Student Bios
We asked some students to talk about their housing experiences here is what they wrote:
Allen Chung
- Who are you?
My name is Allen Chung. I am a 24 year old first year MD/PhD student.
I went to Cornell University and graduated in 2007. After college I
worked in New York City for a couple years before coming to the UB.
- Where do you live?
I rent one bedroom in a 2br apartment in Collegiate Village; which is a large, independent student housing complex located just minutes away from UB South Campus. It is a 5 minute to drive to class each morning and during the summer it's even possible to walk to campus. I chose Collegiate Village because many of the first year med students had also decided to live here. Collegiate Village has created a special subsection of their complex for graduate students and many of us UB med students are just doors down from each other.
- What is it like?
Most units here are 2br/2bth but there are 1, 3 and 4br apartments as well. What I like most is the convenience and security of the complex. CV has a 24/7 gatehouse, a lounge which comes with its own study room and a gym with up-to-date equipment. The apartments come fully furnished with heat, water, internet, cable & even laundry included in every apartment except an electric charge based on balanced budget of $25/month. Also, if you know anything about Buffalo, you know that parking space can often come at a premium; the ample and free parking at CV is a major plus. There is a strong recycling program here as well (something I'm a fan of) and the grounds are clean and well maintained.
- How did you meet your roommate or do you live alone (list serve/ housing weekend/ already knew them etc?)
I met my roommate through the UB listserv and we talked through email/phone before deciding to live together. It seems to have worked out really well.
- What are the best things about where you live?
CV is a close-knit community and the staff is friendly, professional
and helpful. There is a computer lab in the lounge that gives you free printing (as long as you provide your own paper). The lab caters to both Mac and PC users. The complex is just blocks away from Highway 33 so getting around town is quick and easy. There is a grill outside of the lounge, which anyone that lives in CV can use. My roommate and I have grilled steaks there on more than one occasion.
- What do you wish you had known before you moved in?
Nothing.
- Will you be staying here for the next year or 2?
I haven't decided yet; but it is definitely a possibility. I've really enjoyed living here thus far.
- What do you pay approximately for rent/utilities?
My rent and utilities come out to $765/month per person including everything. In general the room rent ranges from $525/month to $863/month depending on the room type.
Kathryn Fong
Who are you?
Kathryn Fong. 25 year old female. I worked for three years after undergrad-first year out coaching gymnastics, last two years working in orthopaedic research. Originally from NYC. Lived for 4 yrs in New Haven during undergrad. I wanted to live in an apartment building because I wanted live in maintenance and included utilities, which I find are easier to find in apartment complexes.
Where do you live?
The Westbrook Apartments (downtown). Rent. About 15 minute drive to school, although I’ve done it quicker; it’s also quicker if you take the 33 vs the streets.
What is it like?
I rent a 3 bedroom 2 bath apartment. Huge common room and master bedroom with in-suite bath. Lots of natural light. Secure/Buzzer building. Security cameras. Hardwood floors. Utilities included, coin operated laundry, but not in unit. Management company is good/attentive. Off-street (extra cost) and street parking.
How did you meet your roommate or do you live alone?
One roommate is a craigslist/non-medical student. Other is classmate through listserv.
What are the best things about where you live?
Downtown! Restaurants, bars nearby. 24 hr Walgreen’s across the street (very convenient). Hospitals close by, especially for 3rd year. Utilities included. Live in maintenance guy.
What do you wish you had known before you moved in?
Can get a little loud because hospitals are nearby. Downtown can be a bit intimidating depending on where you come from. I am not bothered by it because I am from an urban area (NYC), but coming from suburbs might take a little adjustment. I feel totally safe though, just make sure you use good judgment and don’t run around without being aware of your surroundings.
Will you be staying here for the next year or 2?
Yes.
What do you pay approximately for rent/utilities ? (or give an average for the area you are in if you don’t want to give your rent. )
Rent is $1525 split three ways. Utilities are included in rent. I pay for internet and cable, which is approximately $145/month split three ways. But I also pay for HBO and some of the premium sports channels, so if you can do without that it will be less. Off street parking can be an extra $30-40 depending on which lot you choose; there is a covered lot or uncovered.
Rebekah Bocek
Who are you?
My name is Rebekah Bocek and I am a 23 year old first (soon to be second!) year med student. I went to Binghamton University and graduated in 2007 with a degree in Psychology.
Where do you live?
I rent an apartment in Amherst which is apparently near the top of the list of the safest cities/towns to live in the US. I live right by north campus, it takes me about 15 minutes to get to school (south campus is maybe 4 or 5 miles from North Campus) in the morning. I chose Amherst because it is a safe area—Williamsville is too.
What is it like?
I live in a Condo complex called Charter Oaks, but most units here are filled with homeowners. Mine’s 2bed/1bath, it’s spacious but basic. What I like most is that I have very quiet neighbors. If you’re interested in living in Amherst, visit the string of apartment complexes on Chestnut Ridge Road, just stop in the rental office and they’ll give you a tour. You can also contact an agency like MJ Peterson and ask what else they have available.
How did you meet your roommate or do you live alone ( list serve/ housing weekend/ already knew them etc?
I live with my boyfriend.
What are the best things about where you live?
Amherst is a suburb, so there are lots of strip malls and chain restaurants—nothing special. There’s not a lot to do in Amherst, and if you like to go out a lot, you’re going to need a DD, spend $$$ on cab fares, or frequent Average Joes (the only bar I know of in Amherst). However, the gym is located on North Campus, and if you don’t want to pay for a gym, the one on North Campus isn’t bad. Yes there is a gym on South Campus, but it’s not nearly as nice. (<10 machines total).
