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Frequently Asked Questions How to get started in Syracuse...
1) Where are the grocery stores?
There are a number of grocery stores around SU. They range from more upscale (Wegman's) to the more basic (Aldi). There are also two decent middle-of-the-road store chains, Price Chopper and P&C.
Wegman's is located in Dewitt, at: 6789 East Genesee Street, Fayetteville, NY 13066, and it is open 24 hours.
Price Chopper is located in Syracuse at: 2515 Erie Blvd., Syracuse, NY 13224, and is also open 24 hours.
P&C has two close locations. The first is right next to Target at: 350 Towne Drive, Fayetteville, NY 13066 and the second is : 620 Nottingham Road, Syracuse, NY 13224.
Aldi (a German-owned discount grocery store) is located at: 2015 Erie Blvd., Syracuse, NY 13224
Of course, there are many other grocery stores in the Syracuse area, but these are closest and most popular for our graduate students.
2) Where are Target and Wal-Mart?
The closest Target in the SU area is located at: 340 Towne Drive, Fayetteville, NY 13066
The closest Wal-Mart is located at: 6438 Basile Rowe, East Syracuse, NY 13057
3) I don't have a car. How do I get to these places?
Well, there are a number of ways to get around this obstacle. The most obvious way is to make friends with someone in the program who has a car. You could also choose to go by bus. Centro (the Syracuse area bus company) spans the city and its environs, and many students use it on a regular basis. Their service maps and schedules can be accessed here. Notice, for example, that base route 62 will take you to Wegman's and Target! Centro's main website is here.
4) Do I need a car? Centro is a decent bus service. Usually, they run on time and can get you to most anywhere locally you need to go. But overall, the main trade between a car and no car is the convenience of going where you need to go whenever you want to go there. It's a personal (and a financial) decision. Syracuse also has taxis, which many students use for transit to the the airport or train station.
5) Should I live on or off-campus? The vast majority of graduate students live off-campus. It's generally cheaper, you can find places in actual neighborhoods, and you can oftentimes be closer to the main campus. That said, there are some benefits to living on-campus. You do not have to deal with unknown landlords, and your place is ready to go when you arrive. Housing is also a personal decision. But when you pay the equivalent of $850 a month for on campus graduate housing as compared to $560 a month (utilities included) for off campus, the issue becomes financial for most. We discuss housing more in depth on this page.
6) Do I need a computer? The Maxwell School offers a great network for students. There is a remote connection utility you can download for your desktop at home to access your classes drive. Many people at Maxwell have laptops that they bring to the building as well. With a wireless network that spans Maxwell and Eggers, connecting is virtually painless. In addition, there is a computer lab designated only for IR and PA students, and the Academic Village has 8 computers for general use. Take a look at this link to get a better idea from ICT on computer requirements.
7) What's the general budget I should expect for living expenses? One of the distinct advantages of Syracuse is the lower cost of living. On average, a one bedroom hole-in-the-wall in Syracuse will run you roughly $380. Decent one bedrooms with utilities included (a GREAT benefit to have with winter heating costs) can cost as low as $560. Other places run between $600-700 a month, and often include heat. Consequently, many students have rented 3/4 bedroom houses together and saved a good amount over looking for a single, one-bedroom apartment.
Utility costs in Syracuse can be staggering in the winter months. To economize, you can sign up for a monthly payment plan, which will even your gas bill payments over the entire year. Cable internet is around $30 a month.
As far as food goes, it depends on where you shop and how much you like to eat. On average, $80 a month and shopping at Aldi yields enough foodstuff for a month of single person eating. Factor in fresh veggies and meat costs and you're looking at $100 a month per person in Syracuse. Of course, if you like filet mignon, you're going to pay more.
If you cannot find the answers to your questions online here, or at the given links, please do not hesitate to contact us.
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