If you’re renting an unfurnished apartment, make sure you’re also budgeting enough time and money to find furniture there’s an IKEA only thirty minutes away, and a Target less than fifteen minutes from Waltham, but there are also a lot of thrift stores along Moody Street and Main Street where you can dig up a lot of great finds for very low prices. During the COVID-19 pandemic, most realtors are offering virtual tours, which can make it easier to decide on an apartment even from far away (and an effective tool to weed out scams!). It can also be very competitive, so if you find a place that you like, be prepared to commit that day: have your documents ready, your checkbook on hand, and a co-signer lined up (if necessary). Boston housing fills up fast, so I would recommend starting to look as soon as you are able ( Jump Off-Campus hosts a Brandeis specific site for landlords specifically looking to rent to Brandeis students and other members of the Brandeis community). Many apartments in Boston have leases that start on September 1st, but I would recommend looking for leases that start on August 1st or August 15th, so you’re not rushing to set up utilities and get settled in during the first week of classes. Living with other students in your program can lend itself to group study sessions, but having students outside your program can often add a new perspective, so don’t be afraid to mix and match with classmates both inside and outside your program! Many Heller students choose to live together having a built-in support group in your program can be really helpful to students new to the area. Brandeis also hosts a Grad Housing listserv where you can sign up to get emails about available apartments or students looking for roommates, so I would also recommend subscribing to that. The Brandeis Graduate Facebook group has a lot of great information and apartment postings, and many students use it to find roommates.
Unless you’re from the area or are moving with your family, you’ll most likely need to find roommates. Jamaica Plain isn’t as good an option for Heller students without a car, but for those that do, this neighborhood is a great mix of students and young professionals and has plenty of great food along Centre Street. Allston and Brighton are common places for students to live in Boston for their great restaurants and nightlife options for those without a car, it’s easy to take the MBTA to North Station. Somerville is popular amongst Brandeis graduate students for its proximity to North Station, where you can board the commuter rail line that takes you right to the base of campus, and the neighborhoods around Porter Square and Davis square are really fun, with lots of shopping, restaurants, and cute cafes. However, if you are looking to move to Boston or Cambridge because you want the experience of living in the city, I would recommend researching the Somerville, Allston/Brighton, or Jamaica Plain neighborhoods. Waltham is also less than half an hour from Boston, so getting into the city is really easy, but rent in Waltham is generally a little more affordable than in Boston or Cambridge. Waltham is a great historic town right along the Charles River, and there are a ton of great restaurants along Moody Street (I love Moody’s Delicatessen for a quick lunch and Balani for a special-treat dinner). Most Heller students choose to live in Waltham, because they prefer to be close to campus it’s so convenient to be able to walk back to your home in between classes to grab a textbook, have a snack, or (let’s be honest) take a nap.
Here are some things that I learned along the way, along with some Brandeis-specific tips, that I hope will help you in your journey: Some students may live close enough to Brandeis to commute, but for many, a new graduate program means a new city! I myself moved from Atlanta to Boston for graduate school, and I remember the mixture of excitement and nervousness that comes with taking this next big step. For the latest in the “I’m Admitted, Now What?” series, I’d like to talk about some steps to take after you’ve made your decision and sent in your deposit.
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