Fordham Housing Forum

[nyeagle]

Could anyone comment on their housing situation at Fordham? Are the dorms worth living in? Are there cheap enough apartments nearby that loans could cover the rent for the year? Anything else you have come across over the years?

[kiskadee321]

I'm curious about this too, if I decided to go to Fordham though, I'd live up in the Heights. It's way to expensive around Columbus Circle/ Lincoln Center.

edit: That's uptown Manhattan.

[rn2mx]

You're probably gonna need to have at least one roommate to get rent down low enough. our apartment on the Upper West Side is a 2 bedroom for $2500 per month (approximately $833 per person). From what I heard, the dorms are not worth their cost relative to the quality of housing you receive (spoke with someone who lived there and he moved into an apartment after the 1L year). The cheapest housing option is arguably Jersey City which is more reasonable, but with a bit longer commute.

[Pro Hac Vice]

Thats actually the border between midtown and the upper west side. Downtown is at least the very least below 14th street (and more expensive).

Nonetheless, its still a pricey place to live, like the rest of the god-forsaken island.

[mike80]

If you don't want to spend all your money on rent, look into the boros. You'll certainly be able to find something more affordable, and definitely within a reasonable commute.

[augustlights]

Yeah, the law school is in a pretty prime location...so the rent isn't too cheap. The PATH train to jersey city is super easy, if cheap rent is your number one goal. i have a friend who rents a room there for $400/month.

My 2BR apt is $3,200/month....and that's actually considered a decent deal (for West Village).

What really get you in Manhattan are the brokers' fees (typically 2 months rent). Craigslist can be a bit difficult to deal with, but if you walk around to the bigger buildings and ask about vacancies, they'll often put you on a list. It's the easiest way to avoid a brokers' fee. Also, many people install a wall in apartments to add an extra bedroom (and lose a living room). Installation is typically around $1,400 and it can decrease your rent substantially (as well as your quality of life ).

The outer boroughs are cheaper too, but taking a late night subway to Brooklyn or Queens can take FOREVER from the Fordam Campus....so be prepared to shell out some decent cab money if you plan on going out/studying late in Manhattan.

[luckynumber8s]

At night an hour from Park Slope in Brooklyn. And about 45 minutes from Astoria, Queens.

During the day perhaps 45 min, and 30 min, respectively.

[crbrit]

Yeah, Astoria is a great place to live, with a direct train into Manhattan. Queens and Brooklyn both have nice, affordable areas, as does Jersey (Jersey City, Hoboken).

I have a place on the Upper East Side- a 2 bdrm. for $2000. The low 90's and places along York Ave. can have (relatively) cheap, nice places. Also, you can take an easy crosstown bus over to Fordham.

[spruance]

I vote for Jersey, though I've heard it has gotten much more expensive recently. Still Hudson County will be cheaper than anywhere in the city. I have a friend in Hoboken w/ a two bedroom apartment with a view of the city and she pays something like 1500. Not too bad.

[nyeagle]

Thanks for the information. I think I might look into the dorms for my first year. The convenience of its location, and being furnished are highly attractive to me right now.

[brjames87]

I might be going to fordham and am curious about this as well.

From what I heard, the dorms are not worth their cost relative to the quality of housing you receive

How bad are the dorms? Or are they nice but just overpriced?

[BowlingForKids]

I just did a tour of Fordham the other week and the student who gave me the tour suggested, you might want to say, that unless I was comfortable living in housing run by a Jesuit school, and all the somewhat restrictive rules that that emphasis would imply, that I would probably be better off looking elsewhere for housing. Needless to say, I'm looking for housing for myself and a woman I am not currently married to so I would not be eligible for housing any way. Take from that what you will.

[meemz411]

i already live in nyc (the bronx) but i hate the commute. am i completely crazy for wanting to move to midtown?

also, can someone expand on the "jesuit rules" in the dorms?

[infinity]

i think the commute from the bronx will be fine. i am actually looking to either live in riverdale or astoria. if you can afford midtwon rents - then go for it. i figure, we'll already be in so much debt that i don't want to pay crazy manhattan rent for shoe-box apt.

the jesuit housing thing is that you have to sign in all your guests and (i think) you can't have members of the opposite sex over night. i think there is also a curfew. plus the dorms are mainly for undergrads, so i think that would be awkward...

