Getting started… - LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans



SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, NEW ORLEANSHousing Guide2021-2022Table of Contents TOC \o "1-3" \h \z \u Table of Contents PAGEREF _Toc73644854 \h 2Getting started… PAGEREF _Toc73644855 \h 3Where to look… PAGEREF _Toc73644856 \h 3Where y’at? PAGEREF _Toc73644857 \h 4Shopping & Studying PAGEREF _Toc73644858 \h 5Being safe… PAGEREF _Toc73644859 \h 5Being responsible… PAGEREF _Toc73644860 \h 5Survey Results – CLASS OF 2020 PAGEREF _Toc73644861 \h 6Survey Results – CLASS OF 2019 PAGEREF _Toc73644862 \h 7Survey Results – Popular Apartment Complexes PAGEREF _Toc73644863 \h 8A few words from the classes… PAGEREF _Toc73644864 \h 9Living with Parents PAGEREF _Toc73644865 \h 9Uptown PAGEREF _Toc73644866 \h 10Garden District PAGEREF _Toc73644867 \h 11Broadmoor PAGEREF _Toc73644868 \h 12Lakeview PAGEREF _Toc73644869 \h 13Downtown/CBD/Warehouse District PAGEREF _Toc73644870 \h 14Mid-City PAGEREF _Toc73644871 \h 15Metairie PAGEREF _Toc73644872 \h 15Old Metairie PAGEREF _Toc73644873 \h 17Westbank PAGEREF _Toc73644874 \h 18River Ridge/Harahan/Elmwood PAGEREF _Toc73644875 \h 18LSUHSC ON-CAMPUS LIVING PAGEREF _Toc73644876 \h 19The Residence Hall (aka “Perdido Palace”) PAGEREF _Toc73644877 \h 19Stanislaus Hall (aka “The Dorms”) PAGEREF _Toc73644878 \h 20Getting started…Choosing where to live during school can be a daunting task, especially if you’re not familiar with the New Orleans area. To help incoming students with this decision, members of each rising L2 class update and pass down this guide every year to get you started. This is one of several such guides we’re making for you and probably the first one you will see. We’ll start with some general thoughts you should consider, give you some maps and neighborhood info, and then give you lots of data and advice from previous classes.Some general things to consider:How close will you be to school?How close will you be to places you want to hang out?How much can you afford for rent, utilities, and insurance?Do you want to live with a roommate?How common is crime in the area you’re considering?Is the area prone to flooding?Does your potential new place facilitate both relaxing and studying?Are there alternate study areas nearby like libraries or coffee shops?How close will you be to a grocery store?Do other med students live in the area?Would you pay extra for a place with dedicated parking?How close would you be to parade routes? (this affects parking & traffic during Mardi Gras!)Where to look…Ahh, the interwebz. Of course you’re going to use the internet, but consider that different sites cater to different types of properties. Professional sites tend to work with large apartment complexes and realtors, while smaller sites and Facebook groups offer listings such as rooms-for-rent or places from landlords with fewer properties. Use whatever combination of sites you like, and check back frequently if you don’t find something right away. Places are always coming up for rent., , and Zillow are large real estate sites that also have smartphone apps.There’s always Craig's List: is a major community site and has a real estate section: local site that covers happenings and listings in every neighborhood is Tulane Classifieds is a Facebook Group with items for sale and places for rent by people “in the know”.Your official Class of 2024 Facebook Group will regularly have posts from L1’s and L2’s about places you’re unlikely to see elsewhere. Some places have already been posted, and more will continue to pop up!Our Class! We’ve survived the break-in period and might be able to answer questions you have that are not covered in this guide. You might even find out that one of your new L2 friends is looking for a roommate!Where y’at?New Orleans has multiple, distinct neighborhoods, and you’ll find LSU Med students living in pretty much every one of them. Each neighborhood has pros and cons, including rent prices, traffic, nightlife, and culture. Every area has its own charm, and in later sections of this guide you’ll get direct opinions from current/former students about their experiences living there.If, on the other hand, you’re looking for a more “official” opinion, check out: New Orleans Online's Neighborhood Guide. It gives more insight into each neighborhood, including histories, demographics, and major attractions of each area.The above map has a general layout of the city’s major neighborhoods. They can be broken down even further, but this should give you an idea of where you’re looking. For reference, LSU Health Sciences Center is located on the left edge of the blue “CBD/Downtown” area. We’re less than a quarter mile directly north of the Superdome.This link will take you to an interactive map made by a student at some other med school in town. I forget the name of it – one lane? Something like that. Take anything they say with a grain of saltiness. ;DShopping & StudyingYou may also want to consider how far you’ll travel to buy groceries/daily necessities or look for a place to study. This map shows the locations of supermarkets and libraries. No idea who made it, but apparently someone from our school, cuz there’s a star on campus!Being safe…Just as important as the fun maps, you should look at the Orleans and Jefferson Parish Crime Maps. These maps can give you an idea where (even within a certain neighborhood) you can feel safest. Or where you brilliant overachievers could probably use this data to calculate a 95% confidence interval that you can complete four years of medical school without incident. Funny, that 95% research gold standard seems a little less than ideal when put like that, now doesn’t it? Sorry, we just finished stats before writing this.Orleans Parish: Parish: , has compiled easy to read crime rate maps of the different neighborhoods based on current FBI crime data. Here are the links to the maps for New Orleans and Metairie.New Orleans: : responsible…Just a piece of advice – get renter’s insurance. You’re a grown-up now, and you gotta be proactive in taking care of yourself. It’s not expensive at all – you