Hi! I got my undergraduate in interiors at Drexel and am now trying to get my masters so I can teach full time (I currently teach at a community college).
So I got in to CCA in San Fran and Portland State. Got waitlisted at UWash and still waiting to hear from UCL Bartlett. Would much prefer to go to either of these schools but I'm worried I won't get in to either (my GRE was very bad for Uwash) and UCL is out of my league I think.
So I will probably end up at CCA. I'm concerned about the cost of living. I currently live in philadelphia and pay $725 a month working 2 full time jobs and I can barely afford my rent and living. How do you guys do it in San Fran?!?! Also, I was originally told I would get accelerated degree and get to take off 1 year of the 3year program but they only took off 1 class. I'm going to try to appeal for more but who knows... 3 years of my life and they only offered me 10k a year. (Uwash and Bartlett are only a year and a half for not a MArch which I honestly dont need).
Any advice on living in san fran or anything else would be greatly appreciated!
l3wis
Mar 27, 18 9:19 pm
I would try to connect with incoming classmates and share as much space with as many people as possible.
ayags
Mar 28, 18 9:48 am
thats a great idea thank you!
zonker
Mar 27, 18 9:25 pm
Yeah, you sure dont want to be pitchin a tent under I-80
sameolddoctor
Mar 27, 18 9:25 pm
First off, dont call it San Fran (thats what tourists do). Secondly, you might get more space if you live in Oakland/Berkeley.
Beepbeep
Mar 27, 18 10:03 pm
should of applied to Cornell they have an Interiors Masters and PHD and cost of living is modestly cheap...
SF is great it just cost 3600 a month for a 1 bed...and all those damn techie weirdos.
However I do know some people who live w/ housemates and pay 700-1100 which is a good deal, and wages are quite a bit higher in SF.
ayags
Mar 28, 18 9:46 am
I mean if I wanted another useless Interiors degree dont you think I would have applied for one? I'm getting an arch degree bc they are obviously much more valued. Also what does ANYONE need a PHD is interiors for?
Non Sequitur
Mar 28, 18 9:48 am
why does anyone even need any degree in interiors?
ayags
Mar 28, 18 9:52 am
alright chill -_- its not all residential decorating.... we do the exact same things architects do, just the interiors of the space.
Beepbeep
Mar 28, 18 10:50 am
You said above you didn't need an M.arch "Uwash and Bartlett are only a year and a half for not a MArch which I honestly dont need" so I figured you would just be getting another useless Interiors degree...if its not an M.arch allowing a license they are all pretty useless.
Beepbeep
Mar 28, 18 10:54 am
Pad mapper works well in the city to find apartments...and CL for roommate h
unting. An option that a lot of people do not talk about is Daly City, Outer Sunset, and Outer Richmond you can find much better housing rates. I would avoid the Tenderloin and SOMA because they are filled with homeless...it is actually really sad. But you do feel like you are walking around among the zombies.
ayags
Mar 28, 18 5:57 pm
its MS Arch as I'm not trying to be registered architect but a professor, as stated in the OP. Thanks for the advice though
Non Sequitur
Mar 29, 18 7:35 am
Hilarious. All that expense just to teach others about furniture procurement and fabric selection.
ayags
Apr 2, 18 1:25 pm
Clearly you have no idea what interiors does... If you've ever worked at a reputable firm you would know how vital interiors is to this industry. And just so you know I teach 3, yes that right 3, ARCHITECTURE courses without even a BArch. Please take your petty attitude elsewhere. Was just looking on some advice on living in an expensive city, not your biased opinion on my career.
ayags
Mar 28, 18 9:49 am
anyone in any housing groups for sf? i dont mind living with a lot of people if it keeps my rent down :) thanks yall
spiketwig
Mar 28, 18 12:09 pm
10 years ago, everyone lived in the Mission with many roommates. I think you can probably still swing that - try to get connected with existing students and you'll be able to find a spot. Would strongly recommend living within biking distance. You will spend a lot of time in studio, you don't want to be commuting on BART if you can help it (but people def. do it, so not impossible). Keep in mind the cost of BART fares if you go that route - it's not cheap.
ayags
Mar 28, 18 5:58 pm
Thats helpful thank you! I figured there has to be some affordable housing but when I looked on craigslist it was all like $1500+ for a room shared in a house with 3 people which is CRAZY.
SneakyPete
Mar 29, 18 5:41 pm
Cohabiting in Berkeley can be cheaper, since it's a college town. In SF you're not likely to get cheaper than that without some luck
.
accesskb
Mar 29, 18 7:06 am
Buy a cheap van and live in it. Shower in school. Crash at classmates, in school when you need.
