{"id":5563,"date":"2025-10-30T12:23:04","date_gmt":"2025-10-30T16:23:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/websites.emerson.edu\/grad-life\/?p=5563"},"modified":"2025-10-30T12:28:09","modified_gmt":"2025-10-30T16:28:09","slug":"tales-of-a-commuter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/websites.emerson.edu\/grad-life\/2025\/10\/30\/tales-of-a-commuter\/","title":{"rendered":"Tales of a Commuter"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"Exterior<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

When moving to Boston, some of the most frequent questions Emerson students ask are: Where??? Why??? How long will it take for me to get to campus??? (These questions must be read in a feverish tone, or at least, that\u2019s what my experience was like.) But for many Emerson grad students, commuting to campus can mean a multitude of things, whether it\u2019s a fifteen-minute walk, two different MBTA train lines<\/strong><\/a>, or even a ferry. Boston is full of unique neighborhoods, each with its own vibe, local food specialities, and rent prices. It\u2019s even argued that each neighborhood has its own rat culture (especially in Allston<\/strong><\/a>). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So what is life like for grad students living in different parts of the Greater Boston area? For this piece, I talked to four graduate students who call places like Back Bay, Dorchester, Medford, and East Boston home. They shared why they initially chose their neighborhood, what their commute to Boylston Street<\/strong><\/a> is really <\/em>like, and advice for prospective movers. Whether you\u2019re apartment hunting or want to know more about surrounding neighborhoods, consider this article the true story behind the tales of a commuter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Choosing Their Neighborhoods<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When it comes to choosing your new home (if only for a year), some elements can be higher on the priority list than others. For Gabby Kirk, a second-year student in Emerson\u2019s Publishing and Writing program<\/strong><\/a>, Back Bay<\/strong><\/a>\u2019s proximity to campus was essential. With her apartment residing on the border of Beacon Hill, she also picked the neighborhood for its easy access to the Red and Green lines of the T, making it easy to travel around the Boston area. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Still, Gabby wishes she knew more about the demographics of people living near her before moving. \u201cThe type of people who live here are college students or families. Not many people in their mid-twenties, which was disappointing,\u201d she says, adding, \u201cIt just means I have to go out of my way to other neighborhoods to find like-minded people my age that I want to socialize with\u2013\u2013which I don\u2019t mind doing!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Beach
Photo by Courtney Videchak on Unsplash<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Other students, like Katriana Danas Rivera, a Strategic Marketing Communications<\/strong><\/a> student, sought out a balance between affordability and comfort, landing just outside the city in Medford<\/strong><\/a>. About a five-minute walk from the Tufts main campus, Katriana says, \u201cWe found a place with a really great space and amenities (like in-unit laundry and a dishwasher) for a relatively good price, so it seemed like living here was meant to be.\u201d She describes Medford as \u201ca perfect balance between suburban and a small college town,\u201d with a blend of stores and restaurants that cater to college students while still providing local staples for families. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But a trade-off for this great space? The neighborhood is quieter than Katriana expected compared to Downtown Boston. \u201cIt\u2019s great for focusing on school and having a bit more space, but it also means planning ahead if you want to go out or meet up with friends in the city.\u201d She adds, \u201cThat said, the peaceful vibe and nearby green spaces have definitely grown on me. It\u2019s a nice balance once you get used to it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Lamis Osman, also a Strategic Marketing Communications<\/strong><\/a> student, living in a neighborhood with a rich culture and great views was a non-negotiable. With a convenient commute to both work and school, Lamis lives in Maverick Square<\/strong><\/a>, East Boston. \u201cThe area blends old and new Boston\u2014traditional homes and long-standing immigrant-owned shops sit alongside modern apartment buildings, trendy cafes, and waterfront parks,\u201d she raves. With a lively buzz that steps away from the Blue Line, Lamis admits that she didn\u2019t realize just how easy it would be to get downtown, sometimes as quick as five minutes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, Annie Gray took a more spontaneous approach to moving to Boston, finding her future roommate and apartment on a Facebook group for girls moving to the city. After touring a few places, Annie, a Publishing and Writing<\/strong><\/a> student, was sold on her apartment in Dorchester<\/strong><\/a>. \u201cI know a lot of people have a certain view on Dorchester, but I really enjoy it,\u201d she says, describing how big the neighborhood is on community, with lots of local food markets and schools nearby. With easy access to the South Bay Shopping Center and only a twenty-minute walk to the beach, Annie\u2019s enjoyed living in Dorchester for over a year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Commute to Campus <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In terms of getting to campus, rain or shine, each student\u2019s journey looks a little different. From Back Bay, Gabby always walks to campus, which takes about ten to fifteen minutes. Katriana typically takes the T from the Medford\/Tufts station, which can take around thirty-five minutes to get downtown. \u201cI used to live along the Red Line and that was a mostly underground commute, so being able to look out the windows and watch the surrounding neighborhoods and landmarks definitely makes the ride into town feel a lot quicker,\u201d she says. <\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Green
Photo by Aubrey Odom on Unsplash<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