can get a plan to replace the contents of the average student’s apartment for less than $20 a month, and if you have a roommate, you can split the cost. Generally, renters’ insurance covers fire, theft, and injuries sustained by guests on premises, while property owners (landlords) are responsible for flood insurance. As far as that goes, living on the first floor anywhere in town holds something of a risk for flooding, should a hurricane drop a few feet of rain on the city. Check out the elevation map below. The darker shades of green are most prone to flooding – pretty much the crests near the banks of the river are the only places with reduced risk. Be mindful of flood preparations.Elevation map: Results – CLASS OF 2020Location (out of 115 responses):Uptown17Garden District7Lakeview/Lake Vista18On-Campus17Mid-City7CBD/Warehouse District8Metairie14Old Metairie3River Ridge/Harahan/Elmwood2West Bank2Marigny1Irish Channel2Broadmoor3Chalmette2Bywater1Gentilly0New Orleans East/Upper 9th Ward17th Ward1Other8Live at Home with parents (out of 114 responses):No104Yes10Housing Type (out of 115 responses):Rental House30Owned House23Apartment31Residence Hall15Stanislaus Hall1Condo5Duplex8Quadruplex2How many roommates do you have? (out of 115 responses)Zero40One51Two15Three4Other5Are your roommates in medical school? (out of 102 responses)Yes36No66Survey Results – CLASS OF 2019 Location (out of 100 responses):Uptown27Garden District2Lakeview/Lake Vista9On-Campus11Mid-City12CBD/Warehouse District4Metairie12Old Metairie4Kenner0River Ridge/Harahan/Elmwood4West Bank3Irish Channel1Chalmette0Bywater1Gentilly 1New Orleans East/Upper Ninth Ward27th Ward1Marigny0Broadmoor5Live at Home with parents (out of 100 responses):No90Yes9Housing Type (out of 100 responses):Rental House24Owned House19Apartment22Residence Hall9Stanislaus Hall5Condo3Duplex10Quadruplex5How many roommates do you have? (out of 100 responses):Zero36One32Two22Three7Other0Are Roommates in Medical School? (out of 100 responses):Yes39No61Survey Results – Popular Apartment Complexes1750 St. Charles Avenue801 Henry Clay Ave930 PoydrasAudubon TraceBienville BasinBlue PlateCanal Street ApartmentsClearwater CreekCrescent Club ApartmentsEsplanade at City ParkGatehouse ApartmentsGeneral PershingGreenhouseHampton CourtHickory CreekLanaiMagnolia CreekMark Twain I & II ApartmentsMarquis ApartmentsMerchant LoftsMetairie Lake ApartmentsNapoleon CourtNatchez LandingNine27 ApartmentsOne Metairie PlacePalmetto CreekPark OaksResidence HallRiver GardenRoyal CondosSeville SquareSt. John CondominiumsThe BeaconThe BreakersThe Creeks of River RidgeThe CrossingsThe GeorgianThe MarquisThe SauletThe StrandWindmill Creek NorthWoodward LoftsA few words from the classes…Members of all classes were asked to submit their thoughts about their neighborhoods and what they like/dislike about them. Here are the highlights:Living with ParentsFor those of you whose parents live here, you may be considering living at home next year. There are ups and downs to living at home with parents. If they don’t charge rent, then there’s obviously the upside of living somewhere for free. Plus it’s always nice to have someone cook for you every once in a while. Here are some thoughts on the subject from two members of different classes who chose to live at home this year:“Positives: Free food and free house. Negatives: Not completely independent, a little harder to meet up with friends, focus on studying, etc.”“When I decided to go to medical school at LSU, I had envisioned myself getting an apartment to maintain my independence. Then I slowly started to consider living at home. I’ll lay out what I see as the pros and cons of living at home. Starting with a negative – it can get stifling depending on your family situation. I would definitely start the year off with a conversation with your family and lay out the basics – ie Will you be expected at family dinners? Will they care if you come-and-go at odd hours? etc. It sounds basic, but if you haven’t lived at home since high school, it is new territory. For me, and many people in the L1 class, the positives of living at home outweigh the negatives. For one, living at home saves so much money! Also, there are always groceries in the fridge, and help with laundry. Overall, I love living at home, and I am going to do it again this year. The money I saved during the year, is paying for a fun summer travelling and as much takeout dinner as I want. If you’re considering living at home, I would recommend trying it out, you can always find a new apartment if need-be. Feel free to contact me with any other questions you have!” -Tova Weiss, Class of 2020“Living with my parents has been very helpful with my transition into medical school for my first year. I lived with my parents throughout all four years of college, so moving out for medical school would have been quite a change for me. I am able to save money on food and save time cooking and doing laundry sometimes (sometimes my mom or my sister cook or do laundry). I am also able to help take care of my disabled grandfather who lives with us. I live on the Westbank, so I have to leave out about an hour before the start of class in order to get to class on time. The traffic is a bother going to campus, but it's really not that bad traveling from school back to my house. When it comes to living with my parents during medical school, I think the benefits outweigh the negativities.” -Chelsey Walker, Class of 2019 “I lived with my parents this year because I was away at college and didn't have time to find my own place. I was worried that I would be the only one in this situation, but I was pleasantly surprised to meet plenty of people who were doing the same thing. I'm very thankful for the amount of money I was able to save; however, I definitely paid for it in other ways. Morning traffic was somewhat stressful, and while I didn't go out a whole lot, coordinating rides back home could be difficult. Also, my family didn't really understand how much I needed to study and why I was frustrated when they would watch TV or have loud conversations. It's all ended up working