else who applied for UAH Apartment Share still have the status of "Received" in the Housing Portal?

[Jessasaurus]

Does anyone else who applied for UAH Apartment Share still have the status of "Received" in the Housing Portal?

I think they've only assigned couples housing? I'd imagine apartment share would take slightly longer because matching up roommates and whatnot. I applied for law school only housing on april 23 and haven't heard anything.

[Kimikho]

Yeah I haven't heard from housing either, UAH only.

Was applying for UAH the normal thing to do? I want roommates and it didn't have that option for law school only housing :/

[milkandcheerios]

Does anyone know which of the NYC area airports is the most convenient one to fly into?　Ａｓｓｕｍｉｎｇ　ｔｈａｔ　ｉ＇ｍ　ｎｏｔ　ｆａｍｉｌｉａｒ　ｗｉｔｈ　ＮＹＣ　ａｎｄ　ｊｕｓｔ　ｗａｎｔ　ａ　ｐａｉｎｆｒｅｅ　ｃｏｎｖｅｎｉｅｎｔ　ｗａｙ　ｔｏ　ｇｅｔ　ｔｏ　ＣＬＳ　ｆｒｏｍ　ｔｈｅ　ａｉｒｐｏｒｔ　ｂｙ　ｍｙｓｅｌｆ　ｗｉｔｈ　ｌｕｇｇａｇｅ．　

Ａｌｓｏ　ａｎｙ　ｆｅｌｌｏｗ　ｗｅｓｔ　ｃｏａｓｔｅｒｓ／ｐｅｏｐｌｅ　ｍｏｖｉｎｇ　ｆｒｏｍ　ｆａｒ　ａｗａｙ　ｈａｖｅ　ａｎｙ　ｍｏｖｉｎｇ　ａｄｖｉｃｅ？　Ｉ figure i should start preparing soon. Are you gonna come with a suitcase full of clothes and buy all furniture, appliances, bedding, dishes, ect. brand new or are you going to try to ship stuff accros the country?

ｅｄｉｔ:　ｉｄｋ　ｗｈｙ　ｔｈｅ　ｔｅｘｔ　ｆｏｒｍａｔｔｉｎｇ　ｉｓ　ａｌｌ　ｍｅｓｓｅｄ　ｕｐ．

[FuriousDuck]

...

[buffalo_]

Does anyone know which of the NYC area airports is the most convenient one to fly into?　Ａｓｓｕｍｉｎｇ　ｔｈａｔ　ｉ＇ｍ　ｎｏｔ　ｆａｍｉｌｉａｒ　ｗｉｔｈ　ＮＹＣ　ａｎｄ　ｊｕｓｔ　ｗａｎｔ　ａ　ｐａｉｎｆｒｅｅ　ｃｏｎｖｅｎｉｅｎｔ　ｗａｙ　ｔｏ　ｇｅｔ　ｔｏ　ＣＬＳ　ｆｒｏｍ　ｔｈｅ　ａｉｒｐｏｒｔ　ｂｙ　ｍｙｓｅｌｆ　ｗｉｔｈ　ｌｕｇｇａｇｅ．　

Ａｌｓｏ　ａｎｙ　ｆｅｌｌｏｗ　ｗｅｓｔ　ｃｏａｓｔｅｒｓ／ｐｅｏｐｌｅ　ｍｏｖｉｎｇ　ｆｒｏｍ　ｆａｒ　ａｗａｙ　ｈａｖｅ　ａｎｙ　ｍｏｖｉｎｇ　ａｄｖｉｃｅ？　Ｉ figure i should start preparing soon. Are you gonna come with a suitcase full of clothes and buy all furniture, appliances, bedding, dishes, ect. brand new or are you going to try to ship stuff accros the country?

ｅｄｉｔ:　ｉｄｋ　ｗｈｙ　ｔｈｅ　ｔｅｘｔ　ｆｏｒｍａｔｔｉｎｇ　ｉｓ　ａｌｌ　ｍｅｓｓｅｄ　ｕｐ．

The easiest way would be to fly into JFK because they have the AirTrain. It will probably take a while to get from the terminal to CLS, but you can take the airtrain to the Howard Beach station, and then from there you can take the A train all the way to 116th street.

ETA- A cab from LGA would be easier and quicker but will cost you a good bit.

[girlmonster]

Does anyone know which of the NYC area airports is the most convenient one to fly into?　Ａｓｓｕｍｉｎｇ　ｔｈａｔ　ｉ＇ｍ　ｎｏｔ　ｆａｍｉｌｉａｒ　ｗｉｔｈ　ＮＹＣ　ａｎｄ　ｊｕｓｔ　ｗａｎｔ　ａ　ｐａｉｎｆｒｅｅ　ｃｏｎｖｅｎｉｅｎｔ　ｗａｙ　ｔｏ　ｇｅｔ　ｔｏ　ＣＬＳ　ｆｒｏｍ　ｔｈｅ　ａｉｒｐｏｒｔ　ｂｙ　ｍｙｓｅｌｆ　ｗｉｔｈ　ｌｕｇｇａｇｅ．　

Ａｌｓｏ　ａｎｙ　ｆｅｌｌｏｗ　ｗｅｓｔ　ｃｏａｓｔｅｒｓ／ｐｅｏｐｌｅ　ｍｏｖｉｎｇ　ｆｒｏｍ　ｆａｒ　ａｗａｙ　ｈａｖｅ　ａｎｙ　ｍｏｖｉｎｇ　ａｄｖｉｃｅ？　Ｉ figure i should start preparing soon. Are you gonna come with a suitcase full of clothes and buy all furniture, appliances, bedding, dishes, ect. brand new or are you going to try to ship stuff accros the country?

