I was accepted to the MSAUD program, but live in Connecticut, not California. I'll be going to the open house and can give you some feedback, if you want.

Ara, you're going to love it! :)

PS - try to get student housing through Columbia to save you the headache of hunting for a place or having a long commute to school everyday.

thx Jeff...  i applied for housing, but they say it's a lottery so i'm still looking just in case.  i can't wait.

Randomworks, i'd appreciate it a lot!!!  c u in the summer!

Congrats Hovsepyan. You'll love living and discovering Manhattan. When I went to the program years ago, they didn't offer Summer housing.  I just did a sublet for the 3 months in Morningside area,  and received housing for the Fall and Spring Semesters. Coming from California, I'm sure you'll have a good chance in the lottery. I got a studio on 118th St/Amsterdam, literally minutes from Avery. 

Good Luck. 

Congrats!
I got accepted to MSAAD program but still waiting for the result of Cooper Union MArch. II. I just had a phone interview with CU's professor few days ago, and in my personal view the talking sounds positive!

Anyway, I will probably face the problem of housing in New York, too. 

Hovsepyan: I really like the program, but I'm not sure I'll be able to afford to attend...it seems the GSAPP is stingy with grants. I'll let you know how the open house goes.

I'm also in, really not sure if I can afford to attend. They were the most stingy school for me as well. Going to MITs open house instead.

At least they were upfront in acknowledging it will cost 70k/year with living expenses.

Has anyone gotten any itinerary for the open house?

I was accepted to GSAPP's MSAUD also....scared that the loan debt won't pay off.  Any alums who can speak to that issue?  I'm sure content-wise, the program is incredible...however, we will have architecture salaries & 70-100k loan debt.  I know people do it, so...how?

Ara, I really enjoyed your portfolio!

@ovalle

Did everyone get a studio apartmetnet in the lottery? Or did you get to choose any apartment out of a group?

@Vanillian

I'm still waiting for the itinerary for the open house too.

And did you guys choose on-campus housing on the acceptance form? or do you select no in order to get into the lottery?

Thanks!

@munk

I can't speak for everyone in my MAUD studio at that time, but I believe most of my classmates who came from abroad received some sort of residential housing for Fall/Spring, but not necessarily a studio apartment.  Some for instance had to share a two bedroom with another GSAPP student in the Morningside area. I believe, but not certain, priority is given to those who are not from NY or the general vicinity. The few that were from NY or the greater tri-state area didn't have so much luck in the lottery system, and had to find their own housing via Craigslist, etc.

For some reason I lucked out in getting a studio apartment near Avery. From what I can recall I had no decision in that making.  Unfortunately it has been some years so I can't really remember the process of the lottery. I just remember applying for residential housing for the Fall and Spring semesters during the Summer session or possibly before it even started (I found out that I received residential housing from CU during the middle/end of summer) As far as I know CU doesn't offer summer housing to  GSAPP summer session students (maybe the process has changed now) I should also say that if you can try to find a place  near Columbia U, preferably along the 1 train, that would be a good idea. You'll be spending  many late nights at Avery. 

FYI, what I ended up doing was subletting a room in a 3 bedroom apt I found on craigslist for the Summer session (roughly 3 months). I actually did this before I even moved to Manhattan. Most of the time these are readily available since many CU students leave the city for abroad internships /jobs/ travel etc, but don't want to lose their room in the apartment.  It was practical for me because it was near CU and I hardly spent time in the apartment anyways. Again, I can't reiterate enough  how much time you will be spending in Avery/studio or out discovering Manhattan. You really just need to find a safe and clean bedroom for that summer session, and hope you get an apartment via the Lottery for Fall semester.

Hope this helps.

@ovalle

Wow! Thank you so much for the detailed respsonse. It helped a lot!

Hi.. I would be starting MSAUD at Columbia this summer.. :) Wondering if anyone has figured out their housing yet..? I am still awaiting a response from the University. Also if anyone is looking for a room mate, because, I've been doing some research myself too and some nice apartments are available close to the school, but it works out to be cheaper when shared. 

I think this is a great place to get in touch with those who would be joining GSAPP, this year..:) I am super excited!!  

I'm will also be attending GSAPP for MSAUD this summer.  Because I plan to stick around the city after graduation, I am looking for an off-campus apartment.  If anyone wants to get together and look for 2 or 3 bedroom place in the Morningside Heights area (as close as possible), I would be more than willing to participate.  Many of the room/share vacancies around the area that I've been finding on Craigslist (and comparable sites) are older people looking for some extra income by leasing rooms in their apartments.  I would definitely like to live with other students, if anyone else is interested.

Thanks, just over a month away!

@sba39 I am interested and have been looking for a place myself. Please give me your contact so I could get in touch with you. you could email me on ankitachachra@hotmail.com. 

i am looking for a roomate as well. i'm starting this summer in the MSAAD program. feel free to get in touch. ydennis@dal.ca

well, I will also be joining MSAUD summer 2012... my e-mail id is devanshipurohit@gmail.com. We should have a facebook page so that we can be in touch with each other... I am also looking for accommodation near the campus.

Hi everyone. admitted to MSAUD and looking for a place as well. i've been frantically searching on craigslist for a place. my email is: kevin.p.le@gmail.com

ideally i'd like to stay near the campus. price range is $1K-$1.3K. 

@devanshipurohit

how do we get a facebook group going? did GSAPP send you a google group membership?

Has anyone starting in the fall heard anything about housing?