Admitted to Chicago Booth Class of 2011 Thread

I don't even have a motorcycle license, the closest I've come to riding one is riding pillion on a friend's bike and going 200 km/h on a track! But I do love speed (although I, well both of us, heh, am too old to be loving it!)

You are right. There will be no time for such risky adventure...Honestly, I very rare rode my bike last summer....

I'd like to leave a couple of things I learned when I came. These high-rises are super new, they are convenient to be close at the Booth Community; however, you pay the premium for it. I decided to leave at River North, which is very close to Lake Shore East, to the metra, bus lines, and much more convenient for restaurants and supermarkets (though you will learn fast to use Peapod, especially during the winter). I decided to live in a condo, and all in all, I pay around $350 less per month than people who are living at the Lake Shore East. Found my deal through Craig's list. The buildings where most people live in downtown are: Millennium Park Plaza (MPP), Park Millennium (it's a condo), Columbus Park Plaza, North Harbor Tower (NHT), Tides and Shoreham. The Aqua is brand new. The best deals I could find among these places were in MPP and NHT.

Parking cars in the "core downtown" is super expensive, it goes from $180 to $300, the main reason I decided not to have a car - actually there's no need for one, and you also do your part for the environment .

For internationals. If you're not a US citizen or permanent resident, you will be allowed to get into the USA 30 days before the classes start - orientation, not the "real" classes, which for me was Aug/10. I came to Chicago on Aug/10.

I hope that helps.

I used to go there for the annual Formula 1 race and it was always mega fun....and super hot. But since they took that race out of the calendar I get to go to the area (including Chicago) less often

kwam, thank a lot!

I've pretty much decided on Aqua and am now in the process of filling out my application (the agent I talked to told me that units are being rented out pretty quickly). I thought about waiting till the end of this month (when visiting Chicago to attend Admit Weekend) to get a good look of downtown apartments before signing a lease. But I think Aqua looks amazing and I didnt want to risk losing the opportunities to live there. So, I started the application process.

PS. I listed Costa Rica as my first choice for Random Walks!

smart move krispy. As to Kwam's point, it is all relative. Aqua has washer and dryers in your room so you save there. If you wanted to join a gym, you have one in the building, so you save that. If you want a closer walk to the metra (in the winter 5 minutes of walking saved is great) , then you get that. You are paying 65 dollars for cable/internet/gas/heat/A/C which is a great deal as well. So if you add everything up, the premium may even things out and if not, you are still in a brand new building with great views, balconies, tremendous resources and amenities.

just got 40K (20K per year) fellowship very unexpected....

congrats!!!

That is awesome! Congrats!

Did you get the chance to check out the building before you signed your lease? It seems like there are sevreral tall buildings that may block the view.

Anyone have an idea how nice those apartment gyms are? I don't mean how new the equipment is, I'm wondering if they have enough free weights and space to really work out. I'm looking for dumbbells, barbells, power racks, etc. I found most apartment/condo gyms to have mostly machines and not much room for anything else.

Isa, Falibay,

Thanks!

No I signed blind. Yea that is true. I have a north view so unsure of the sightlines. But I can't imagine it being too bad at the 45th floor.

Party at terp's on August 2nd !
Everyone's invited!

Count me in!

lol you can, but I won't be there until aug 31st