What do you wish you had known before you moved in?
Nothing.
Will you be staying here for the next year or 2?
I’ve renewed my lease for second year. It may be convenient to live in Buffalo for 3rd and 4th year because of proximity to the hospitals.
What do you pay approximately for rent/utilities ?
For rent and utilities (including internet, but my cable is included in my rent) I pay about $1100/month, but it is split 2 ways. 1 bedroom apartments aren’t that much cheaper than 2 bedrooms, so find a roommate and you’ll save a lot of $$.
Scott Bodner
My name is Scott Bodner and I am 23 years old. I graduated from Binghamton University in May 2008 and began my medical school education that same year. I currently live in the University Court Apartments, which is owned by Clover Management. (Clover Management owns a few building throughout the Buffalo area.) It is located across the street from the medical school (South campus). My apartment complex actually consists of two individual, but similar buildings that are adjacent to each other; there is a separate entrance to each building. My particular building has three floors, with 7 apartments per floor. The apartments are either studios or single bedrooms. There is also a basement, which has a laundry room with two washers and two driers.
I live in a single bedroom apartment. I pay $700 per month, including all utilities- heat, water, electric, etc. The only service that is not included with my rent is cable and internet, which costs me approximately $90 per month with Time Warner. My apartment contains three “rooms”- one larger room that is broken up into a living room and a kitchen, a separate bedroom, and a separate bathroom. There are two closets in my living room, and another in my bedroom. My living room and bedroom are carpeted, while my kitchen and bathroom have hard floors. There is a front entrance and back entrance to my apartment complex; the front entrance is where you can find the mailboxes (everyone gets their own mailbox), while the back entrance leads right into the parking lot. There is a free parking for tenants.
I really like where I live because it is very close to school; I find it nice to wake up 30 minutes before class begins. Although I have a car, it is definitely faster to walk to school than to drive, so this is a perfect location for people who don’t have their own means of transportation. There are two other medical students from my class who live here (in the “other” building), so I’m definitely not isolated from my classmates. One disadvantage is that many people like to go out to the Elmwood Village area on the weekends; however, I always carpool with my classmates who live near the campus or Amherst. It’s important to realize that there is no “medical school housing complex,” and that students live throughout the entire Buffalo area – nothing is that far away. I plan on staying here for at least one more year.
Who are you?
Lauren: 26 yrs old, took time off to work and get MPH, did molecular bio research and worked in public health
Brent: 28 yrs old, took time off to serve in the army as an intelligence officer, bachelor’s degree in engineering (medicine was a career change)
Maggie: 24 yrs old, took a year off, worked in a book store
Matt: 24 yrs old, took one year off to get MPH
Where do you live?
We rent a 4 bedroom single family house about two blocks from school. It is in one of the few family neighborhoods that is close to school (away from the undergrad houses). We found the apartment on Craig’s list.
What is it like?
The house is fairly large with 4 good sized bedrooms, 2 bathrooms (only one shower), a living room, dining room, eat-in kitchen with dishwasher, as well as a sun porch. It also has a full basement (with washing machine/dryer) and a two car garage. Most of the rooms are carpeted, but one has hardwood floors.
How did you meet your roommate or do you live alone
Lauren and Matt had a mutual friend but had never met. All four of the roommates connected on the class listserv and then Lauren and Matt met in May to go apartment hunting. It has worked out extremely well.
What are the best things about where you live?
We live in a quiet, well maintained neighborhood that is a 10 minute walk from school. There is a park down the road and several others nearby. It is a convenient location for school, but will be a bit of a drive to get to preceptor/hospitals. There is a Dairy Queen, a couple of drug stores, a Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, and a grocery store nearby, and it is only a 5 min drive to Wegmans, Barnes and Noble, and the mall.
What do you wish you had known before you moved in?
The neighbors were against having students live in the neighborhood (because it is predominantly a family neighborhood), but we won them over J.
Will you be staying here for the next year or 2?
Matt and Maggie will be staying with two other med students. Lauren and Brent are moving out (but love the house and roommates and are sad to leave).
What do you pay approximately for rent/utilities ?
Rent is $1500/month and utilities run about $250-300 (about $200 more in Jan-Feb when the heat is on). Those utilities include electric, gas, and internet. We also don’t subscribe to cable, so that would be an added cost.
Kim Schwarz and Meghan Nolan
Who are you?
Kim Schwarz-23-I graduated from Penn State a year early then worked at a hospital in Pittsburgh for a year in psych.
Meghan Nolan-22-I graduated from SUNY Geneseo last May, so I came straight through.
Where do you live?
We live in a condo in Williamsville that Kim’s parents own. Depending on how we hit the lights, it can be between 5 & 15 mins to school.
What is it like?
2 bedrooms, 1 bath with hardwood throughout & carpets in the bedroom, a nice back porch on the back.
How did you meet your roommate or do you live alone
Listserv—it works!! We talked on the phone before agreeing to live together and then met in Buffalo to look at the condo and actually meet in person.
What are the best things about where you live?
Suburbs-it’s quiet but there’s a lot to do. It’s also a nice area. Meghan’s a runner & it’s safe to run outside. Off-street parking and always enough spaces.
What do you wish you had known before you moved in?
Nothing
Will you be staying here for the next year or 2?
Yes!
What do you pay approximately for rent/utilities ?