# Living in Boston ## expand\_more ![G1s in Middlesex Fells 2019](/sites/g/files/omnuum5476/files/2024-10/2019G1s.jpg) PiN students hiking in Middlesex Fells with Boston skyline views --- Whether you're an art or history buff, a music lover, a foodie, a sports fan, or an outdoor enthusiast, Boston has something for you! A vibrant, accessible city built around an extensive network of urban green spaces and situated within an hour-and-a-half of the Appalachian Trail, ski resorts, white water paddling, beautiful coastal beaches, and bucolic New England towns, Boston is burgeoning with opportunities for culture and outdoor fun through all four seasons. PiN students have access to Harvard discounts and perks that bring the best of Boston and New England within easy reach. ## Information for New Students ### Housing expand\_more Most PiN students live in shared off-campus housing within walking distance of the [Longwood Medical ](https://www.masco.org/about/about-the-lma)Area and take [Zillow](https://www.zillow.com/) or [Craigslist](https://boston.craigslist.org/) as a starting point for an independent housing search. Students also post housing opportunities and needs on the #classifieds channel in the PiN Students Slack space and may find it helpful to refer to [Harvard Griffin GSAS Off-Campus Housing](https://gsas.harvard.edu/housing), Harvard/MIT housing Facebook groups, and [HarvardHousingOffCampus.com](https://www.harvardhousingoffcampus.com/), a private market rental site that includes a roommate search option, HUH sublet listings for eligible Harvard affiliates, and other resources. Some students choose to take part in the [Harvard Resident Tutor Program](https://dso.college.harvard.edu/proctors-tutors), through which graduate students earn free housing and a limited meal plan in exchange for providing a variety of services to undergraduate students. Other Harvard housing options include: - [Harvard Griffin GSAS Residence Halls](https://gsas.harvard.edu/housing/life-residence-halls) - [Vanderbilt Hall](https://hms.harvard.edu/departments/vanderbilt-hall) - [Harvard-Owned Apartments](https://www.huhousing.harvard.edu/) ### Transportation expand\_more Most PiN students get around Boston on public transportation, by bike, or on foot and do not own a car. #### Public transportation The subway, buses, and commuter rail that make up the [Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority](http://www.mbta.com/) (MBTA) - known as the "T" – allow you to travel easily all over the city and suburbs. Harvard students are eligible to receive a [50% discount on MBTA passes](https://gsas.harvard.edu/student-life/harvard-resources/mbta-semester-pass-program). #### Biking - [Blue Bike Bike Share Program](http://www.transportation.harvard.edu/commuterchoice/bike/blue-bikes-bike-share-program). Harvard students are eligible for a discounted Blue Bikes Annual Membership for only $70 (30% discount)! - $15 Bicycle Helmets are for sale at the [Campus Service Center](http://www.google.com/maps/preview#!q=1350%20Massachusetts%20Ave,%20Cambridge,%20MA&data=!4m15!2m14!1m13!1s0x89e37742dc1c29a7:0xc3dbda7a42311d03!3m8!1m3!1d753!2d-71.1189185!3d42.3725704!3m2!1i1194!2i785!4f13.1!4m2!3d42.3730286!4d-71.1182935). Cash or check only. - [Bicycle Parking on Campus](http://www.transportation.harvard.edu/commuterchoice/bike/bicycle-parking-campus) - [HMS Biking](https://campusplanning.hms.harvard.edu/campus-services/parking-commuter-services/bicycling) - [Additional Biking Resources](http://www.transportation.harvard.edu/commuterchoice/bike) #### Harvard transportation [Shuttle buses](https://harvard.transloc.com/), [evening van service](https://www.transportation.harvard.edu/shuttle-van-services/demand-van-service), and the [Harvard University Campus Escort Program](https://www.hupd.harvard.edu/campus-escort-program) (HUCEP) in Cambridge and the [Walking Escort Service](https://campusplanning.hms.harvard.edu/campus-services/security/available-services) in the Longwood Medical Area #### Shuttle buses - [M2 Shuttle Bus](https://www.masco.org/lma-shuttles/m2-cambridge-boston) provides free service from Harvard Medical School to MIT to Harvard Square in Cambridge. - [MASCO Shuttles](https://www.masco.org/lma-shuttles/routes) - [Medical Area – Ruggles Station Schedule](https://www.masco.org/lma-shuttles/ruggles-station) - [Medical Area – Landmark Center Schedule](https://www.masco.org/lma-shuttles/hsph-landmark) - [Partners Shuttle Schedule (BWH – MGH/ MGH – Navy Yard)](http://www.partners.org/ourhosp/ourhosp_shuttle.html) - [Harvard Shuttle and Van Service](http://www.transportation.harvard.edu/shuttle-van-services) Academic Shutttles provides free transportation throughout the Cambridge and Allston campuses. #### Car & ride sharing - Students receive a discount on [Zipcar](http://www.zipcar.com/) car sharing and on rental cars