Thought it was about time to have a dedicated thread :)

Facebook group here: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=25405927566

Has anyone applied for housing yet?

Any tips on where to live and, more importantly, where not to live?

I lived there in 2005 so my recollection for your service.

Where to live:
General principle is the closer to CLS the better.
Any apartment located btw 110th and 122nd, Riverside drive and Morningside drv is fine.
However, the best location is 115 and 116, Amst and Mrng side - the closest to CLS.
I do not recommend renting an apartment higher than 223. It's Harlem. Never forget. Ive never liked an area across the Morningside park and park itself after the sunset.

Apartments facilities. If you come to NYC in August air conditioner is not the most important part but if you come earlier CARPET that is really important. You have to have it and it has to cover around 60-70% of a floor (if you don't you neighbours can complain and make you pay a fine). You will find this requirement when you start looking for an apartment. Microwave is not the most important part but most useful :) as you all know, unless you eat out all the time. Internet, telephone, TV are all up to you, usually for additional cost. Wi Fi is all around CU.

Broadway is busier and noisier than Amsterdam and Mrnside Dr.
Subway station is on Brdw and 118th, in front of the main Columbia Gates.

Places to eat:
Japanese Brdw and 118
Chinese same, next door
Pizza I liked one on 119th and Amstrd, but you will find more places :)
Korean somewhere on Brdw and 117, not sure
Eropean go there and you will find as much as you need :)
African (Moroccan) on Amstrd btw 120 and 121 or (+/- block)
+ different kinds of food on campus, really plentifull.
If you dont mind to have a little walk through Harlem there are a lot of useful place there: some cheaper food stores on Amstrd and Hancock pl, stuff shop on hancock pl + KFC, video rent and shop Amster bwt Seminary Row and 123, CitiBank (Citibank is every 4-5 blocks + 1 on campus).
Generally, Harlem is just fine but Ive never tried to check it at night :)

By the way, Kims video is a really, really useful place, movies for rent from all over the world, not expensive rent, new movies really fast, and discount system. If it still works that is the place I will definitely go to.

If you are interested in something special let me know, Ill write if I know.

If you decide to live lower or higher than CU campus, please keep in mind transportation cost. Transportation was 2 per ride (subway), around USD 70 monthly pass. (I have no idea about current fees but those could be found at MTA official web-site) I think that saving USD 100 - 150 on location doesn't worth it.

I totally forgot. Coffee and croissants right next to CLS entrance. I know the Uzbeks, who sell coffee and croissants, are still there every morning :) I really loved it, good value for money and really fast (though there's usually a line at lunch time)...it was my daily breakfast.

there are no dorms in CLS?

International house if you wish is the dorm. Two of my friends lived there. They liked it. I prefer an apartment. Ihouse is a bit too noisy for me.
More information you can find at http://www.ihouse-nyc.org/s/707/start.aspx
or at CU web site

there are no dorms in CLS?

Normadic,

Thank you for your insights, very helpful.

It looks like I've flooded this board but ...

Pre-war buildings with long narrow corridors have one problem - an old type hot-water radiator. It has an outlet for air and pressure. It makes nose at winter and I don't know why generally at night. So be ready to sleep with "someone" "speaking" and "screaming" next to you through all winter time.
http://www.brownstoner.com/forum/profile_post_images/free_radiator_1_2.jpg
here is an example (this one is fancy, usually it's ugly)

kudos for the tips, keep 'em coming!

Thank you for the information. Do you have information about ability to take NYU classes during the LLM? I know they have a special program between the schools.

Thank you for the information. Do you have information about ability to take NYU classes during the LLM? I know they have a special program between the schools.

Housing
One more point if you rent non-Columbia apartment, check Columbia Universitys Escort Service range. It can give you a secured ride/walk at night within its range.
Columbia Universitys Escort Service operates in the Columbia area from 11:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m. every night when classes are in session. Trained students respond to requests for an escort between locations in the area. Call x4-SAFE (47233).


Car and parking
Street parking is generally ok near the campus (not in the midtown for sure) and with that stuff where you put coins (no idea what it's name in English or even Russian). You always can get coins from the vending machine (Soda, biscuit and etc), put a dollar in, cancel a choice and get change back in quarters :)
Don't forget to put enough coins to last for at least for the period of class time, otherwise you will have to leave the class and run in order to to get a ticket. We had such experience :)
It's NYC so be ready to repair you bumper, and to squeeze you vehicle between other cars as there isn't much place to park and it's rather expensive. Though if you are form Europe, you are probably used to it.

By the way, in addition to JFK transportation La Guardia airport is much closer to CLS than JFK. Flights there are cheaper (though it depends on where you fly form) and as far as I know it's mostly for local flights.