out, largely because I just don't study at home anymore. If you do choose to live at home, make sure that you are very clear with your family that you'll be studying way more than any of you are used to and that their future doctor will need some peace and quiet :)" -Member of Class of 2018UptownHousing: apartment, house, duplex, condoRent (survey values): $400-1000/month. Avg. Rent: $700-800/monthAvg. Commute: 10-20 minPros: walking distance to delicious restaurants, shopping, and bars, beautiful, ton of other students in area, always things going on, central location, pretty quiet, cheap cab rides from bar, close to campus, on streetcar line88900454025Cons: expensive, higher rate of crime, tourists, school traffic, small yards, street parking for the most part“Living uptown was one of the best decisions I made when moving to New Orleans! If you want to really feel the culture of the city in your everyday life, I think uptown is the best place for that. There are so many unique spots to explore and tons of things to do in uptown that you can’t find anywhere else. It a really nice place to wind down after a long day/week of school! You’ll never be too far from a nice place to eat or drink, and you’ll really feel like a New Orleanian living uptown!” – Hayden Guidry, Class of 2024“Living uptown has a lot of benefits including being about a 15-20 minute drive to school, close to lots of great amenities all in walking distance (grocery stores, movies, restaurants, parks, coffee shops), great running paths, close to the bars for the PTPs (Post-Test Parties), and very close/on the route for Mardi Gras. It can be difficult to find parking on the street, rent is generally more expensive if you’re renting, houses may be smaller and may have fewer amenities (no pool, no gyms, etc.), undergrads at Tulane/Loyola can take up room at coffee shops with studying for Bio 1001…, and the nearest Chik Fil A is in Metairie.” - Andrew Barbara, Class of 2020“Living uptown is great! I love being within walking distance to shops, restaurants, bars,?Audubon Park, the streetcar, and Uptown Mardi Gras parades! I stay active and have a dog, so walking out the door and having?a nice space to run? and play with the dog is invaluable.?There are also?plenty of?places to study uptown -?Tulane and Loyola libraries,?many?coffee shops?/?cafes.?It's fairly convenient to get around,?with quick access to I-10 and?only?taking?15-20 minutes from leaving my apartment to sitting in class. Uptown is also a mostly safe area with a private security patrol and visible police presence. The only downsides are that rent prices can be a bit higher than other areas and some driving is still required. Also be sure to check the parade routes when looking for housing because getting around during Mardi Gras can be nearly impossible if you're in the wrong area.” - Member of Class of 2020 “I live in uptown and love it. Everything you need is right here. There are tons of restaurants. There are good places to get a drink around here. Audubon Park is right here. Magazine Street is right here. Depending on where you live you can walk to a lot of the places I mentioned. I walked to all of the Mardi Gras parades on St. Charles which was nice. It's an easy drive or streetcar ride to downtown from here. It's an easy 10-15 min drive to school. Would highly recommend living in uptown.” - Member of Class of 2019325755017780000Garden DistrictHousing: apartment, house, duplex, parentsRent (survey values): $550-1200/monthAvg. Rent: $800-900/monthAvg. Commute: 10-15 minPros: tons of coffee shops, restaurants, and shops within walking distance, close to campus and other classmates, safeCons: some dangerous neighborhoods, smaller living areas, street parking/street closures for events“The Garden District is one of the hippest neighborhoods in the United States, and it takes me about 7 minutes to get to school from where I live. Magazine street which runs through the heart of the Garden District has everything. First the food on Magazine street: at the most recent James Beard Awards Gala, Shaya was awarded the best restaurant in the United states while the chef at a neighboring restaurant, Le Petite Grocery won the best chef in the United states. Its actually a joke the amount of great food you can get along this one street and I could go on and on but I won’t because its my summer time and I’d rather go relax. Next the bars of Magazine (I’ll just mention a couple as there are so many): you’ve got super divey bars like The Saint, so unique it serves as inspiration for lyrics to songs written by G-Eazy who loves it. You’ve also got really cool wine bars like The Tasting Room where you can go for some great food and wine if you are looking for a romantic date spot or there’s Barrel Proof, a good spot to meet up with some friends (my personal favorite). Last the study spots: I can walk to Mojo, a swanky coffee shop also on Magazine, where I can sit and have an excellent coffee along with some great people watching. However, if seeing celebs casually stroll into your coffee shop, as has happened to me at Mojo on numerous occasions, is too distracting just go a little further down Magazine to hit some more low-key spots. This neighborhood is rich culturally both in what is has to offer from a social, culinary, demographic, and architectural perspective. I’ve really enjoyed it and the only other place I would live in this city is the Quarter. There is much more to this neighborhood than this brief summary, but I will not disclose because us inhabitants jealously guard these gems and they are only for you to find out if you decide to inhabit this historic neighborhood.” - Charles Mansour, Class of 2020"The Lower Garden District. Plenty of bars within walking distance for when there is time to blow off some steam. There are also a number of good restaurants: Superior, Houston's, Copeland's, Irish House. Overall, this area is probably one of the safest areas you can be within New Orleans. Very comfortable walking anywhere at any time of the day. And a big bonus, especially in the building I live, guaranteed street space during Mardi Gras." – Member