Columbia Presbyterian orientation & housing

elizabells, BSN, RN · Jun 13, 2006

Was wondering if anyone on the boards ever lived in the hospital provided housing that Columbia Medical Center offers hospital employees? I know they have many apartments in the Washington Heights area. How are they? Are they well-maintained? Was the rent charged below market rates?
Also, how is orientation at Columbia for new grads? I have heard mixed reviews.

Um. I haven't lived in the hospital housing, but I will tell you as a former Columbia SON student that you might not want to live in Washington Heights. I've been here a year, and am trying to get a job at the hospital right now. I'm moving to Brooklyn, because an hour-plus commute is preferable (to me) to living here anymore. PM me if you want more details.

BabyNurse513 · Jun 13, 2006

I worked there for a year and the housing is nearly impossible to get. In the year that I worked there, they never even called to tell me an apartment was available. Things may have changed, I worked there 5/04-5/05. I wasn't a new grad but I didn't have a great orientation. I guess it would depend on the unit.

Edited to add: I did live in washington heights though, on 181st Street. It is not as bad as it seems, i liked my apartment, it was cheaper then living anywhere downtown and I felt safe, although it is a long train ride to get downtown where all the fun parts of NYC are.

krisssy · Jun 29, 2006

I worked there for a year and the housing is nearly impossible to get. In the year that I worked there, they never even called to tell me an apartment was available. Things may have changed, I worked there 5/04-5/05. I wasn't a new grad but I didn't have a great orientation. I guess it would depend on the unit.
Edited to add: I did live in washington heights though, on 181st Street. It is not as bad as it seems, i liked my apartment, it was cheaper then living anywhere downtown and I felt safe, although it is a long train ride to get downtown where all the fun parts of NYC are.

So I take it that most nurses commute. Where do the students live?

elizabells, BSN, RN · Jul 1, 2006

So I take it that most nurses commute. Where do the students live?

Well, that depends. Those of us who were "lucky" enough to get housing generally started out on campus and then moved off, often to Washington Heights. Those who had to fend for themselves (in our year, pretty much anyone who lived east of the Rockies before school - they do it geographically) lived everywhere from Brooklyn to the Bronx. Most live on the west side bc it's much easier to get up to campus. I know people who lived in New Jersey, Yonkers, and Long Island. It varies a lot.

KeriMarie · Jun 21, 2009

Hi there, would you be willing to give me some more details about Columbia's housing, I've entertained the idea of living there against many city dwellers concerns for my life :) I've heard it's a rough area-but the perk of being right there is awesome! Would the UWS be a better choice? What's the housing like anyways? Any info would be helpful-thanks in advance:)