through the [Harvard travel portal](http://travel.harvard.edu/), good options for day and weekend trips. - Uber and Lyft are popular ride sharing options in Boston. #### Walking Boston is a compact city that offers beautiful architecture, landscapes, and serene urban green spaces. Getting around is often easiest on foot, so enjoy the view and stay safe! ### Taxes expand\_more For at least the first two years of graduate study for tax purposes the student stipend is not considered wages. Students will not receive year-end W-4 forms or 1099 forms. Students must log into [PeopleSoft](https://peoplesoft.harvard.edu/) to download information necessary for filing taxes. Additionally, students should bear in mind that taxes will not be withheld from their monthly stipend check. Most students will need to file quarterly tax returns with the federal government and with their state of residence (i.e., wherever they intend to file their tax returns). Most students will transition to employee status some time in their third year, at which point they will be asked to fill out a W-2 and taxes will be withheld. Harvard staff are not permitted to advise individual students on filing taxes, but [University Student Financial Services](https://sfs.harvard.edu/taxes) provides information & guidance through annual workshops (see [GSAS Tax Talks](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLpeHaldzhCOSEf4xTWUx5dZWp6dxCbIjq) on YouTube). ### Extra Income Opportunities expand\_more Crowdsourced by PiN students: - TA a class after passing your PQE (e.g., MATLAB bootcamp, Rick’s stats course, NB 215, undergrad classes in Cambridge, some medical school classes), with varying levels of commitment and pay. - Apply for an external fellowship G1/G2 year (e.g., NSF GRFP, NDSEG) - Apply for a predoctoral fellowship (e.g., NIH F30/F31): budget allocates for a yearly institutional allowance, which can be used to buy a new laptop/tablet, etc., in the first year of the fellowship - [Rachel Boschetto](https://ogephd.hms.harvard.edu/people/rachel-boschetto) in the Office for Graduate Education can advise students on external fellowships - HMS Department of Neurobiology internal fellowships - Outside tutoring with a high-end firm ($60-100/hr) #### For international students International students are eligible for a limited number of external fellowships, depending on their country of citizenship; examples include Autism speaks, AAUW (American Association of University Women), and Faculty for the Future (international students from developing countries). ### Harvard Discounts expand\_more Harvard students can purchase discounted tickets through **[Outings & Innings](https://outingsandinnings.harvard.edu/)** to seasonal attractions (e.g., whale watching, amusement parks, downhill skiing), touring museum exhibits, performing arts and sporting events, and more. Many local businesses offer a discount for Harvard students (e.g., restaurants, gyms, clothing stores). See "Transportation" above for MBTA, bikeshare, and car share discounts. Below is a list of museums that offer free admission to Harvard students with an HUID. [Museum of Fine Arts](https://www.mfa.org)[](https://www.gardnermuseum.org) [Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum](https://www.gardnermuseum.org) [Institute of Contemporary Art](https://www.icaboston.org/) [Harvard Museum of Natural History](https://hmnh.harvard.edu/) [Harvard Art Museums](https://harvardartmuseums.org/) [Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology](https://www.peabody.harvard.edu/) [Collection of Historical Scientific Instruments](https://chsi.harvard.edu/) [Harvard Museum of the Ancient Neareast](https://hmane.harvard.edu/) [Warren Anatomical Museum](https://countway.harvard.edu/center-history-medicine/warren-anatomical-museum) [Museum of African American History](https://www.maah.org/) [Commonwealth Museum](https://www.sec.state.ma.us/mus/) ## PiN Cost-of-Living Analysis ![Housing costs](/sites/g/files/omnuum5476/files/pinphd/files/cost-of-living_housing.png) ![Example monthly budgets](/sites/g/files/omnuum5476/files/2024-10/cost-of-living%20sample%20budgets.PNG) *Thanks to PiN students Helena Barr and Pablo Reimers for infographics, based on a survey of 49 PiN students in 2021.* --- ![2019 G1s kayaking on the Charles](/sites/g/files/omnuum5476/files/2024-11/Matt%20Collie%20-%20013AD49A-B2BF-4D63-9C2C-D3F32ADE97DF.jpeg) PiN students kayaking on the Charles River (above) and hanging out in the South End (below left) and the Emerald Necklace (below right) ![PiN students in SOWA Boston](/sites/g/files/omnuum5476/files/styles/hwp_3_2__480x320/public/2024-10/Aniqa%2C%20Lauren%2C%20Nivanthika%20in%20SOWA.jpg?itok=aBzTjtkm) ![PiN students climbing trees](/sites/g/files/omnuum5476/files/styles/hwp_20_23__480x550/public/2024-11/Tess%20Whitwam%20-%20IMG_0104.JPG?itok=Ggd1qEq9)