For Lamis, the Blue and Green MBTA lines are her go-to commute to campus, taking usually around twenty-five minutes total. \u201cAlthough I sometimes take the ferry and enjoy the city views!\u201d she says, adding \u201cMy commute is peaceful for the most part, but not during rush hour LOL.\u201d Similarly, Annie always takes the Red Line from Dorchester, which is only four stops away from Park Street<\/strong><\/a>. \u201cHonestly, like most lines on the T, it has its good and bad days. For the most part, I typically have no troubles.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But one thing all four students agreed on: some entertainment can make nearly any commute enjoyable. \u201cI always listen to music on my walk and daydream. I walk through Boston Common, and by the time class is starting, the sun is setting, so the walk is quite beautiful,\u201d Gabby remarks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a self-proclaimed music person, Katriana also channels this energy, admitting to pretending to be in a music video while on the train, looking out the window forlornly (who hasn\u2019t?)\u2026 \u201cBut, like, in a cool way,\u201d she includes. \u201cIt helps tune out the world and gives me a sort of soundtrack to my commute.\u201d Annie loves to get in a few book chapters with her Kindle or a quick podcast, but leaving early enough and enjoying the scenery around you is definitely the way to go. \u201dIt can be easy to lose yourself in the everyday hustle and bustle,\u201d Gabby concludes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advice for Prospective Movers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

At this point in the article you may be wondering, do these commute-savvy Emerson grad students have any tips and tricks for me? I\u2019m still overwhelmed about where to live in the city! Fortunately, they have words of wisdom to share! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For prospective Emerson students, Gabby emphasizes the importance of an easy commute, especially since most graduate classes are at night. She cites issues with reliability of the Green Line, which can make a commute as long as an hour from a neighborhood like Brighton. \u201cI recommend the North End, Cambridge, or Somerville. Most places in Cambridge are easy to get to via the Red Line, which is considerably faster than the Green,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Street
Photo by Wei Zeng on Unsplash<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Katriana encourages students to stay flexible and keep an open mind while apartment searching. \u201cI know that we all have some sort of \u2018ideal neighborhood\u2019 or \u2018ideal home\u2019 in mind when we\u2019re looking for a place to live,\u201d she empathizes, but \u201cwhat truly makes a place feel like home isn\u2019t just the location or how it looks, it\u2019s how it fits into your life\u2026 Think about your daily routine, your commute, your budget, and the kind of environment that helps you recharge after a long day. Sometimes the neighborhood you least expect ends up being the one that gives you the best balance of comfort, convenience, and community.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lamis agrees with this advice, adding that it\u2019s critical for students to determine what\u2019s most important to them about an apartment before even looking at listings. An easy way to learn more about apartments is by joining Facebook groups for people moving to Boston and looking for roommates, which is what Annie recommends based on her own experience. She also adds that touring an apartment and doing a faux commute-run to Emerson from there before signing the lease is a great way to visualize what your new normal may be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a Perfect World<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Now that we have logistics out of the way, I wanted to learn where a dream Boston neighborhood would be for our four grad students. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI would copy my beautiful studio apartment and paste it into Davis Square in Somerville,\u201d Gabby exclaims. \u201cIt\u2019s easy to get to on the Red Line and many people who live there are mid-twenties and post-grad or grad students. For me, it\u2019s important to live somewhere near queer people and queer events, and Davis Square definitely has that vibe, as does Cambridge and Somerville as a whole.\u201d Katriana says that if price wasn\u2019t an issue, she\u2019d love to live in Back Bay or South Boston (Southie). \u201cBoth neighborhoods have that classic Boston charm with a lively atmosphere that makes it easy to feel connected to people, culture, and everything happening around you. I could totally see myself taking morning walks along the Charles River<\/strong><\/a> or grabbing dinner with friends after class without having to go far.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Annie agrees that Back Bay is the place to be, citing how the neighborhood\u2019s vibes and proximity to Emerson would help cut down on transportation costs. But for Lamis, she wouldn\u2019t trade the Maverick area of East Boston for anything. In addition to its easy commute, she says the \u201cdiverse food, culture, and a mix of long-time residents [make] it feel alive.\u201d Plus, \u201cthe skyline never gets old!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

No matter where you choose to live in the Greater Boston area, you are sure to find a unique neighborhood with its own vibe and culture. Whether your priority is an easy commute to Emerson\u2019s campus, price, or late-night views of the city, there is something for everyone. Just don\u2019t forget to listen to a good playlist<\/strong><\/a> along the way. Take a look at more resources for finding the ideal apartment from Emerson\u2019s Off-Campus Student Services<\/strong><\/a> here<\/strong><\/a>. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When moving to Boston, some of the most frequent questions Emerson students ask are: Where??? Why??? How long will it take for me to get to campus??? (These questions must be read in a feverish tone, or at least, that\u2019s … Continued<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3410,"featured_media":5567,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"kt_blocks_editor_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[334],"tags":[206,362,771,311,44,782,217,785,778,780,784,776,310,68,779,773,775,781,772,783,137,774,218,786],"class_list":["post-5563","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-where-to-live","tag-allston","tag-back-bay","tag-beacon-hill","tag-blue-line","tag-boston","tag-brighton","tag-cambridge","tag-charles-river","tag-commuter","tag-commuting-to-campus","tag-davis-square","tag-dorchester","tag-east-boston","tag-emerson-college","tag-emerson-grad-students","tag-green-line","tag-maverick-square","tag-mbta-trains","tag-medford","tag-north-end","tag-publishing-and-writing","tag-red-line","tag-somerville","tag-strategic-marketing-communications"],"yoast_head":"\nTales of a Commuter - 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