[dyermaker16]

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[Chadbertwick]

At night an hour from Park Slope in Brooklyn. And about 45 minutes from Astoria, Queens.

During the day perhaps 45 min, and 30 min, respectively.

This would suck!!!

i think the commute from the bronx will be fine. i am actually looking to either live in riverdale or astoria. if you can afford midtwon rents - then go for it. i figure, we'll already be in so much debt that i don't want to pay crazy manhattan rent for shoe-box apt.

the jesuit housing thing is that you have to sign in all your guests and (i think) you can't have members of the opposite sex over night. i think there is also a curfew. plus the dorms are mainly for undergrads, so i think that would be awkward...

This would also suck!!!

I currently live in Brooklyn, and if I were going to Fordham (will be attending the other outrageously priced school in NYC), I would find my own place with roommates closer by than Brooklyn, Astoria, Jersey City, and the Bronx. Imagine the pain in the buttocks it will be to travel late at night to any of those areas after a long day of classes and studying in the library. Also, imagine the inconveniece of not being able to take full advantage of the NYC nightlife scene b/c you have to travel so far to get home.

[infinity]

At night an hour from Park Slope in Brooklyn. And about 45 minutes from Astoria, Queens.

During the day perhaps 45 min, and 30 min, respectively.

This would suck!!!

i think the commute from the bronx will be fine. i am actually looking to either live in riverdale or astoria. if you can afford midtwon rents - then go for it. i figure, we'll already be in so much debt that i don't want to pay crazy manhattan rent for shoe-box apt.

the jesuit housing thing is that you have to sign in all your guests and (i think) you can't have members of the opposite sex over night. i think there is also a curfew. plus the dorms are mainly for undergrads, so i think that would be awkward...

This would also suck!!!

I currently live in Brooklyn, and if I were going to Fordham (will be attending the other outrageously priced school in NYC), I would find my own place with roommates closer by than Brooklyn, Astoria, Jersey City, and the Bronx. Imagine the pain in the buttocks it will be to travel late at night to any of those areas after a long day of classes and studying in the library. Also, imagine the inconveniece of not being able to take full advantage of the NYC nightlife scene b/c you have to travel so far to get home.

i have a longer commute now so this is not crazy to me, plus i am married - so i won't be doing the nightlife thing too much anyway. anything in the bronx or astoria is an improvement for us. plus, you can always take a cab which shouldn't be that much $$$.

[meemz411]

i was thinking- if i'm already gonna take out loans, why not make the 3 years of law school a little easier on myself. might as well put up the extra money and live somewhere easy to get to class and still not outrageous.

[dyermaker16]

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[meemz411]

that's a good question... i forgot about the qualifying part..

well i'm working now, so hopefully i'll have some money. if not, i guess get a cosigner.

subletting is a little wierd to me b/c you're living in someone else's house...with all of their stuff. i'd be afraid to mess something up. or just miss having all of my own stuff.

[infinity]

well, my husband has income and if need be then co-signers...

[krystal82]

Finally made my decision Fordham law next year. I'm looking for a female roommate, so pm if interested. A two bedroom around upper west should mre affordable than the graduate housing. Dyermaker, I was under the impression that the grad dorms were very far from campus like 30 minute commute? That's crazy! Plus the rent does not include utilties. What is everyone else doing for housing?

[kclove2]

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[senseful]

From what I've heard and my experience living in the area (w54) last summer, McMahon sounds like the best value. As far as the Jesuitiness, I can't imagine they don't treat law students like adults.

I second Krystal's dismay at the length of the commute from the east side, but it's no worse than coming from Jersey or Brooklyn. I know from living in DC that you get a better deal living with someone else. If anyone's down here (DC) before June 1st and wants to meet up to discuss the options, I wouldn't be opposed.

[lsnhut7083]

inwood is probably where i'm leaning, maybe washington heights. decent commute via a & 1 trains, plus i can live by myself and keep my elderly, infirm dog with me.