of Class of 2018“There are a lot of great things about living in the Garden District. It has a lot of restaurants and shops within walking distance. Every possible amenity you would need for daily living would be close enough to walk to, driving would be more of a hassle. There are at least 3 coffee places I can think of in the area, along with a grocery store, and Touro hospital situated just on the western outskirts of the neighborhood.In terms of entertainment the most popular bars in the area would be Delachaise, The Bulldog (the “uptown”, and FAR superior of the 2 locations), Balcony Bar, with F&M’s and Grits being short cab rides away. There are honestly too many restaurants in the area for me to list so I won’t even try. I personally think this is the best hub of restaurants and bars in the city. Pricing and housing in the Garden District is about as eclectic as the city itself. You can find single condominiums for rent, single rooms in a house, a house available to rent, anything you want you can find it. However pricing and quality of housing runs the gamut, so if you are interested in a property check it out in person first and ask a bunch of questions. For me the location and GD “bubble” was well worth the extra money each month. The Garden District is also generally regarded as a pretty low-crime area, so that is an added plus as well.” – Matt Bartow, Class of 2016BroadmoorHousing: house, apartmentRent (survey values): $600-1,000/monthAvg. Rent: $600-700/monthAvg. Commute: 10-15 minPros: close to school, family friendly, quick to everywhere in New Orleans, cheaper rentCons: not very many restaurants, mainly just houses “I live in Broadmoor right off Fountainbleau Dr. I love it because it is extremely close to campus and still has a nice neighborhood feel. I live in a single-family home with one roommate who is not in medical school. We have two dogs and they have a decent sized yard to roam around in. The area is still under development with a lot of homes being flipped and available for sale/lease; as well as, a great Mexican restaurant called El Pavo Real, Wayward Owl Brewery nearby, Laurel St. Bakery and plenty of convenient places on South Claiborne. My neighborhood is also conveniently located for getting uptown, to Mid-City or the Lakeview area in about 10-15 min.” - Ashley Reeves, Class of 2020“Broadmoor is fabulous and affordable. I usually roll out of bed at 7:30 and am on time to class at 8 because my neighborhood is so convenient to school, as well as to everywhere in the city. Lots of families and graduate/professional students. I highly recommend it!” -Emma Levenson, Class of 2019“Living in Broadmoor has been one of the best decisions of med school for me. It is a safe area that has very friendly neighbors. It is a quick 5-10 drive to campus and is centrally located in the city, so you can get to almost any place you want within 10 minutes. I love living in Broadmoor because I think you get almost all the benefits of living in uptown, but your rent is significantly cheaper.” -Member of Class of 201934131256731000LakeviewHousing: apartment, house, duplex, condoRent (survey values): $400-1,600/monthAvg. Rent: $600-700/monthAvg. Commute: 15 min.Pros: safe area, close to school, nice homes for rent with off street parking, quiet, Parlay’s bar, City Park, easy access to other areas of the cityCons: pot holes, far from some going out places, not walking to distances to places?“Lakeview is safe, affordable, and convenient. It is close to City Park, campus, and Lakeside Mall. My only downside is bad road condition.” – Jae Kweon, Class of 2024“Lakeview is a great choice of neighborhood to live in.? It has somewhat of a quiet, suburban feel to it and is also likely your best chance for having a nice, fenced-in yard while still living within New Orleans proper.? Nearby, City Park has endless activities and events and Lakeshore Drive makes for a relaxing way to spend your evenings on a run or watching the sailboats.? Driving time to school down Orleans-Jeff Davis-Canal only takes me about 12 minutes during morning rush hour.? You are close enough to MidCity to still have access to plenty of good restaurants as well as grocery stores and Costco, but you will be somewhat displaced from the action in the city.? It can be a burden either arranging for a designated driver or paying a hefty Uber tab to get across the city to where most PTPs take place.? Also, some neighborhoods in Lakeview have roads that make you question whether or not an earthquake struck the area at some point.” - Drake Pollard, Class of 2020“The main reason I chose to live in Lakeview is the affordable rent. I rent a house with 4 bed/3 bath for $1600/month, split between 3 roommates. I also personally enjoy the proximity of the Lakefront – it’s one of my favorite places to run. Also, the neighborhood is safe and quiet, with a very “suburban” feel but it is only 10-12 minute drive to school. Great restaurants abound: places like Deanie’s, New Orleans Food and Spirits, R&O’s, Jaegerburger, Velvet Cactus, and Mondo are top notch and within 1 mile of each other. I also wasn’t fond of on-street parking like most areas of Uptown. However, a big negative is the quality of the side streets. If you don’t travel down a main road, your suspension and tires on your vehicle can take a beating. Also, you aren’t in the “hustle and bustle” of the CBD, certain areas of Uptown and Mid City – which could be positive or negative aspect depending on how you look at it.” – Thomas Steele, Class of 2017” Lakeview is definitely a little more suburban than some other areas of the city (like all my neighbors are families with toddlers and golden retrievers), but I love the neighborhood feeling! The grocery, drugstore, gas station, church, and a whole bunch of restaurants are all within a 5 minute walk from my house. It's a pretty safe area of the city, too, which was important to me. I'll go out for a run by myself as it's getting dark and still feel totally safe!” -Alexis Scheuermann Class of 201935877501079500Downtown/CBD/Warehouse DistrictHousing: condo, apartmentRent (survey values): $700-2100/monthAvg. Rent: $900-1000/monthAvg. Commute: 5-10 minPros: close to school, close to the French Quarter, good night lifeCons: expensive, scarce to non-existent parking, no yard, busy“Living downtown has been very convenient as I am just minutes from campus. This comes in handy on test day and other important days when coming to campus is required as I do not have to worry about traffic on the interstate or car trouble. Forgetting ID or mask or anything else at home or at school is never a big issue either due to the proximity. In addition, there are many great food options nearby as well.” -Ahmed Fazal, Class of 2024“I absolutely love living in the Warehouse District. While it is quite pricey to live in one of the apartment complexes or condos in the area, I find it to be worth it. It is a very safe area and most buildings have either indoor or gated parking. It's not too far from school (takes me less than 10 minutes in the morning) and is also super close to other great areas like the French Quarter and the Lower Garden District. The neighborhood itself is also great for exploring modern restaurants, night life,?art galleries, the WWII museum, Riverwalk, the aquarium, and much more. Lots of fun things are just a walk away from my apartment. I would recommend this area for anyone who is interested in living in a larger apartment building and being fully immersed in ‘city life’.” - Gabrielle Espiritu, Class of 2020“I can't say enough how much I love living in the CBD! I'm big on walking/biking as a means of transportation, and living downtown allows me to do so (school, grocery stores, drug stores, etc. are all nearby). It's also nice to have the ability to quick bike home for lunch between lectures and be back within an hour if I ever need to grab something from home. I have about 10 coffee shops within 5 blocks of my apartment and plenty of restaurants and bars to enjoy. I feel relatively safe in the area, but like everywhere else in the city, I try to stay aware of my surroundings and not make stupid decisions like walking alone. Having the Mississippi River and French Quarter so close by provides me of plenty of jogging/walking area to take advantage of. Plus, there are always free events happening around downtown that are fun to crash. If you're interested in living in the CBD/Warehouse District, make sure to factor in the price of contract parking in your rent because that adds quite a bit to your monthly expenses.” - Member of Class of 2018“I absolutely love living in the Warehouse District! There is such a vibrant atmosphere surrounding this area of the city; with numerous art galleries, the WWII Museum, and a ton of restaurants, there is always something to do. The Quarter and Magazine Street are within walking distance, and PTPs are usually a short uber ride away. Though rent is a bit more expensive here, I definitely think it's worth it!” -Member of Class of 2019363855051435Mid-CityHousing: house, apartmentRent (survey values): $600-1,250/monthAvg. Rent: $600-700/monthAvg. Commute: 5-15 minPros: close to school, lots of places to eat within walking distanceCons: hectic when there is a festival or Mardi Gras, bad streets“Mid-City is one of the more affordable and convenient neighborhoods in New Orleans. Being centrally located (5-10 minutes from everywhere) along with having several grocery stores, restaurants, coffee shops, and plenty of both trendy and dive bars make it one of the more popular areas for young professionals and families. There’s also City Park and other green spaces and my personal favorite, the Broad Theatre that’s geared towards adults and has a full bar and pop-ups on the weekends for a good bite. It’s a very safe neighborhood, but feel free to contact me for advice, as there are definitely some spots better than others.” -Youssef Bou-Mikael, Class of 2021“I live in a double shotgun home in the Mid-City/ Bayou St. John neighborhood. I bought the house a year ago and rent out the other side for $1,200/mo. Each unit has two bedrooms and two bathrooms with a side hall. The side hall is special because in a traditional shotgun home you have to walk through the living room then the bedrooms in order to get to the kitchen in the back of the house. This does not give you much privacy if you have a roommate. The side hall creates private rooms. Certain parts of Mid-City tend to make the news for crime. These areas seem to be around Tulane Ave and Broad St. I tried to choose a home farther away from those streets although I still travel/eat/ shop/ attend school around them with no trouble. Pros: I am a 5-15 minute drive to about anywhere in the city. I am a 15-minute bike ride or a 5-minute drive to school. I live a block from the Lafitte Greenway which is a bike path from the French Quarter to around City Park. I can walk to cool bars and restaurants like Parkway Tavern and Bayou Beer/Wine Garden. I can also drag my kayaks and paddleboard four blocks to Bayou St. John for a good work out and a tan. Feral chickens that live on my block lay fresh eggs behind my shed in my backyard. I enjoy my diverse neighbors #keepMidCityWeird. On the bayou, Bayou Boogaloo Festival is in May and Oktoberfest is coming in October. Cons: My street and sidewalks are tore up. I do not have a driveway, so I park on the street along with all of my neighbors. Roosters make rooster noises at 5:00am every morning. Parts of Mid-City will make the news for crime, so your grandma will probably call you flustered.” - Monica Hanzo, Class of 2020“Mid-City is the hidden gem of New Orleans. I am within 5-10 minutes of everything from school/UMC, Uptown and Metairie. Previously lived in Lakeview and am so glad I moved here because there is so much culture and fun dive bars/restaurants hidden in Mid-City. If you love food, there is everything from great brunch at Ruby Slipper to delicious dinner at 1000 figs -- so many choices! Priorities for me were safety and cost -- and Mid-City is bother safe and offers some affordable options. Let me know if you have any questions.” -Member of Class of 2019MetairieHousing: house, apartment, parents, condo Rent (survey values): $400-1400/monthAvg. Rent: $600-700/monthAvg. Commute: 10-25 minPros: quiet, safe, cheap, good for families, close to restaurants, grocery shopping, and mall, plenty of parkingCons: far away from school, far from social attractions, bad traffic in morning, expensive cab rides from downtown/uptown“I have been living Metairie for a year now and will also be staying there for the next. Although Metairie is a little bit away from the center of New Orleans it does have its pros in that you will be able to find more affordable and better living options, it is more spread out and feels less cramped, a lot of grocery stores and places to eat, is generally a more safer area then nola, and to get to school you just quickly hop on I-10 and in 10 minutes, your at school with normal traffic. The cons are that you won’t really feel the nola vibes since you are on the outskirts of the city center, you will be farther from most of your classmates, and if I-10 has traffic then you might have to use an alternate route to get to school on time. I have chosen to stay in Metairie for the upcoming year because of the ability to get a nice place for a very affordable price which I wouldn’t have been able to find in New Orleans.” -Shahrukh Khan, Class of 2024“I like Metairie because it’s out of the city but not so far as to create a hassle to get anywhere in the city should you want to venture that way. I love the small town feel to it while it also offers everything you would need in fun and entertainment. Most may be discouraged by the commute, but it takes me about 10 minutes to get to school in the morning and I rarely run into terrible traffic. Your options on routes to school include hopping on the interstate or airline highway with commute times being very similar. As far as events or any other festivities taking place in New Orleans, an uber ride can get you downtown for about 10-12 dollars! I can honestly say that I have never felt inconvenienced by the short distance from school or the city in general. Metairie is typically a bit safer as far as crime is concerned and there are many great areas in which to live. There are many good neighborhoods that are family friendly if you are looking into buying a home. There are also a ton of rental homes in the area as well if that is the route you wish to go and there are countless apartment complexes as well. Metairie will also usually be a bit more affordable when it comes to? rent, although with roommates it comes out about the same as anywhere else. The best advice I can give is do your homework and find the best situation for you: look into many different complexes and areas and take a weekend to check them out down here. Most of all, ask us! I spent four years living in uptown for undergrad and while I loved it, I wanted an area that was a little slower and quieter and you can definitely find that in ‘Metry’.”- Brantlee McConaughey, Class of 2020“Initially I thought that it would be a burden living in Metairie, but I've found that I don't mind it much at all. It really isn't that bad of a drive, just during rush hours it can be a little sticky. I've enjoyed living in a nice house that is removed from everything, it helped me to focus on my studies especially first semester." - Member of Class of 201947307504191000Old MetairieHousing: house, duplexRent (survey values): $650-1500/monthAvg. Rent: $700-800/monthAvg. Commute: 10-15 min.Pros: safe, central location, close to interstate, more bang for your buck, quiet neighborhood, close to parksCons: expensive, not close to classmates“I love living in Old Metairie, the area is super safe and very nice. It’s close to a lot of parks, grocery stores, restaurants, and pretty much anything else you might need. The commute is great, it doesn’t take long to get to campus with or without traffic, it’s only about 10 minutes. Also, if you’re an animal person, the neighbors are usually families and older couples who have pets! The only con I can see about living here for some people is that it’s out of the city!” – Sarah Kelleher, Class of 2023“Old Metairie has been an excellent location for my first year of school. ?Pontiff Park is within walking distance, and you are extremely close to multiple grocery stores, coffee shops, restaurants, churches, and pretty much any other amenity you need. ?Without traffic, it only takes me 7 minutes to get to school, and about 10 minutes with traffic. ?In fact, pretty much any destination is at most 15 minutes away- whether its a friend's house in Lakeview, the French Quarter, Uptown (shoutout to The Fly), Walmart, or the mall- just a 10 to 15 minute drive gets you pretty much anywhere. ?It's also incredibly safe- lots of families and older people, as well as medical students. ?I know my neighbors (and their dogs), and it is always quiet for studying or naps. ?I've never had any concerns with noise or safety, and the neighborhood has a very cozy and welcoming atmosphere. ?My roommate and I split a 2 bedroom unit for around $800 a month each, including utilities and wifi. ?While our place isn't very big and the streets are narrow, it's easy to maintain and has a driveway for off-street parking, as well as a backyard patio. ?The only con I have is that sometimes it's a little higher to uber from my house, but often I just drive to school to park for free and uber from there to save a few dollars. ?I would highly recommend living here, and plan to stay in this area.” - Sarah Lungaro, Class of 2020“I really like living in Old Metairie! Living in Old Metairie, you are very centrally located in the city and are able to get to anything you would want (restaurants, bars, shopping, uptown, downtown etc.) in about 10-15 minutes at the most. It is a very family oriented area, there are lots of families with children, and as a result it is one of the safest places in the entire city and super quiet. It definitely has a neighborhood feeling, which I like since I am living by myself I feel I can depend on my neighbors if something were to go wrong. I know that I will be staying in my place far into my future. This neighborhood is a one of the more expensive areas, but depending on