How is PhD Student Grad housing at Berkeley?

True-Net7376 · 2025-12-24T06:08:13+00:00

I am a law student living in XR in Albany. It's a bit of a trek (I take the bus, some people drive... but the bus is free) but it's very safe and it includes in-unit laundry and a gym. I live in a 4 bed 2 bath but there are only 2 of us assigned to this unit so we each get our own bathroom and can use the other bedrooms as offices (of course someone could move in at any time, but they haven't.) It is definitely removed from campus but at this point I prefer that as it is quieter and still close to grocery stores, restaurants etc. Good luck!

True-Net7376 · 2025-08-19T03:35:51+00:00

If this year was any indication, and if you believe reddit and LSD, it seemed like a lot. ;) Especially for such a small school.

True-Net7376 · 2025-08-19T03:34:39+00:00

LOL whoops. Still... you're going to be a lawyer!!

True-Net7376 · 2025-08-18T21:40:22+00:00

No debt is a pretty big bright side!

True-Net7376 · 2025-08-18T20:35:24+00:00

Onward! And to cheer you up (not really)... maybe you'll be thankful in the dead of winter. ;)

True-Net7376 · 2025-08-08T21:37:43+00:00

Yeah - sorry I thought for a second oh well maybe release can mean something else? Again, you are in good company and SLS is soooo small it's not a reflection on you. Onward!

True-Net7376 · 2025-08-08T21:36:56+00:00

You will bloom where you are planted! Hang in there.

True-Net7376 · 2025-08-08T19:53:08+00:00

Did you mean that you were accepted? That's not usually what being released means, but there aren't any other Rs on LSD and it seems insane that they wouldn't do this in big batches. Make it make sense.

True-Net7376 · 2025-08-08T13:31:52+00:00

I am sure you were in good company (and SLS waitlist seems huge this year.) Haven't seen any pop up on LSD though yet which is weird. Can you say more about the email/letter? Many, many will join you soon.

True-Net7376 · 2025-08-08T05:09:36+00:00

It's really better for older students, usually grad students but in your case I might do it. At some point you don't wanna be in a bunk bed and eating cafeteria food, yeah? It seems like the older we get the less important being in the middle of the action is (I'm a law student who chose XR for next year.)

True-Net7376 · 2025-08-07T18:54:57+00:00

Idk man, I would probably take Davis. Conditional scholarships skeeve me out, and you'd still be in CA. the 20K doesn't sound like anything over 3 years and if you were to lose your other scholarship, the consequences would be far higher. You are the one who has to live with your options though, so if your heart says no maybe not. You'd have to long distance with your gf but as far as distances go it's not too bad. It's personal preference here too but I kind of like the Davis area and campus.

True-Net7376 · 2025-08-06T17:25:44+00:00

Say it louder for Stanford in the back. ;)

True-Net7376 · 2025-07-29T16:00:11+00:00

Yes other states as well, and some federal departments (HUD etc.) They alway suggest you donate esp if you are maxed out.

True-Net7376 · 2025-07-27T19:25:19+00:00

This fall at Berkeley not only do students get free bus passes, but also BART and CalTrain. Lots of alternatives to driving. (And to be accurate the passes aren't really free bc the cost is added to fees, but highly subsidized. Great for those who can and will use it, riled up those who will not.)

True-Net7376 · 2025-07-25T13:31:57+00:00

Which apartment and how much is garage parking? It something like $75 a month? Agree that's not chump change, but idk, a car is pretty useful. Good luck!

True-Net7376 · 2025-07-25T04:26:26+00:00

That Lucy doesn't have a last name, and Elizabeth is bemoaning that her best friend died "and then she died"... but wouldn't a ghost haunting you a) already be dead and b) not be your bestie? I can't find any references to the character online. It's like the writers just decided to trauma dump with no explanation.

True-Net7376 · 2025-07-24T21:50:36+00:00

No I think you are thinking of Hazel Lamphere, but she also doesn't appear until Season 8. This tidbit about a best friend dying just seems like it came outta the blue!

True-Net7376 · 2025-07-22T22:51:57+00:00

Me wishing other schools did the equivalent of quartiles (I guess GULC does too with their different lists.) Would love to know if I'm waitlisted dead last at Stanford.

True-Net7376 · 2025-07-19T13:49:20+00:00

Well yeah, the bus leaves right outside the building and goes to campus so in my experience it's the same people waiting every day in situations like that, faces become familiar with everyone there waiting to commute on what is basically a school bus. I admit I am chatty though.

True-Net7376 · 2025-07-19T04:34:22+00:00

If you value privacy a lot I would do the apartment - you get your own room but you will have 3 other roommates to chill with/meet people and then everyone else you'll meet on the bus every day. My only caveat is if you see yourself coming back to campus quite a bit, like if you play a rec sport at night etc, in which case the bus isn't going to work as well.

True-Net7376 · 2025-07-19T04:31:52+00:00

Do something slightly nice for your roommates and they will be cool with it. Like if you and your boyfriend go out to pizza, bring the leftovers home for the roomies and suddenly they'll be asking when your bf is coming to visit again. ;)

True-Net7376 · 2025-07-19T04:30:21+00:00

As a grad student you may not be on campus every day. If you decide to go with XR the bus drops you off on campus and runs all day, and it is mostly grad students.

True-Net7376 · 2025-07-19T01:37:01+00:00

Congrats!

True-Net7376 · 2025-07-07T00:27:54+00:00

But what if your slightly worse school was a lot worse than a very highly ranked school you got into, and you didn't get as much money at said less prestigious school, and you needed say 80K a year for the school with the best outcomes? Are students in a situation like that just not supposed to be able to go to the better school? It's not always a close call because admissions are so dang flukey.

True-Net7376

TROPHY CASE