SUNY Downstate- where to live?

U.S.A. New York

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I have been accepted into the Accelerated BSN program at SUNY Downstate beginning this summer. I will be moving to NYC from out of state and was wondering if anyone could give me some information/advice about where to live while attending Downstate...I am a young female and I know that the area around the school is not particularly safe. Is it realistic to live somewhere like Brooklyn Heights, Park Slope, or Prospect Heights and safely travel to and from the school? About how long would the commute on the subway be? Does the campus offer any transportation to the subway stations at night? Any advice would be appreciated!

Southernbaby,

I sent you a private message with my email information. If you look at the yellow banner

at the top of allnurses, you will see information regarding your in box.

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i have lived and worked in brooklyn for ten years.

currently i reside in a great neighborhood of mill basin, right next to flatbush and king plaza. it is beautiful, nice private homes, everyone parks their cars on the street and walks around the neighborhood at night.

yes, there are project buildings in nyc where i would not dare to walk in.

i hope future suny students make their decision based on information from someone who currently lives in brooklyn, opposing to someone who left 30 years ago….

changing the topic to parking for those with cars:

yes, it’s tough to find parking around suny downstate but there are couple of privately owned parking garages that will run you about $100 per month. considering the tuition at downstate i will gladly pay $100 for parking. if you come early enough you might grab a spot, but then you would have to run out the lecture on the days of the week when there is cleaning and move your car.

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If you don't know Brooklyn, particularly flatbush has become the new "Manhattan" as people in Manhattan are flocking here including east new york, brownsville and bushwick. They can no longer afford to live in the city anymore.

There is a revival of the flatbush area where they are opening cafe like restaurants that you can sit outside and eat (near prospect park train station) and sushi restaurants - never has there been sushi in FLATBUSH!! But the area is slowly changing. I can no longer go into supermarkets anymore in flatbush without seeing dads and or moms pushing their small babies around grocery shopping. And I actually like that it's becoming more diversified.

To the original poster if the area is so unsafe why do I always see plenty of the medical staff jogging around there. They must feel pretty comfortable to be doing that. Anyone who lives in the area knows what I'm talking about.

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i live in sheepshead bay. part of new york's charm is that it is a melting pot filled with open-minded people from all walks of life........

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There is a reason that people are leaving NY at record paces.

JMHO and my NY $0.02.

That's funny - I thought the reason people were leaving NYC at record paces was because of how ridiculously expensive it is to live here :uhoh3:

That's the reason I can't wait to leave - anyway. In fact when I do leave I will miss the fact that only NYC has such a WONDERFUL MELTING POT!!!;)

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Southerbaby, Please don't let Lindarn tales of "big bad" brooklyn instill fear in you that may hinder your chances of being happy here. I am a native of Brooklyn, as a matter of fact, I can literally see SUNY Downstate from my bedroom window.

I will not sugarcoat nor exxagerate my experiences of living here, but I will say this, inorder to live in NYC one must be open to living with people from all walks of life.

I don't think you should leave your car behind, street parking is available, all you need is to remember the parking rules (which can be a pain in the butt). Yes, public transportation is everywhere around the city, but I like having a car because of the flexibility it provides.

As far as school's goes, I have two daughter's in public school, not in the immediate proximity, but not too far. I will tell you what I would tell anyone living in the city or suburbs, you will get what you put out. Yes, there are bad seeds in many of the public schools, but if you make it your business to get involved in the school and get to know the faculty, your child will be there main priority.

I live in an apartment complex where my neighbors are Nurses,Teachers, MTA engineers, Nurses aides, etc. I say this because it bothers me when people associate this area with welfare and crime, because of the large amount of African American and West Indian Americans living here. African Americans are not the only people on welfare, believe me I know of what I speak, I work in the medical field, I've seen first hand where a young Russian family wearing fur coats and sporting Jewelry Elizabeth Taylor would wear, yet pulls out their Benefit card (food stamps) and receives FULL medicaid benefits, while there are people who cannot get approved for said medicaid because they make 10-20 dollars more than the guidelines. Not to mention the Jewish families who are approved for Medicaid for all 6 of their children, while their husbands own half the buildings on the block (my landlord is one of them). So welfare is NOT just a AA "thing". I am an AA raised in a two parent home, never been on welfare, and was not raised in the PJ's.

If you would like more info on the area, don't hesitate to ask.

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I drove to Brooklyn yesterday and didn't run into any problems until I was basically in brooklyn. Whatever road I was on at around 1:30 was packed to the core. I got off it and after much turning, turning, and angering a lot of NYers (they honked, sped around me, etc), I found SUNY, but I swear it took me another 30 minutes to figure out where to park. I couldn't find either garage or valet parking that they spoke of. Then, I had the nerve to park in a lot in which it closed at 5:30...so then I had to find street parking so that I could "tour" the neighborhood.

Everything was very exciting. People were friendly. We would stop random folks and ask them things. I drove through BedStuy, took pictures of this in that. I really didn't have much time to do this in that because it started to get cold. I have to come back!!

I'm sure that the area is not unlike any other major inner city. I just didn't know where to begin...but it was a nice introduction.

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Hee, hee oh those NY drivers!

They honk and speed around you most of the time for no reason at all.

Gotta love 'em, they certainly improve our driving skills and reaction time!

By the way the valet parking booth is right in front of the hospital that stands right next to the school. There are so many cars that are parked in front of the hospital enternace, you can't really see that booth unless you know it's there.

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Hee, hee oh those NY drivers!

They honk and speed around you most of the time for no reason at all.

Gotta love 'em, they certainly improve our driving skills and reaction time!

By the way the valet parking booth is right in front of the hospital that stands right next to the school. There are so many cars that are parked in front of the hospital enternace, you can't really see that booth unless you know it's there.

Hi lena,

i guess you must still be waiting for your letter. I tried calling they said the would mail it out soon but off course they would not let me know my status. But what i got from them is that all applications have already been reviewed, they are just in the mailing process. An I believe that mine must have ben somewhat borderline so Probably the people who received they letters early have a certain RSVP date and if they dont then I guess they call the wait list. My thought. Don't know whats really going on. Any thoughts send me a priv. mssg.

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Iclarke05,

I received my letter at the end of February. I just can't beleive that they are still taking their time! There is a month left and students need to get the medical clearance, order the supplies in the bookstore, get the basic life support certificate. I also still need to go and get my second PPD at SUNY's student medical office, I am not sure if all the students need to get their second PPD test at SUNY but that's what they told me.

I hope they send you a letter soon! :anbd:

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Iclarke05,

I received my letter at the end of February. I just can't beleive that they are still taking their time! There is a month left and students need to get the medical clearance, order the supplies in the bookstore, get the basic life support certificate. I also still need to go and get my second PPD at SUNY's student medical office, I am not sure if all the students need to get their second PPD test at SUNY but that's what they told me.

I hope they send you a letter soon! :anbd:

LOL, thanks Lena,it

Well good luck with everything, they were really my first choice. I will be really disapointed if I dont. Curious, did you have a date to respond and put a deposit by? If so, When? I suspect I am on a waiting list.

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FYI ladies (and gents) I recieved my letter, sorry to say its not good news :crying2:. Downstate was my first choice but from what I understand they get 500 applications and only take between 50 - 60 students. However, I did get accepted at NYU's accelerated program, its more $$$$ than Downstate, which I hate but what can you do??? Good Luck to all still waiting!!!!!!!!!!!

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