Penn Students Taking Questions Forum

[r6_philly]

OK, this is obviously not a major criterion for me when choosing a school; but it is something I'm thinking about. What are the women like? Attractive ones in the school, undergrad, other grad programs, the surrounding neighborhoods? Much dating, etc?

http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/philad ... iest_city/

yes, it is a silly online survey, but i do find it to be a pretty ugly city.*

*I don't go to Penn, but I live and work here.

You don't really see natives around Penn at all, so I don't think the survey's relevant.

[law_monkey]

Haha stress is how I handle with my drive. I thrive on being worried, and if I'm not very worried I start worrying about what I might be forgetting to worry about. I won't show my stress in public though. I'll be freaking in my mind, and none of you will ever know. Unless you come on TLS where I will be ranting about all my stress!

IT'S LIKE YOU'RE IN MY HEAD <3

Hahaha. Dulcatis/law_monkey stress invasion. Even the chillest of schools won't survive!

aaah stressed out people stress me out haha. If yall go to Penn (dear Penn, please give monkey some money...), I can't speak to you for a few weeks before exams

Aw <3. I promise to give everyone a proper farewell if Penn doesn't end up happening for me. (Although I never thought that I would even think that, especially after I got accepted.) But there's still ASW which we are all attending even if some other pesky schools have come into the mix!!!!! Soooooo excited!!!

Ok so a random question...how easy is it to find housing in Philly that allows kittehs???

[Georgiana]

Hi All,

I've been popping in and out over spring break to see how people are feeling about Penn this year (and also because I'm a 3L now and like to not do work). If you have questions feel free to ask (details about me are on page 1 of this thread... only real change is that now I'm a 3L and am heading back to the firm I summered at to do corporate/regulatory work *not IP!*).

As far as pet friendly apartments go... its SUPER easy. Philly is crazy animal friendly. Most high rises will let you have a pet (for a fee, and I don't think this includes 2400 and Left bank) and I think most of the brownstones are fine with it as well (they're more lenient generally).

G

[Upton Sinclair]

Due to work I'm unable to make ASW, so I'm going to the mini one in April. I'll only have Saturday to look for apartments. If I wanted to spend around $1000 per month (for a decent sized studio or a 1-bedroom), what are a couple buildings I should check out? I don't have a preference for highrise or not, but I'd like to be able to walk to school.

[Veyron]

Due to work I'm unable to make ASW, so I'm going to the mini one in April. I'll only have Saturday to look for apartments. If I wanted to spend around $1000 per month (for a decent sized studio or a 1-bedroom), what are a couple buildings I should check out? I don't have a preference for highrise or not, but I'd like to be able to walk to school.

Chestunt Hall, Hamilton Court, grad dorms.

[Upton Sinclair]

Due to work I'm unable to make ASW, so I'm going to the mini one in April. I'll only have Saturday to look for apartments. If I wanted to spend around $1000 per month (for a decent sized studio or a 1-bedroom), what are a couple buildings I should check out? I don't have a preference for highrise or not, but I'd like to be able to walk to school.

Chestunt Hall, Hamilton Court, grad dorms.

No chance I'll be in the grad dorms. Any other rec's? What about places just out of walking distance? (ie 25-30 minute walk)

Thanks.

[Veyron]

Due to work I'm unable to make ASW, so I'm going to the mini one in April. I'll only have Saturday to look for apartments. If I wanted to spend around $1000 per month (for a decent sized studio or a 1-bedroom), what are a couple buildings I should check out? I don't have a preference for highrise or not, but I'd like to be able to walk to school.

Chestunt Hall, Hamilton Court, grad dorms.

No chance I'll be in the grad dorms. Any other rec's? What about places just out of walking distance? (ie 25-30 minute walk)

Thanks.

Just do rowhouse bro.