ｅｄｉｔ:　ｉｄｋ　ｗｈｙ　ｔｈｅ　ｔｅｘｔ　ｆｏｒｍａｔｔｉｎｇ　ｉｓ　ａｌｌ　ｍｅｓｓｅｄ　ｕｐ．

The easiest way would be to fly into JFK because they have the AirTrain. It will probably take a while to get from the terminal to CLS, but you can take the airtrain to the Howard Beach station, and then from there you can take the A train all the way to 116th street.

ETA- A cab from LGA would be easier and quicker but will cost you a good bit.

I took the M60 bus from LGA, and it was pretty easy (and cheap). I only traveled with a carry-on and a backpack, though. If you're carrying a lot of luggage, the AirTrain or a cab would probably be better.

ETA: If you're carrying a lot of luggage, you probably won't want to transfer from the AirTrain to the A bus, either. So then a cab from LGA might be ideal. I'm not from NYC, but the estimated fare online says it's about $30. FWIW, my friends who take cabs from LGA to midtown have said that is about $25.

[milkandcheerios]

I don't think I want to deal with transfers of any kind with luggage, especially since i'm unfamiliar with public transport in the city. $30 bucks isn't too bad for a cab, I was expecting it to be a lot more. Thanks for the suggestions!

On a related note, I wanted to wait until housing assignments to book my plane tickets too but they'll only get more expensive if I keep waiting. I called the school and they said that I will most likely get my first choice move in date, but if i'm worried about getting to Columbia too early and having to find a hotel, I should just book a plane ticket for a later-ish date just in case. They suggested the 12th of August. I'm still trying to decided if I should take their advice because i'd like to move in a little bit earlier. But if anyone else is having the same conundrum, I thought I'd pass along what I was told.

[Kimikho]

I haven't moved across the country, but my brother goes to school on the east coast from the west coast.

He flies on an off-day, buys a first class ticket for like $100 more, then has 2 free checked bags. It's worked really well for him and might be what I do. First class tickets from here to NYC might be way more expensive, though. (He flies into Hartford)

ETA: I'm considering moving in a week early and staying with relatives/using airbnb. this moving stuff is what is making me most anxious actually I've never lived away from my home city

ETA2: I'll be buying most of my stuff in NYC (sheets, bedding, etc) I think.

[jdapplicant]

I took the M60 bus from LGA, and it was pretty easy (and cheap). I only traveled with a carry-on and a backpack, though. If you're carrying a lot of luggage, the AirTrain or a cab would probably be better.

ETA: If you're carrying a lot of luggage, you probably won't want to transfer from the AirTrain to the A bus, either. So then a cab from LGA might be ideal. I'm not from NYC, but the estimated fare online says it's about $30. FWIW, my friends who take cabs from LGA to midtown have said that is about $25.

If you're carrying a lot of luggage, public transit would be a huge hassle, especially from JFK. It's a pretty long commute.

Cabs will probably be a good bit more than the $30 and $25 estimates. LGA is much cheaper, but from JFK to MSH it can be over $55, not including tip.

[papercut]

Part of me wants to drive across the country in a rental.

[moopness]

Part of me wants to drive across the country in a rental.

I live in Cali, but I would fucking LOVE to do this, if it weren't so god damn expensive

[jdapplicant]

Part of me wants to drive across the country in a rental.

I'm seriously considering this if I can find a friend from my hometown to split the rental with me. It'll end up costing about the same as a flight from my location but we would be able to bring a lot more of our things.

[francesfarmer]

I took the M60 bus from LGA, and it was pretty easy (and cheap). I only traveled with a carry-on and a backpack, though. If you're carrying a lot of luggage, the AirTrain or a cab would probably be better.

ETA: If you're carrying a lot of luggage, you probably won't want to transfer from the AirTrain to the A bus, either. So then a cab from LGA might be ideal. I'm not from NYC, but the estimated fare online says it's about $30. FWIW, my friends who take cabs from LGA to midtown have said that is about $25.

If you're carrying a lot of luggage, public transit would be a huge hassle, especially from JFK. It's a pretty long commute.

Cabs will probably be a good bit more than the $30 and $25 estimates. LGA is much cheaper, but from JFK to MSH it can be over $55, not including tip.

Cabs from JFK are $52 flat rate, plus tip and tolls.

LGA doesn't service cross-country flights, so you can't fly there nonstop from the West coast.

Airtrain from JFK is a huge pain in the ass. There is no 116th street stop on the A (that's a local stop, meaning you'd have to get on the C at 59th street; besides, the 116th street stop is across Morningside park from Columbia, and that park is basically comprised of a giant ridge and many stairs, making it impossible to lug your suitcases through) and the 125th street A station is a trek and a half from the law school, especially with luggage.

TLDR take a cab from JFK!