Information about Life at UAF & in Fairbanks

 

Moving to Alaska can be a challenge.  Hopefully the below information will assist you in your decision to attend the University of Alaska Fairbanks.  Thinking about relocating to Alaska., check out this web site http://www.labor.state.ak.us/research/relocate/relocmap.htm

Graduate housing is located on campus.  Harwood Hall is one of the popular halls for graduate students.  The residence halls do not open prior to the day your contract starts but if you are approved to live in Harwood Hall you are allowed to move in anytime.  Harwood Hall offers efficiencies (380 square feet) and one-bedroom (470 square feet) for graduate couples without children and single graduate students.  All complexes are equipped with laundry facilities.  You would need to fill out a family housing application that either comes with your admissions packet or may be downloaded from the housing web site (www.uaf.edu/reslife).  If you select to live in one of the other residence halls and you cannot move in prior to the day your research assistant (RA) contract starts, please let our administrative assistant (atmos@gi.alaska.edu) know.  We can submit a letter to residence hall personnel requesting that you be allowed to move in early.

FAIRBANKS RENTAL INFORMATION

APARTMENT IN THE FAIRBANKS AREA
(area code for AK is 907)

Anderson Apartments
452-3328

Cedarwood Apartments
cedarwoodapartments@hotmail.com
email only

Executive Estates
479-3655
1, 2, and 3 bedrooms Unfurnished
rent is 30 percent of income
utilities included

Jackovich Apartments
456-1120
all efficiencies
calling is the best method

Jillian Square
479-4525
1 to 2 bedrooms
Leases from 6 months to 1 year
Apartments: small, medium, large, furnished or unfurnished
Jillian Square furnishes the following utilities:  heat, water, sewer and trash pick-up.  Tenant is responsible for electric.  Cable service is available for $40 a month.
A fully furnished  apartment includes:  cable service, electricity, and all amenities.
MB Management Services
479-0265

Sophie Plaza Apartments
479-8124
1 to 2 bedrooms
Leases from 6 months to 1 year
1 bedrooms are either 600, 800, or 900 square feet
2 bedrooms are either 850, 900, or 980 square feet
Furnished units are available for $50 extra per month
Basic cable price is $35
Rates include heat, water, sewer and refuse.
Electric, cable and telephone are extra
No Pet Allowed

Timmons Investment
907-456-7195
rental places around town from efficiencies to 5-bedroom apartments

Willow Woods Apartments
Does not allow pets
451-0455
1 (612 to 720 square feet), furnished or unfurnished
2 (864 to 960 square feet), furnished or unfurnished
Leases from 6 months to 1 year

The below web site also lists additional rentals in the Fairbanks area
http://classifieds.newsminer.com/?class=10006

INFORMATION THAT WILL HELP ESTIMATE THE COST OF GRADUATE SCHOOL IN FAIRBANKS?
The majority of Atmospheric Sciences’ students are accepted with funding.  In addition to receiving a bi-weekly stipend, your will receive a tuition award.   The following web page will provide you with a list of other university fees you may be required to pay for (http://www.uaf.edu/uaf/costs)

CAN I SURVIVE WITHOUT A CAR IN FAIRBANKS?
You do not necessarily need a car to get around Fairbanks. Both the city and the university have a bus and shuttle line service.   To review their web sites for schedules and map
http://www.co.fairbanks.ak.us/transportation/default.htm
http://www.uaf.edu/fs/services/shuttlebus/

CAREER & EDUCATION

Career
Job Outlook for Atmospheric Scientists (http://stats.bls.gov/oco/ocos051.htm)
Careers in Science and Engineering:  A Student Planning Guide to Grad School and Beyond
Scholarship Information
FASTWEB Database of Scholarships
AMS Scholarships

WHAT IS LIVING IN FAIRBANKS AND ALASKA ABOUT?

Weather
Interested in the average Fairbanks temperatures review http://climate.gi.alaska.edu/index.html

Students should be prepared for temperatures varying from 80 degrees in the spring to a minus 40 or lower degrees in the winter time.  It can take up to 10 minutes to walk from upper to lower campus.  A shuttle bus is available, but there is a possibility you may have to stand outside for an indefinite time waiting for the shuttle.

Travel
The Explore Fairbanks’s web site is an excellent way to read about all the activities in the Fairbanks area and the rest of Alaska.  http://www.explorefairbanks.com/

If you decide to drive to Fairbanks, the best item to have with you is The Milepost (http://www.themilepost.com/).  It is referred to as ‘the Bible’ for driving in this state. 

MISCELLANEOUS

The Graduate School’s web page provides quite a bit of information for prospective as well as current students; i.e. deadlines and forms.  Their web site is http://www.uaf.edu/gradsch/

To register for classes refer to either of the the following web sites (http://www.uaf.edu/reg/ and http://www.uaonline.alaska.edu/)

Writing Papers

When it comes time to start writing for class or for research, you may find it useful to invest in a program that helps you manage your references.  Try EndNote (http://www.endnote.com/)

Banking

Spirit of Alaska (formerly known as Northern Schools) Credit Union has a branch located in the Wood Center (www.uaf.edu/woodcenter/) on the UAF campus where you can set up your banking needs (http://www.spiritofak.com)