I am going to CLARKSON UNIVERSITY.POTSDAM. (New York, Syracuse: budget, apartment)

[javier jimemez]

I am Javier and I'm Spanish. Next september I am going to Clarkson university as a PhD student. I would like to Know the city is, its atmosphere and so on. I've seen on the net that it's a college city, isn't it?Is it big or small?



Please, let me know asap. I'd be very grateful if you could provide me with some information about Potsdam and its university.

javi

[Vagus]

Originally Posted by javier jimemez

I am Javier and I'm Spanish. Next september I am going to Clarkson university as a PhD student. I would like to Know the city is, its atmosphere and so on. I've seen on the net that it's a college city, isn't it?Is it big or small?



Please, let me know asap. I'd be very grateful if you could provide me with some information about Potsdam and its university.

javi

Congratulations -- Clarkson is an excellent school.

Potsdam is a small city in far northern New York. I think the population is only about 10,000 or so, not counting students.

Compared to much of Spain I suspect you will find that winter in Potsdam is very COLD -- frequently well below freezing, with lots of snow. Summers are mild but can be humid.

The area around Potsdam is very beautiful because of the Adirondack Mountains and the St Lawrence river. However, you are rather far from any major urban areas. You will be closer to major cities in Canada (Ottawa and Montreal, about 2 hours away) than any major US cities (Syracuse is probably the closest, and given the choice, I would prefer to visit Montreal or Ottowa instead of Syracuse). You will be very, very far from New York City or Boston (at least 6 or 7 hours by car).

In addition to Clarkson there is a branch of the New York State university in Potsdam (SUNY Potsdam).

Try these websites for more information . . .

Potsdam, NY 13676
History and Pictures of Potsdam New York
http:/www.potsdam.edu

[citygirl234]

Hi I am going to Clarkson University this Fall also. Can anyone tell me how to get to potsdam. The nearest airport I know is Albany and its still 4 Hours drive to potsdam. Are there buses or train stations. I am guessing that owning a car will be cruical.

[clynnog]

Originally Posted by citygirl234

Hi I am going to Clarkson University this Fall also. Can anyone tell me how to get to potsdam. The nearest airport I know is Albany and its still 4 Hours drive to potsdam. Are there buses or train stations. I am guessing that owning a car will be cruical.

You may want to contact OH2CA who is teaching at SLU for a year. Syracuse may be a closer airport...I think there may be a bus from there. Good luck..my brother teaches at SLU and loves it....the North Country is a great place if you make the most of it.

[NedFlanders]

Syracuse and Ottawa are the closest airports. You might be able to catch a small flight into Watertown, which is only about an hour away. The drive from Albany isn't bad at all.

I LOVE Potsdam. It is a very small town set in rural farmland. There are 4 colleges within 15 miles, so lots of college students. The region has strong seasons, so people embrace each one and make the best of it, as it will soon pass. Hiking, camping, skiing and boating are all popular among the older set.

The town itself has a small hospital, a few grocery stores, an indian restaurant, a movie theater, pizza places, a mexican eatery, a few standard chains, a couple of chinese buffets, a great coffee shop, a natural foods store, lots of concerts at Crane and plenty of hockey at Clarkson. Most restaurants, the coffee shop and movie theater are all steps from one another, as the walkable part of town is quiet compact. You can easily walk to the things listed above from Clarkson.

Potsdam's higher ed. is comprised of Clarkson and SUNY Potsdam. SUNY Potsdam is just called Potsdam. Potsdam is a small liberal arts. Crane is a music school that is part of SUNY Potsdam, but they have separate admissions and buildings. SUNY Potsdam is located about 1.5 miles from Clarkson.

The nearest cities are Syracuse and Ottawa, both a few hours drive. Canton, another very small town) is one of the towns next to Potsdam and it houses the other two colleges in the area. Massena is a third small village, but larger than either Potsdam or Canton. Massena has another movie theater, a very small mall and a few big box stores.

Below is a link to a webcam on the Clarkson campus, that provides a view of one of their parking lots.

Axis 2120 Network Camera 2.43

The link below is to a local website that will give you a good overview of the area.

NorthCountryNow.com: Serving Potsdam, Massena, Ogdensburg, Canton, Gouverneur & St. Lawrence County, NY

[citygirl234]

Thanks for the reply, its was helpful. Tell me how affordable is Potsdam. Can you give an estimate of the cost of living, renting an apartment or home.

[NedFlanders]

Originally Posted by citygirl234

Thanks for the reply, its was helpful. Tell me how affordable is Potsdam. Can you give an estimate of the cost of living, renting an apartment or home.

Like any college town, apt. prices are often inflated, still the area is super cheap compared to the rest of the nation. I never rented an apt. as I always lived in a house. During the 2003-2005 years in Potsdam, I rented a 2 bedroom, 1 bath house for 400.00. It did help that the owner was an awesome guy that didn't inflate prices. We saw many homes rented out for between 500.00-700.00. The most expensive rental housing is one complex in town (Swan something or other) and the apts. that are on the 2-3 blocks around the college that are often rented for 1800.00 a semester.

Keep in mind, winters are long, so if you are paying your own heating bills, that can get expensive fast. In the years mentioned above (and prices have risen quite a bit) we were paying around 170-220.00 a month for natural gas for our tiny little house. Our electricity ran around 80.00 in the summer and 150 in the winter, I don't know if those rates have increased.

[citygirl234]

So for someone on a budget, an apartment with heat included is a better option. Is owning a car a good investment.

[NedFlanders]

If you can find a place that includes heat, grab it, as it is easier to budget as a college student. Owning a car depends on how you live. If you will be focusing all your time on campus activities and the immediate downtown area in Potsdam, then I wouldn't be concerned, as you can walk to all those areas. Besides, you are bound to meet someone with a car. It seems like everyone on campus has a car. Now, if you plan to spend lots of time off campus, hiking, traveling to shop or sight-see, then a car would be required. The closest (very pathetic) mall is 20 miles away. Hiking is close, but still outside town.

Envision the area as such; every 10-25 miles (depending on direction) there is a small town with a population of 3-10,000 and in between are even smaller little areas and lots of farmland. Most of the larger towns (Massena, Canton, Potsdam, Ogdensburg) have a movie theater (though I think Ogdensburg may have closed), a few restaurant chains, local places to eat, a dollar store, bars, several banks, churches, a few grocery stores, coffee shops, a Walmart (except Canton and Potsdam's is still being built) and small speciality stores. If that is enough for you, you won't need a car unless you plan to take daily trips across town to Walmart, or the larger grocery store. If you want anything more, you'll have to drive at least an hour. Only you know what your needs are, while you live in the area.

[citygirl234]

Thank you NedFlanders, your insight is very helpful. What about getting a job, something that can pay a few bills.