[Upton Sinclair]

Due to work I'm unable to make ASW, so I'm going to the mini one in April. I'll only have Saturday to look for apartments. If I wanted to spend around $1000 per month (for a decent sized studio or a 1-bedroom), what are a couple buildings I should check out? I don't have a preference for highrise or not, but I'd like to be able to walk to school.

Chestunt Hall, Hamilton Court, grad dorms.

No chance I'll be in the grad dorms. Any other rec's? What about places just out of walking distance? (ie 25-30 minute walk)

Thanks.

Just do rowhouse bro.

lol GTFO...

Incidentally, how's 1L been for you so far? (I think you're a 1L) More/less work than you expected? Anything lined up for summer? Macking broads?

[Georgiana]

Due to work I'm unable to make ASW, so I'm going to the mini one in April. I'll only have Saturday to look for apartments. If I wanted to spend around $1000 per month (for a decent sized studio or a 1-bedroom), what are a couple buildings I should check out? I don't have a preference for highrise or not, but I'd like to be able to walk to school.

I lived in the Wellington for the first two years and it was 1k/mo and included all utilities. It was a fairly small studio but was fine for me. Its on 19th and Walnut which is about a 15-20 min walk depending on how fast of a walker you are, and there's a bus right there for rainy/snow/cold days where walking seems like death.

Other buildings you could look into: The Rittenhouse Claridge, The Roosevelt, The Chatham, and things managed by phila management tend to be on the cheaper side but thats because they've got a fairly bad rep for service.

[TLSNYC]

Due to work I'm unable to make ASW, so I'm going to the mini one in April. I'll only have Saturday to look for apartments. If I wanted to spend around $1000 per month (for a decent sized studio or a 1-bedroom), what are a couple buildings I should check out? I don't have a preference for highrise or not, but I'd like to be able to walk to school.

I lived in the Wellington for the first two years and it was 1k/mo and included all utilities. It was a fairly small studio but was fine for me. Its on 19th and Walnut which is about a 15-20 min walk depending on how fast of a walker you are, and there's a bus right there for rainy/snow/cold days where walking seems like death.

Other buildings you could look into: The Rittenhouse Claridge, The Roosevelt, The Chatham, and things managed by phila management tend to be on the cheaper side but thats because they've got a fairly bad rep for service.

I've looked into many of these buildings and some of them definitely look really good. I've got a couple of questions/concerns:
1. Most of the high rises that I'm looking into only offer 1 year leases and I highly doubt I'd stick around Philadelphia the summer after 1L. How easy is it to sublet? Do most/all high rises allow it?
2. How bad is the pest situation? I've gotten scared out of a solid 10-15 buildings by reading tenants posting about rats and cockroaches in their buildings -- and these were mainly some of the "nicer" buildings. Is it just hit or miss with this or are there apartments with really bad reps?

[Veyron]

[/quote]

Chestunt Hall, Hamilton Court, grad dorms.[/quote]

No chance I'll be in the grad dorms. Any other rec's? What about places just out of walking distance? (ie 25-30 minute walk)

Thanks.[/quote]

Just do rowhouse bro.[/quote]

lol GTFO...

Incidentally, how's 1L been for you so far? (I think you're a 1L) More/less work than you expected? Anything lined up for summer? Macking broads?[/quote]

More work than I expected in the same vein as hell is probably hotter than you expect. Second semester hasn't been terrible tho.

Yes, paid elite (at least in terms of the sort of cases they handle and selectivity) PI.

Less than I would like given the fact that as a 1L, I HAVE NO LIFE.

[Georgiana]

Due to work I'm unable to make ASW, so I'm going to the mini one in April. I'll only have Saturday to look for apartments. If I wanted to spend around $1000 per month (for a decent sized studio or a 1-bedroom), what are a couple buildings I should check out? I don't have a preference for highrise or not, but I'd like to be able to walk to school.

I lived in the Wellington for the first two years and it was 1k/mo and included all utilities. It was a fairly small studio but was fine for me. Its on 19th and Walnut which is about a 15-20 min walk depending on how fast of a walker you are, and there's a bus right there for rainy/snow/cold days where walking seems like death.