Non Sequitur
Mar 29, 18 7:36 am
This is real advice.
spiketwig
Mar 29, 18 4:49 pm
one guy did do this. it was a bit weird... seemed to work for him. There's a gym down the street, you can get a membership for the showers...
SneakyPete
Mar 29, 18 5:40 pm
I had a classmate do this with a mobile home during grad school, but that was in the rural midwest. I don't think I'd want to join the folks doing it on the back streets in SF.
Hi! I got my undergraduate in interiors at Drexel and am now trying to get my masters so I can teach full time (I currently teach at a community college).
So I got in to CCA in San Fran and Portland State. Got waitlisted at UWash and still waiting to hear from UCL Bartlett. Would much prefer to go to either of these schools but I'm worried I won't get in to either (my GRE was very bad for Uwash) and UCL is out of my league I think.
So I will probably end up at CCA. I'm concerned about the cost of living. I currently live in philadelphia and pay $725 a month working 2 full time jobs and I can barely afford my rent and living. How do you guys do it in San Fran?!?! Also, I was originally told I would get accelerated degree and get to take off 1 year of the 3year program but they only took off 1 class. I'm going to try to appeal for more but who knows... 3 years of my life and they only offered me 10k a year. (Uwash and Bartlett are only a year and a half for not a MArch which I honestly dont need).
Any advice on living in san fran or anything else would be greatly appreciated!
I would try to connect with incoming classmates and share as much space with as many people as possible.
thats a great idea thank you!
Yeah, you sure dont want to be pitchin a tent under I-80
First off, dont call it San Fran (thats what tourists do). Secondly, you might get more space if you live in Oakland/Berkeley.
should of applied to Cornell they have an Interiors Masters and PHD and cost of living is modestly cheap...
SF is great it just cost 3600 a month for a 1 bed...and all those damn techie weirdos.
However I do know some people who live w/ housemates and pay 700-1100 which is a good deal, and wages are quite a bit higher in SF.
I mean if I wanted another useless Interiors degree dont you think I would have applied for one? I'm getting an arch degree bc they are obviously much more valued. Also what does ANYONE need a PHD is interiors for?
why does anyone even need any degree in interiors?
alright chill -_- its not all residential decorating.... we do the exact same things architects do, just the interiors of the space.
You said above you didn't need an M.arch "Uwash and Bartlett are only a year and a half for not a MArch which I honestly dont need" so I figured you would just be getting another useless Interiors degree...if its not an M.arch allowing a license they are all pretty useless.
Pad mapper works well in the city to find apartments...and CL for roommate h unting. An option that a lot of people do not talk about is Daly City, Outer Sunset, and Outer Richmond you can find much better housing rates. I would avoid the Tenderloin and SOMA because they are filled with homeless...it is actually really sad. But you do feel like you are walking around among the zombies.
its MS Arch as I'm not trying to be registered architect but a professor, as stated in the OP. Thanks for the advice though
Hilarious. All that expense just to teach others about furniture procurement and fabric selection.
Clearly you have no idea what interiors does... If you've ever worked at a reputable firm you would know how vital interiors is to this industry. And just so you know I teach 3, yes that right 3, ARCHITECTURE courses without even a BArch. Please take your petty attitude elsewhere. Was just looking on some advice on living in an expensive city, not your biased opinion on my career.
anyone in any housing groups for sf? i dont mind living with a lot of people if it keeps my rent down :) thanks yall
10 years ago, everyone lived in the Mission with many roommates. I think you can probably still swing that - try to get connected with existing students and you'll be able to find a spot. Would strongly recommend living within biking distance. You will spend a lot of time in studio, you don't want to be commuting on BART if you can help it (but people def. do it, so not impossible). Keep in mind the cost of BART fares if you go that route - it's not cheap.
Thats helpful thank you! I figured there has to be some affordable housing but when I looked on craigslist it was all like $1500+ for a room shared in a house with 3 people which is CRAZY.
Cohabiting in Berkeley can be cheaper, since it's a college town. In SF you're not likely to get cheaper than that without some luck .
Buy a cheap van and live in it. Shower in school. Crash at classmates, in school when you need.
This is real advice.
one guy did do this. it was a bit weird... seemed to work for him. There's a gym down the street, you can get a membership for the showers...
I had a classmate do this with a mobile home during grad school, but that was in the rural midwest. I don't think I'd want to join the folks doing it on the back streets in SF.