I'd look into Somerville, which is just up the "T" Redline from Harvard. The area around Davis Square would be really convenient. Google the MBTA maps, and try to find something close to a "T" stop. Also, Harvard my have an off campus housing section on their website....

the stretch between porter square and union square in somerville off of somerville ave is relatively cheap and very close to the GSD (about a 10-15 minute walk or a 5 minute bus-ride).

Union square is an up-and-coming area, and has gotten quite nice over the past few years... I'd recommend staying south of highland and west of prospect, though...

If you're single, see if you can apply for a graduate student room in the graduate dorms nearby. I recall GSD students were allowed to reside in those dorms. Dorms have shared kitchens and baths. That's probably your cheapest bet.

Call admissions office and your department office, and see if they'll help you find a roommate, whether another incoming student that share a flat with you, or an existing student with a spare room.

yeah your first call should be to admissions or someone in the department. They most of the time have lists of available off campus housing as well as programs for international students. Take advantage of what they offer, they will probably be able to answer most if not all of your questions

thanks for help! i'm looking into somerville now and will contact the admissions office early on monday morning, would definitely be easier if through them than having to speculate and compare on my own. as it turns out i've already missed the deadline for the grad student dorm lottery appl. but still hoping to find sth if it's not that late.
cheers

zoon - i lived on highland ave in somerville. great old house, fantastic landlord. off street parking and the guy would come shovel it out on snow days.

anywhere along the redline is just fine, as people have pointed out. good luck and hope your studies go well.

I lived in Peabody Terrace & I recommend it!. You can share 2BD or 3BD with other single students there. There is housing lottery as far as I can remember for the university housing option. I would apply for this lottery. If you do not get in, there is also "immediate occupancy list". Talk to admissions, they are doing their best to accommodate international students.