attending graduate school in springfield area ,need advice for housing (Chicopee: real estate, apartments)

[Error4147]

I am an international student and I am going to start my PhD studies at Western New England university in the following semester ,therefore I am planning to move to Springfield in mid august .I have find that Chicopee and west Springfield areas are quite suitable for me .would you please give me some details about these areas and is there any other places you can recommend me ?
as I am arriving there just one week before the start of my classes , do you think that I could find some furnished apartments for rent ? ( I am not sure whether I can rent an unfurnished apartment and buy some necessary furniture in just one week )

Thank you very much

[RiverBird]

Originally Posted by Error4147

I am an international student and I am going to start my PhD studies at Western New England university in the following semester ,therefore I am planning to move to Springfield in mid august .I have find that Chicopee and west Springfield areas are quite suitable for me .would you please give me some details about these areas and is there any other places you can recommend me ?
as I am arriving there just one week before the start of my classes , do you think that I could find some furnished apartments for rent ? ( I am not sure whether I can rent an unfurnished apartment and buy some necessary furniture in just one week )

Thank you very much

I would not suggest Chicopee (loud planes with Westover Air Force Base and zero night life) or West Springfield (sprawling and no concentration of young people).

Although I wouldn't recommend living in Springfield if you're going to buy, I'd say Springfield (like the better parts of East Forest Park) are more convenient to WNEC (though no night life or stuff for young folks to do).

If you could possibly afford Northampton (pricey) with a roommate/housemate, I'd go there. It's a real college town with a great downtown and a lot of night life (for this part of the state, lol). It's liberal, artsy, with good eateries, pubs, etc. Look on Craigslist Western Mass but as always be careful, never send a deposit to anyone listing there. Actually, it's better to go through a rental agent, much safer. Google Robinson Real Estate Northampton.

If you have no interest in night life or social/arts activities, if you just want quiet and easy access to WNEC, I'd say East Forest Park.

[Error4147]

Originally Posted by newenglandgirl

I would not suggest Chicopee (loud planes with Westover Air Force Base and zero night life) or West Springfield (sprawling and no concentration of young people).

Although I wouldn't recommend living in Springfield if you're going to buy, I'd say Springfield (like the better parts of East Forest Park) are more convenient to WNEC (though no night life or stuff for young folks to do).

If you could possibly afford Northampton (pricey) with a roommate/housemate, I'd go there. It's a real college town with a great downtown and a lot of night life (for this part of the state, lol). It's liberal, artsy, with good eateries, pubs, etc. Look on Craigslist Western Mass but as always be careful, never send a deposit to anyone listing there. Actually, it's better to go through a rental agent, much safer. Google Robinson Real Estate Northampton.

If you have no interest in night life or social/arts activities, if you just want quiet and easy access to WNEC, I'd say East Forest Park.

Thanks , that was a great help