UBC Vancouver - tips for a visiting student?

Parent Cafe
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<p>My daughter attends college in Massachusetts and she's applied to UBC in Vancouver as a visiting student for the semester (session) that runs from Jan - April 2011. It'll be her study-abroad semester.</p>

<p>I assumed she'd have on-campus housing but now that's in doubt. The person I spoke with at UBC advised us to start looking now for something because "housing is not guaranteed."</p>

<p>We liked the idea of her being on campus for its safety, price, practical matters. She'll only be there for one semester, and she' never lived in a city before (nor the west coast, nor Canada!) so a reliable housing situation is important.</p>

<p>Anyone have experience with Vancouver or the UBC campus? Any suggestions for a visiting student?</p>

<p>Thank you!</p>

2

<p>Hi, I’m a grad student at UBC. </p>

<p>If your daughter doesn’t get campus housing, the West Point Grey and Kitsilano neighbourhoods are quite safe and very close to campus. West Point Grey is a quieter wealthy area. Kitsilano is younger with more bars and restaurants, especially along broadway and 4th. I live at the eastern edge of Kitsilano (close to Burrard) and the bus ride takes about 15-25 minutes. Rent for a one bedroom is usually 1000+, but cheaper places do exist (bachelor and shared). </p>

<p>From Burrard east to Main (roughly centred on broadway) there is a large inventory of older low rise apartment buildings, the area is less affluent than kits and point grey but I wouldn’t say it’s unsafe. A little more “hipster” esp. along Main. Cool restaurants and bars along Main and Cambie. Prices can be cheaper, and the commute isn’t much longer. </p>

<p>Main and east things get dodgier… but also cheaper. </p>

<p>Other neighbourhoods, Commercial Drive: generally cheap rent, lots of young people about, granola/hipster vibe, further afield. Downtown/Westend: in the thick of it, expensive, I found it a pain to commute to school when I lived there. But loads of fun, I’d move back at the right price. </p>

<p>I assume your daughter won’t have a car… In which case definitely consider distance to transit (broadway is the main corridor going into campus, translink.ca), nearest grocery store (Market Place IGA, Safeway, Saveonfoods) and if she is over 19 liquor/beer/wine stores (most are a government run but there are also private ones).</p>

<p>Check out AMS rentsline and Craigslist for listings. </p>

<p>If your daughter skis/snowboards or would like to ski/snowboard, Whistler has reasonable (for skiing) student passes ([Whistler</a> Blackcomb - Season Passes - The Student Pass](<a href=“http://www.whistlerblackcomb.com/tickets/seasonpass/students/index.htm]Whistler”>http://www.whistlerblackcomb.com/tickets/seasonpass/students/index.htm)), there are also other mountains nearby (Cypress).</p>

<p>Picking up a used bike (~100+) can be a good way to see the city/commute to school (a little wet in the winter though). Vancouver drivers are crazy though. A lock is a good idea.</p>

<p>There are loads of beaches around Vancouver, they can be great on a nice day. Wreck beach, which is on campus, is clothing optional. You might think you are ‘safe’ on a cold drizzly day, you could well be wrong! </p>

<p>Rain gear: gortex and/or umbrella and rubber boots make a lot of sense. </p>

<p>If you have any other questions let me know.</p>

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<p>Thank you very much for your thoughtful reply with lots of details! Much appreciated.</p>