Other buildings you could look into: The Rittenhouse Claridge, The Roosevelt, The Chatham, and things managed by phila management tend to be on the cheaper side but thats because they've got a fairly bad rep for service.

I've looked into many of these buildings and some of them definitely look really good. I've got a couple of questions/concerns:
1. Most of the high rises that I'm looking into only offer 1 year leases and I highly doubt I'd stick around Philadelphia the summer after 1L. How easy is it to sublet? Do most/all high rises allow it?
2. How bad is the pest situation? I've gotten scared out of a solid 10-15 buildings by reading tenants posting about rats and cockroaches in their buildings -- and these were mainly some of the "nicer" buildings. Is it just hit or miss with this or are there apartments with really bad reps?

1) I was here for 1L summer and just kept my apartment during 2L summer even though I was in DC (we actually did use it a few times so not a total loss) so I haven't experienced subletting. Some buildings are fine with it (mine would have been but the thought of some rando sleeping and possibly doing other things in my bed creeped me out) and some are explicitly against it (Left Bank comes to mind). Ask them before you sign the lease but once you make it clear you're interested. Also look at the lease for what the notice period is to get out of the lease. My apartment was something like 60 day notice and I could leave so if you don't want to return to the apartment you can move out completely and find somewhere new in the fall.
2) I haven't had a big pest problem. My first apt was 5th floor and that was the first residential floor so I think that had a LOT to do with it. The businesses were good about keeping the pests from making their way up. I don't think I saw a bug more than once or twice the entire two years I lived there. In my new apartment I've been a little less fortunate. We're on the second floor of an older building and have had 1 cockroach, a couple spiders, and last night I had the awesome fortune of freaking out over a beetley thing while the SO was far far away (but on the phone to laugh at my feeble attempts to kill the damn thing before realizing we had epically awesome bug spray). I've never experienced mice/rats but I think I'd prefer them to bugs (most people wouldn't agree with me). I do have to say that the building was very prompt about sending pest control once we saw a cockroach which was nice. I wouldn't be turned off by one or two mentions of bugs but if its a regular complaint in the building I'd take note. Also think about how high the apartment is, the higher the floor, the less likely it is that pests will make it there.

[andyllop]

Greetings. I've been recently been admitted to the LLM program at UPenn, which came out as a big and pleasent surprise, and now starts the search for housing and getting to know the city from the distance. I'll be travelling along with my wife, and we have target CC as a suitable option. What do you think ?

[tipler4213]

What do most students pay per month in rent?

[Crazy4lawzzz]

Penn is overrated.

[r6_philly]

Penn is overrated.

You wouldn't have gone to Penn and paid twice the tuition if you had the choice?

[TLSNYC]

Penn is overrated.

True, no way it competes with tier 2 law schools in NJ

[Georgiana]

What do most students pay per month in rent?

I'd say most pay less than 1k/month. We don't talk too much about how much we spend and I know a few people who spend much more than 1k and people who pay a lot less. It also depends a lot on whether you are willing to live with a roomie, which is always cheaper.

[Georgiana]

Greetings. I've been recently been admitted to the LLM program at UPenn, which came out as a big and pleasent surprise, and now starts the search for housing and getting to know the city from the distance. I'll be travelling along with my wife, and we have target CC as a suitable option. What do you think ?

Congrats! The LLMs definitely have more fun than the JD class

I think that CC is a great choice, especially since you'll be bringing your wife and life won't be solely based at the law school. The biggest decision to make at the outset is whether you want to live in a brownstone/row house or a high rise apartment building. They both have their benefits and it's probably easier to get into a high rise without having to come in person. I listed a few buildings above but here are a few more: The Versailles (this is where I am now), 1500 Locust (my neighbor), the Metropolitan (great building we looked at but decided it was a little pricey for our budget), Riverwest (condo building but a lot of the owners will rent out via craigslist), 2400 Chestnut (also known as the "law school dorms" since its pretty close to the school), River Loft (also close but on the pricier side).

