TIPS FROM STUDENTS
Hear what students have to say! Also, check out the Rollins Student Ambassadors blog, rollinsambassadors.com to learn about life at Rollins from current students.
Adaiah Soibi-Harry
’24 MPH, Epidemiology
Try to write down all your monthly expenditures for the first three months.
Katherine Sun
’23 MPH, Health Policy and Management
Plan your finances and find the right balance for your spending. If you want to save money, use the admitted students Facebook group to find a roommate and look for places to live that are on the shuttle route so you don't have to drive to school and pay for parking. There are pros and cons to this; living close to a shuttle route might cost a bit more, but it's convenient. You might find that living farther away saves money, but this means sitting through traffic, paying for parking, and wear and tear on your car and maintaining it. Find the right balance for your wants, needs, and lifestyle. It's ok to choose a more expensive apartment for more space and the amenities if you're willing to pick up an extra job and make tradeoffs with how much you spend each month on dining out and entertainment. Being in a new city is exciting. Enjoy yourself, just don't live beyond your means.
Sho Takeuchi
’23 MPH, Behavioral, Social, and Health Education Sciences
Get the free food on campus! Become familiar with Emory shuttle and MARTA routes. Enjoy potluck with your friends rather than going to the restaurants. It would be healthier too!
CHOOSING HOUSING IN ATLANTA
FOR MOST STUDENTS, HOUSING REPRESENTS THEIR MOST SIGNIFICANT LIVING EXPENSE. Atlanta, with its generally low cost of living, offers a broad range of options. Graduate housing is now available on-campus. To apply for on-campus housing, please visit The Ridge at Emory website. The Rollins campus is located along a pedestrian-friendly corridor with numerous house and apartment rentals within walking distance along Emory’s extensive free shuttle routes, or an easy bike ride away. Some students live at Campus Crossings at Briarcliff, a complex of furnished apartments designed for graduate students. The Office of Residential Services hosts an off-campus housing finder at offcampushousing.emory.edu. Dining, grocery, and other types of shopping and salon services are within a three-mile radius of campus. Popular neighborhoods for students include: Emory Point, Emory Village, Virginia-Highland, Druid Hills, Toco Hills, Inman Park, Candler Park, Morningside, Midtown, and the City of Decatur. Visit the Emory Off-Campus Housing website: offcampushousing.emory.edu.
"As much as possible, try to find a roommate. This helps keep your cost down as you share the financial responsibilities. Also, start early to look for accommodation. Join the social media groups for your cohort. That's an excellent place to find roommates."
"Take advantage of the free Emory shuttles to campus to save money on gas and parking costs. When considering housing costs, think about the amenities offered at apartment complexes, money you can save by getting a roommate, and how long it will take to commute to campus. Ask apartment complexes if they have an Emory student special or other summer special. Don’t forget to ask when lease renewals take place."
"You can get information from Emory Off-Campus Housing Website, other commercialized apartment websites, and a Facebook group for admitted students. Google maps is a good resource for seeing the geography around the campus. Google reviews are sometimes helpful, but some bad reviews are too old to pay attention to. Ideally, by reaching out to someone at Emory (Rollins ambassadors are an excellent resource!), you can get the "real" voice."
TRANSPORTATION
Emory University ranks #4 among the top green colleges in the U.S. for 20231—promoting an environmentally responsible approach to transportation, offering an extensive free shuttle service around and beyond campus, even to Atlanta’s midtown business district. Many Rollins students choose to walk, bike or take public transportation to campus. The Michael Street Parking deck is free after 4 p.m., which is a benefit for students who drive to school.
1. Top 50 Green Colleges. The Princeton Review. https://www.princetonreview.com/college-rankings?rankings=top-50-green-colleges
"Students should use the Emory shuttle and Marta connections. Try to find accommodation within the school perimeter. If you drive, endeavor to get the term park permits."
"Transportation costs can be manageable. There are free shuttles to get to campus, but if using the shuttles doesn’t work for you, carpool with roommates or friends who live near you. There’s a commute app where you can connect with other Emory students to find a carpool."
"Some students have cars but do not use them for transportation because of heavy traffic and expensive parking lots. Emory shuttle is a good method. Using public transportation could be tricky because you will go to campus almost daily. Some students use bicycles, but biking in Atlanta is not as easy as biking in other cities/countries because of non-ideal road conditions and maintenance.
Knowing the geography and possible tools is important. Emory shuttle takes you to Midtown and Decatur Stations on weekdays for free! They take you to the nearest shopping center (Toco Hills) during weekends. Also, public transportation (MARTA) buses on weekends are helpful, affordable, and environmentally-friendly options when you have flexible schedules. From the Emory campus, MARTA buses will take you to Midtown (Route 36), Decatur (Route 36), Lindbergh Center (Route 6), Inman Park/Reynoldstown (Route 6), and Five Points (Route 816) Stations. The Transloc and MARTA app will help you track the buses, although, honestly, they are not perfect. Most international students manage their lives without cars even though we live off-campus."
STRATEGIZING ON BOOKS
With planning, managing book expenses is an easy way to reduce your costs. There are a number of simple options that can help you spend less than the official Emory textbook estimate.
"At Rollins, we have access to most of our recommended text through the digital library in school. If you ever need to buy a book, explore borrowing from the library or buying a used one."
"In my department, I haven’t had to purchase many textbooks. I had a class with an option to buy or rent a textbook. Since I knew I wasn’t going to need the textbook after the class, I chose to rent the e-book from the publisher. Just make sure to read the fine print when you need access to a lab component from the publisher."
"Most instructors do not ask students to purchase or rent textbooks. I purchased or rented only four books my two years. If you like paper books, you can get old ones from other students who have already used them! Also, if class instructors ask students to read articles, Emory Library contracts with many articles which we can access at no cost."
OFF-CAMPUS LIFE
Atlanta offers food and entertainment options for every budget. An international destination, our dynamic city has it all: farmers markets, distinctive ethnic restaurants and grocery stores, haute cuisine, and hidden dives you don’t want to miss. The city’s rich cultural offerings include museums, theaters, and music venues, plus dozens of free local and international festivals each year. Atlanta’s many parks and public trails are perfect for outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, water sports, and camping. On campus, Emory hosts a full schedule of music, speakers, and theatrical events, and many area attractions offer discounts or special nights for students.
"Show up for as many networking events in school. Use the HUB to stay informed. Explore Buford Highway if interested. Religious affiliations and volunteer opportunities are excellent places to meet people off campus."
"Atlanta has a lot to offer in terms of the diversity of cuisines, entertainment venues, sporting events, and access to parks and nature. As important as academics are, don’t forget to take time for yourself to explore the city. Go study at a coffee shop, find some friends to go enjoy a new restaurant, attend a sporting event, or take a short road trip to a nearby park and explore some hiking trails!"
"You have many options for food. You can get good food at Emory neighborhoods, Ponce City Market, Atlantic Station, Decatur, and Little Five Points. All of them are accessible by public transportation!
Atlanta has several famous and educational museums, including National Center for Civil and Human Rights, Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park, and The Carter Center.
There are beautiful parks for enjoying nature, such as Lullwater park (within Emory campus), South Peachtree Creek Trail (5 minute walk from Clairmont campus), and Piedmont Park (15 minute bus from Emory campus). There are many trails in the greater Atlanta area.
Personally, I like doing Potluck because it is a wonderful way to enjoy delicious food at affordable prices and make good friends! I wonder how many times I have cooked Sushi for my friends, even though I never cooked Sushi in Japan😊"
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