<p>I would agree about ease of commute just about anyhwere,but i would prefer to stay near Braodway line, so Washington Heights works well, as does just north of that ,places like Inwood…</p>
<p>Agree with JHS you have to immediately jump on apartments before they are gone in NYC. They may also need a guarantor depending on the building policy.</p>
<p>Years ago I lived at West 63rd Apartments… they own property on W63 and W64. I was one of the first tenants in the first building they opened. Lots of young people live in these apartments. They are behind Lincoln Center and the Amsterdam Houses… across from Trump buildings (I believe… those were just going up when I lived there)… close to multiple grocery stores and to the subway. I just looked and it appears they have no fee 2 bedrooms for just under 3000 a month available.</p>
<p>Very easy commute up to Columbia.</p>
<p>I also agree with those who suggest looking in Washington Heights, Inwood, and Riverdale… not a bad commute at all.</p>
<p>Sent from my DROID RAZR using CC</p>
<p>The Columbia housing office was awful when I was there - they had some sublet listings mostly with slightly crazy people.</p>
<p>Thanks for the input. They are aware of moving fast and they are proceeding with possibilities as they arise. Nice to have a range of neighborhoods to consider. Distance is not always the critical factor in a making a commute workable, so these suggestions are helpful.</p>
<p>An easy commute is always nice. But my daughter’s impression from two rounds of apartment hunting in NYC recently is that almost anything within a few blocks of a Manhattan subway line is significantly more expensive than less convenient places. Which meant she was relegated to less convenient places, with longer walks, line changes, and more than a 30-minute commuting time. The trade-off has not been so bad.</p>
<p>Good to hear that, JHS. Compromise is the name of this game.</p>
<p>My d has a 2 bedroom apt for less than your students have budgeted, on the Upper East Side. Apparently it’s no longer the “hot” area, but it’s nice and safe. She takes a bus to work - don’t forget the bus transportation.</p>
<p>Look in Hoboken or Jersey City. Couple of stops on the PATH and then the train uptown. I know several Columbia grad students who live in those areas.</p>
<p>D shared a nice 3 bedroom unit in the Sugar Hill neighborhood of Harlem in her first year of grad school at Columbia. Newly renovated building. It’s about 35 minutes to Columbia. Rent was $2,300 per month. The rent may be going up to $2,600, but that is for a 3 bedroom apartment, new kitchen appliances, etc. So I’m sure there are places out there. Look at [Manhattan</a>, New York City Apartment Rental Listings Rockledge Properties](<a href=“http://www.rockledgeproperties.com/]Manhattan”>http://www.rockledgeproperties.com/).</p>