As far as brownstones/rowhouses go... the only rental group that ever comes to mind is Green Street Management but I know there are a ton more and there are a lot that aren't managed by companies.

[tipler4213]

Looking at the Versailles right now and it looks like the one bedrooms are huge and cheap--but it is creeping me out that there aren't any pictures. Is it decent? Good kitchens? Dog friendly?

[Georgiana]

Looking at the Versailles right now and it looks like the one bedrooms are huge and cheap--but it is creeping me out that there aren't any pictures. Is it decent? Good kitchens? Dog friendly?

They're dog friendly but I think there's either a monthly fee or a deposit or something (most people here have dogs so it must be about the norm as far as cost goes, and they don't have a size limit).

We have a one bedroom and it's ginormous, we have an eat in sized kitchen, a dining room/office, a living room, and then bedroom and bathroom. The kitchen is fine but the cabinets could definitely use some replacing. The wood floors are quite nice and part of the reason we got the place. If there are problems maintenance is really quick and actually good at their jobs and most of the doormen are great (as with everything there are a few duds ). I do think you should look at the apartments before agreeing to one, or at least have them send you the floorplan (they have them in the rental office). I looked at two apartments when I visited and the other one I looked at had a TINY kitchen. The SO and I would not have been able to cook together in there much less get by eachother on the way to/from the bedroom (but the bedroom was GORGEOUS so I wish I had looked at it before I was moving in with another person!).

The location is great too, I take the subway to school most days and bought the discounted student pass from Penn which makes it convenient to take the bus/subway without worrying about tokens or cash.

If you have other Q's about the building feel free to ask or PM me.

[tipler4213]

Looking at the Versailles right now and it looks like the one bedrooms are huge and cheap--but it is creeping me out that there aren't any pictures. Is it decent? Good kitchens? Dog friendly?

They're dog friendly but I think there's either a monthly fee or a deposit or something (most people here have dogs so it must be about the norm as far as cost goes, and they don't have a size limit).

We have a one bedroom and it's ginormous, we have an eat in sized kitchen, a dining room/office, a living room, and then bedroom and bathroom. The kitchen is fine but the cabinets could definitely use some replacing. The wood floors are quite nice and part of the reason we got the place. If there are problems maintenance is really quick and actually good at their jobs and most of the doormen are great (as with everything there are a few duds ). I do think you should look at the apartments before agreeing to one, or at least have them send you the floorplan (they have them in the rental office). I looked at two apartments when I visited and the other one I looked at had a TINY kitchen. The SO and I would not have been able to cook together in there much less get by eachother on the way to/from the bedroom (but the bedroom was GORGEOUS so I wish I had looked at it before I was moving in with another person!).

The location is great too, I take the subway to school most days and bought the discounted student pass from Penn which makes it convenient to take the bus/subway without worrying about tokens or cash.

If you have other Q's about the building feel free to ask or PM me.

Georgiana, thank you so much for all the help. I have been searching pretty hard and am pretty committed to Center City (scared of the undergrad parties during exam time). However, I noticed that the student budget breaks down to around $1500 a month for "room and board"--so, that includes food, utilities, etc. Most one bedrooms break down to about $1500 a month (2400 Chesnut, Sterling, Chathum).

Would these be too expensive for someone who will be sharing a one bedroom? My girlfriend will be going to the graduate school there, and we are worried about budgeting. Anyone can chime in.

[TLSNYC]

Looking at the Versailles right now and it looks like the one bedrooms are huge and cheap--but it is creeping me out that there aren't any pictures. Is it decent? Good kitchens? Dog friendly?

They're dog friendly but I think there's either a monthly fee or a deposit or something (most people here have dogs so it must be about the norm as far as cost goes, and they don't have a size limit).

