PNW Chit Chat thread
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I think those that have already experienced it, just told you how your first year was going to go. Sell the car, take out less of a loan, use the bus pass, study and party your ass off.
It's all optimistic thinking for you know, but those who graduate with the smallest amount of debt, wins. So, unless you have the unborrowed money in the bank, ditch as many unnecessary expenses as you can.
/old man talk
I came from AZ and with two years out of state and two years in state I probably have over 60k in combined debt. What's $3k for an e30 at the end of the day?
Your first year of college (and most of the others) you won't use your car. Seattle is so walking/bus friendly that you literally just won't use it. I'd leave it at home and forget about it. That said, you can find an apartment with parking for 700-800/month in the uDistrict or rent a room with a parking space for 500+.
I fought hard when I moved up here to have a car, tooth and nail, threw everything I had at it and my first two years there were maybe a dozen times total that I even sat in one. Going from driving 40+ miles/day to zero was a total non-issue. Seattle having so many car-sharing services these days also changes everything.
You could also always dorm-park your car for like $150/month or there are a ton of places in the uDistrict that will just rent you a spot for $50/month. Realistically though, you'll regret bringing it if you do just because you'll never ever use it.
And you'll be the one guy with a car. And everyone wants to be his friend.
that's bad ass. perhaps i will get a motorcycle after all down there. any r75 cafe racers?Last edited by ethrtyiS; 03-18-2013, 10:11 PM.
ć'89 BMW 325is | '02 Mitsubishi Montero Limited | '2005 GMC Sierra 2500 Duramax | 2007 BMW M5 ć
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For the first year? Dorm (or Greek, if you're into that sorta thing). Hands down.
Living anywhere but on/near campus will completely remove you from the college experience and environment that is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Start in the dorms if you can and branch out from there. But definitely, definitely, definitely live in the uDistrict for at least a year or two if you're going to UW.
With that said, living somewhere is a sunk cost. He's from out of state, and he's gotta live somewhere. The two real decisions for him are the trades between cheaper rent and commuting further and longer or living closer, but having a higher cost of living. And what kind of social life would he more likely have in either situations.
Beyond the social aspect, dorming the first year is just going to be easier because the hardest decision is trying to figure out what dorm you want to be in. You don't have to worry about finding a good location or a decent apartment that you like; you don't really have to worry about a landlord. However, you do lose a degree of freedom in the dorms (quiet hours, no underage drinking, etc.).
got it, thanks!
this is my biggest issue, i want to be in the udisctrict preferrably and was considering just dorming my first year or so that way i can meet people and whatnot. i want to be able to walk places and have my car parked most of the time, in a parking space.
In terms of the car, I say leave it at home for the first year. I know it sucks and you'll miss it, but it's just so expensive and such a clusterfuck parking in U Dist. Until you've lived here for a year and know the area better, I would advise against it. Plus, distance is going to make your heart grow fonder.
ruin is strong, it's just different. Being at the mercy of parking, busses, etc to do anything on campus is a pain. The intrinsic distance from campus separates you from a lot of stuff outside of class. There are a lot of opportunities to live one place and commute to your daytime life. How many times do you get to share something as unique as the student life with 20,000 people who are all doing the same thing within 15 blocks of you?
There are going to be numerous times when you'll want to stay late on campus for whatever reason, whether it's for late night tutoring, group projects or just to part. If you live close by, this is much less of a concern, but if you can't walk or bike the distance, you'll be constrained to using the, IMO, atrocious bus system. You'll have to check the bus schedule and worry about missing the bus. What a pain.
Talking of living a ways away from campus being a pain, one time, I forgot to bring my physics lab workbook with me to school. I had to take the bus home to get it, then bus back. Not a big deal if you're living in the dorms or close by, right? Yeah, well, I had three hours until the lab, and it took me more than three hours to take the bus, grab the workbook, and bus back. I barely made it in the lab's tardy grace period. This same commute by car would have taken 30-45 minutes.
After that, and a host of other things, I said fuck it and did whatever I had to do to dorm the next year.
I have student debt, partly to be able to live on and near campus. Looking back, I would do the same thing all over again. In the grand scheme of things, the cost difference between living a little further away, living in U-Dist and living on campus is small, but you'll likely have much different experiences with the three different options, and I would argue the living on campus and in U-Dist experience is one worth having.
Parking is generally a nightmare in UW area. I wouldn't recommend having a car if you're living in the dorms. Once you know the area and move into an apartment or house, then yes, bring your car. Still a nightmare then, but one you'll have to deal with.
budget is still somewhat a concern for me, however i will be pulling out loans. i'm well aware of parking issues around campus' so i'm hoping to get a place with a parking spot. plus, i'll be doing more walking than driving, which is complete opposite of what i'm doing now.
What are you looking to study?
Looking nice! Glad that you finally found something you can settle on. :up:Last edited by cg138; 03-18-2013, 10:37 PM.1988 BMW 325iX - Lachssilber/Cardinal - Gone
2001 BMW M5 - Anthracite/Black Heritage
1999 Toyota 4Runner - White/Oak
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^^ thanks, very informative.
i'm definitely dorming my first year and then becoming a resident after that and living in an apartment/house. i guess i'll have to rent a parking spot or see if a buddy of mine will take care of the car for me while i'm gone then.
i'm going for computer engineering.
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Some more meat would be good, I agree.
Interesting. It's like 320 to 250 though, no? Similar torque maybe...-Peter
318is slicktop | F15 35dM | F250 SDComment
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