how many people you are living with, it doesn't have to be too bad. There is a wide range of types of housing available in Old Metairie as well (doubles, house, townhouse, apartments, lots of places with large backyards), so that will change the prices as well.” -Member of Class of 20193460750102425500 “While this may not be the most popular area for students to live in (it is a lot of families and older couples), Old Metairie is a very nice area. It is both safe and in the middle of the city so there is easy access to multiple areas of the city. Rent ranges depending what you are looking for (house, double, or apartment). Old Metairie is a lot quieter than other areas with less of a social environment but close enough to get to where people go out. If you are looking for rentals with yard and parking, there is definitely some in this area.” -Member of Class of 2017WestbankHousing: house, apartmentsRent (survey values): $600/monthAvg. Rent: $600/monthAvg. Commute: 10-25 minPros: really quiet and convenient, know all my neighbors, walk to bars and restaurants, can take ferry downtownCons: traffic-prone, bridge traffic, ferry hours“I guess what I can say is that the bridge is the only way to get to LSUHSC so the ride times to get there is very dependent on traffic which can add up to ~20 minutes of commute during peak hours and rain. Other than that, everything else is great.” -Viet Le, Class of 2024“The?Westbank, specifically Algiers and Gretna are relatively a short distance away from school. What makes the commute long is the morning and evening traffic over the Crescent City Connection. If you like getting up early and leaving school late the?Westbank?is the place for you! During non-peak traffic hours on average it’ll take you 15 to 20 min to get to school during traffic 30-40 min. There’s not many coffee shops that open late on the?Westbank?so you would have to be okay with studying at school or having a good study space at home. We do have really great Vietnamese food. The area is very suburban so parking lots are provided everywhere. Everything you could need is pretty close by. You do end up driving to the city often to hang out- just have to plan around traffic.” -Sidrah Syed, Class of 2020“I live at my grandmother's house on the West Bank. It is conveniently located to school and all other activities outside of class. The only downside to living on the West Bank is that you have to be aware of the busy times on the bridge. Besides that, I would recommend living on the West Bank. I would also recommend living with a relative if they offer free rent!” -Member of Class of 2019River Ridge/Harahan/ElmwoodHousing: house, apartmentRent (survey values): $600/monthAvg. Rent: $600/monthAvg. Commute: 10-20 minPros: very safe and quiet, rent cheaper, shopping area nearby, quiet, good study environment, bars nearby, traffic free drive to school Cons: not as close to school, far away from activity of city“The best parts about living in the Harahan/Elmwood area is that it’s reliably safe and quiet. The majority of my neighbors are either families or people in a similar situation as me with going to college or grad school. Since it isn’t in the downtown area you can get more space for a cheaper price as well. The only major downside is that campus is 15 minutes away, but traffic has never been an issue unless there was an accident. In a way that distance is a bright side because it forced me to commit my time on campus to make it count for getting work done, while letting me dedicate my apartment to downtime. Some days you really just need to distance yourself from med school for self-care.” – Nick Meyers, Class of 2023“Harahan is a really safe area, and it’s a 22 minute drive to campus. It’s close to the Elmwood area, which is starting to boom with food options and entertainment. I live at home – which has its pros and cons. Living at home has great perks (laundry, food, family, no rent) but it comes at the expense of privacy, quiet, and sometimes sleep (little brother playing XBOX at 7 AM).” – Matt Fury, Class of 2017 “Harahan is a safe, family-friendly area to live in. We live in a house on a quiet street and love it! It's about 20-25 minutes to get to school, but with morning traffic it can sometimes take about 30 minutes or so. The only downfall is that you aren't in the middle of everything "happening" in New Orleans. My roommate and I love living here and plan on staying here for the next 3 years!” -Shannon McDuff, Class of 2019LSUHSC ON-CAMPUS LIVINGLSU gives you two options for living on campus: The Residence Hall and Stanislaus Hall.420370059690The Residence Hall (aka “Perdido Palace”)Housing: apartment (unfurnished, private bath/kitchen) and dormitory complex (furnished, community kitchen/bath)Rent (survey values): $363- $1053Avg. Commute: 60 second walk to classPros: convenient, close to everything, no commute, cheap, no problem finding parking spotsCons: apartment doesn’t have too many windows, smells, always on campus“Living in the residence hall was fun! We had safe parking and never had a commute. On stormy days you don’t have to worry about driving to campus and traversing through the rain to get to class, you just walk under the covered walkway and you’re there with no hassle! If you prefer to study at the library, it’s a short walk any day of the week. Another big thing about living on campus especially your L1 year is how convenient it is to get to Anatomy lab especially after hours. You can run home between classes and not be late for the next one. Regarding rent, it’s cheap, you have your own kitchen and bathroom, and utilities are included! Plus, we have a vending machine downstairs. Some cons about living on campus are it’s a small apartment that hasn’t been updated in a while (really old appliances), and you’re kind of stuck on campus all the time, so if you’re the person who has to get away from school it might not be the best.” – Ada Tusa, Class of 2023“Living on campus for the first year was fun! There was always someone else around and in that regard it was kind of like being a freshman in college again (except no RA and this time we had