We have a one bedroom and it's ginormous, we have an eat in sized kitchen, a dining room/office, a living room, and then bedroom and bathroom. The kitchen is fine but the cabinets could definitely use some replacing. The wood floors are quite nice and part of the reason we got the place. If there are problems maintenance is really quick and actually good at their jobs and most of the doormen are great (as with everything there are a few duds ). I do think you should look at the apartments before agreeing to one, or at least have them send you the floorplan (they have them in the rental office). I looked at two apartments when I visited and the other one I looked at had a TINY kitchen. The SO and I would not have been able to cook together in there much less get by eachother on the way to/from the bedroom (but the bedroom was GORGEOUS so I wish I had looked at it before I was moving in with another person!).

The location is great too, I take the subway to school most days and bought the discounted student pass from Penn which makes it convenient to take the bus/subway without worrying about tokens or cash.

If you have other Q's about the building feel free to ask or PM me.

Georgiana, thank you so much for all the help. I have been searching pretty hard and am pretty committed to Center City (scared of the undergrad parties during exam time). However, I noticed that the student budget breaks down to around $1500 a month for "room and board"--so, that includes food, utilities, etc. Most one bedrooms break down to about $1500 a month (2400 Chesnut, Sterling, Chathum).

Would these be too expensive for someone who will be sharing a one bedroom? My girlfriend will be going to the graduate school there, and we are worried about budgeting. Anyone can chime in.

I was under the impression that the monthly budget was slightly higher -- 8652 (room) + 4480 (board) + 2639 (misc) = 15771 or $1752/mo.

[tipler4213]

Looking at the Versailles right now and it looks like the one bedrooms are huge and cheap--but it is creeping me out that there aren't any pictures. Is it decent? Good kitchens? Dog friendly?

They're dog friendly but I think there's either a monthly fee or a deposit or something (most people here have dogs so it must be about the norm as far as cost goes, and they don't have a size limit).

We have a one bedroom and it's ginormous, we have an eat in sized kitchen, a dining room/office, a living room, and then bedroom and bathroom. The kitchen is fine but the cabinets could definitely use some replacing. The wood floors are quite nice and part of the reason we got the place. If there are problems maintenance is really quick and actually good at their jobs and most of the doormen are great (as with everything there are a few duds ). I do think you should look at the apartments before agreeing to one, or at least have them send you the floorplan (they have them in the rental office). I looked at two apartments when I visited and the other one I looked at had a TINY kitchen. The SO and I would not have been able to cook together in there much less get by eachother on the way to/from the bedroom (but the bedroom was GORGEOUS so I wish I had looked at it before I was moving in with another person!).

The location is great too, I take the subway to school most days and bought the discounted student pass from Penn which makes it convenient to take the bus/subway without worrying about tokens or cash.

If you have other Q's about the building feel free to ask or PM me.

Georgiana, thank you so much for all the help. I have been searching pretty hard and am pretty committed to Center City (scared of the undergrad parties during exam time). However, I noticed that the student budget breaks down to around $1500 a month for "room and board"--so, that includes food, utilities, etc. Most one bedrooms break down to about $1500 a month (2400 Chesnut, Sterling, Chathum).

Would these be too expensive for someone who will be sharing a one bedroom? My girlfriend will be going to the graduate school there, and we are worried about budgeting. Anyone can chime in.

I was under the impression that the monthly budget was slightly higher -- 8652 (room) + 4480 (board) + 2639 (misc) = 15771 or $1752/mo.

I was approximating and also not including miscellaneous. Also, it is a nine-month budget, so its important to work the whole summer with pay/grant. Either way though, $1450 rent would leave $302 a month for food, toothpaste, metro passes, etc for people who don't have the luxury of sharing a one bedroom.

[tipler4213]

Is the short answer to this likely just that people who aren't sharing a one bedroom either get a studio or don't live in any of the nice buildings listed specifically by Penn?