Financing: Student loan secured

Finally got my student loan straightened out with Alberta Learning Information Systems. Originally I applied online and it was processed within 2 weeks. However, the online application only had December 2007 and June 2008 start dates available to choose from among the choices for "program". Of course I needed "May 2008", but pick the date of "December 2007" since "May 2008" wasn't in the menu.

HUGE MISTAKE!

The result was a very lengthy cancellation procedure and an even more drawn out "re-application" by filing out a paper form.

All done and said I got a student loan! The amount I received is the same as what I was assessed automatically online. I get about 2/3rds for May 1, 2008 and the remainder form November 1, 2008. These funds combined with what I have saved and the line of credit available through RBC from Queen's should allow me to complete the year.

Accommodations: Info from Queen's

The web portal is up and on it are some links to various websites to assist incoming students in finding a place to live. Here is what they posted:

Your biggest priority at this point in time is undoubtedly securing your
accommodations for your year of study at Queen's. You have your choice of
staying in our graduate student residence - a mere 1-minute walk from Goodes
Hall - or securing a nearby apartment or house. Generally speaking, most
of our students live within a 10-minute walk to Goodes Hall.

Here is a list of some resources that will help you find your new home away
from home:

1. Check out the 'housing' section under the Quick Links section of this
   portal. There you will find information re: properties that are being
   occupied by current members of the Queen's MBA class.
2. Graduate residence information may be found at https://housing.queensu.ca/residence/
3. Queen's Accommodation Listing Service http://notes.queensu.ca/ALSWeb.nsf
4. Below are links to four prominent property management companies in the
   Kingston area:

• Homestead Land Holdings Limited
• Keystone Property Management Inc.
• Kincore Holdings Limited
• Panadew Holdings

If you are unable to find suitable accommodations through one of the above four means, please contact the Queen's MBA office at 888.621.0060, 613.533.2302,
or queensmba@business.queensu.ca

Accommodations: Pictures of the suite arrived

Today we final got some pictures by e-mail of the furnished suite we have rented. It is the main floor of an older house not too far from campus, but definitely not in the "student ghetto". I made contact with the current tenant during my trip to interview for the program. Since then I have been in contact with them concerning the suite via e-mail.

The pictures have definitely alleviated a lot of the anxiety my wife and myself had about moving to Kingston. It looks like a nice place with high ceilings. After reviewing the pictures we were able to ask a few clarifying questions of the current tenant to get a better understanding of what is included and what we should plan to bring with us.

With this out of the way I can focus on work again. At least until I have to start packing up this place to move.

(Queen's Housing Website)

Accommodations: Lease arrived

The lease for the suite has arrived. Now I have to fill it out and return it with a deposit. It will be nice to have this place finally secured.

I will be renting a fully furnished 2 bedroom suite for $1,125/month. That may seem a little steep for a student, but my wife will be using the second bedroom as a study room since she will be completing a distance ed. program while I do the MBA.

The landlord has assured me it is in the quiter part of town and the other units are occupied by serious students.

I still haven't even seen a picture of this place.

(Queen's Housing Website)

Accommodations: Lease is in the mail

Talked with the landlord of the fully furnished 2 bedroom suite we are hoping to rent. He called me during his lunch break to answer any questions I had and to help move things along. I think he is just as anxious to get this deal done as we are.

After discovering that pretty much everything in the suite was purchased last year and therefor is basically brand new, I told him we would take it. He is going to put the lease agreement in the mail sometime in the near future after finalizing the rental rate for the unit.

Awesome! This saves him searching for a tenant and me from trying to find another place. I will definitely be referring someone next year to help both the landlord and some future candidate.

Hope the lease comes soon.

(Queen's Housing Website)

Accommodations: Might have a place.

After a few e-mails back and forth it looks like I may have secured a place to live for the duration of my MBA program. The landlord needs to evaluate the rent, but it should be in the neighbourhood of $1200/month. This includes electricity, heat, parking, and water.

Not bad for a completely furnished 2 bedroom suite. It is the main floor of a house. There are other tenants, but their living quarters are completely segregated. It comes with dedicated washer, dryer, microwave, cooking accessories, cutler, bed, desk, couch, TV, DVD player, etc. NO SHARING. This place is FULLY furnished. Should make the move out easier.

It will definately make my spouse happy as she will be studying via distance education while I'm in the program.

Not included is the are internet, cable TV, or phone. All these bundled would run approximately $130/month, but I don't see any need for cable TV. Perhaps just a phone and internet?

Still have to wait for the lease and to put a deposit before anything is truly secure. That will be at least a month away. Would be nice to have this item out of the way so I could concentrate on other items that need my attention.

(Queen's Housing Website)

Accommodations: Finding a place to live.

Last week I e-mailed one of the students I had lunch with during my trip to Kingston. They had mentioned that the landlord of their fully furnished 2 bedroom apartment would be interested in renting to an MBA student next year.

The address puts it in a really nice area of Kingston. It is definately not in the "student ghetto", which is notorious for it's over zealous undergraduates, especially during "home coming". As I will be in the middle of my program during this massive party/riot I was hoping to live seperate from the "ghetto".

Now that I have contact information for the landlord I just need to wait for a reply to findout if I will be fortunate enough to rent this apartment. Sounds like a pretty nice place.

(Queen's Housing Website)