a kitchen). The 0-commute time was also convenient. I'm not from the area, so living on campus was also less stressful because then I didn't have to drive out and see different places before I moved in. The office ladies are also really nice and receptive. It?can?get tiring being so close to school all of the time though, so if you do choose to live on campus then make sure you block out time away (e.g. go to the park, study at a coffee shop once in a while, etc.). The initial lease is only for 4 months, so you can always try it out for a semester while you look for other places to live if you're not sure how long you want to stay.” - Kaylin Beiter, Class of 2020“My husband and I live in a one-bedroom apartment in the Residence Hall. It's definitely not even close to big, but we are able to make it work well for us and?we prefer it to?paying a ton of money for a larger apartment elsewhere.?A big perk to living on campus is that we?don't have to worry about car troubles interfering with our schedules because?I can walk to classes and he can walk to?the gym. The only downside is that?being on campus?almost all?the time tends to get a bit boring after a while. So, if you?require an exciting environment in order to survive the rigors of med school, you should probably take that into account when thinking about Res Hall. Besides that, the convenience of living on campus close to everything we need and saving money on rent makes it all worth it for us.” - Molly Flanagan Synowicz, Class of 2020“I’ve really enjoyed living in the Residence Hall this year. It's so affordable and the (nonexistent) commute is a huge plus. It's not glamorous - the building is old and there is no in-room dishwasher or washing machine - but it's always clean and quiet. The main drawback for me has been the location. There are no restaurants within easy walking distance and it's a very industrial part of town.” –Member of Class of 2019Stanislaus Hall (aka “The Dorms”)Housing: dormitoryRent (survey values): $622/monthAvg. Commute: 5 minute walkPros: convenient, close to class and places downtown, close to anatomy labCons: no kitchen, no outdoor area, depressing always being on campus“I really like living in Stanislaus my first year. It’s super quiet and close to class. The gym is also in the building so if you want a quick workout it’s less than a minute walk to it! The gym also has a great sauna (so that means technically, Stanislaus has a sauna). The parking is great, we have a garage that connects to our dorm with a covered walkway. The dorm rooms are fully furnished, so if you’re coming from out of state and can’t find any furniture or don’t want to spend a fortune on it, they have it in the room for you already. Something that is a pro to me but can be a con for others is the view, when you live high enough it gives off dystopian vibes. There are a few cons, depending on how cold you keep your room you might get roaches. The aesthetic is kind of depressing, its very sad and gray. The rooms are kind of small and we don’t have kitchens in room, we have a shared communal kitchen downstairs.” – James Baker, Class of 2023 "$600/mo for a small room is a terrible price per square foot; however, there are some 'hidden' financial benefits. The rooms are furnished with a bed, desk, chair, and some wardrobes/drawers, and internet/utilities are included in the cost. Furthermore, there is no need to spend money?on gas for daily commutes. Each floor has a kitchen with minimal amenities. All kitchens have microwaves and sinks; most have hotplates. There are no ovens, stoves, or fridges. If you enjoy cooking, Stanislaus is not for you. (Mini-fridges can be kept in rooms; students are apparently allowed to use their own hot plates and/or microwave ovens in the kitchens.) Each floor has at least one coin-operated washer/dryer set. Stanislaus feels a bit separated from the rest of campus, but is connected to the walkway system--it's close enough to make 'going home' for lunch or to retrieve a forgotten laptop charger into realistic possibilities. If you enjoy working out, the gym's location in the same building?is extraordinarily convenient.?There are a few infrequently used study spots on the ground floor; other than those,?the building's aesthetic?is somewhere between boring and depressing. Like all on-campus housing, the view from the window is a concrete nightmare. Some of downtown can be easily reached by foot; all of downtown is accessible by bike. Ultimately Stanislaus is relatively inexpensive and convenient housing option, but thoroughly unexciting." - Daniel McBride, Class of 2020“I don't need very many comforts (like a kitchen and stove, which Stanislaus lack...) and I'm rather low maintenance, so Stanislaus, which is reminiscent of a dorm, works for me. I especially like to submerge myself in my studies on campus so an easy, fast walk to the campus buildings is nice. The fact that I can roll out of bed and make it to class in under 5 minutes is great as well, especially after a late night of studying. If this is you, Stanislaus would be fine. If not, many people choose Residence Hall, which is more like an apartment complex. Many of my classmates originally in Stanis have ended up moving to Res Hall or off campus.” -Member of Class of 2018“I previously lived in Stanislaus and found it to be miserable and among the worst housing mistakes I've ever made. The rooms are tiny, and when they mention that they have a "kitchen," it doesn't have a stove so you're technically not even allowed to cook. Every visitor I had remarked on how prison-like it was; for convenience to campus, Res Hall is the much superior choice. For price, you could probably find a comparable place (though not as close to campus) but significantly more spacious and less dungeon-like with far more amenities.” -Member of Class of 2019center274320Please send questions, comments, or concerns to:Nabil EssajeeStudent Guide Editornessaj@lsuhsc.edu5850020000Please send questions, comments, or concerns to:Nabil EssajeeStudent Guide Editornessaj@lsuhsc.edu21399512192000 ................
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