Hello, my first choice is GSFS too, but under division of Biosciences, Department of Computational Biology and Medical Sciences. My prospective professor's lab is located in Shirokanedai campus.
As far as I know, we cannot name the dormitory to live in, and the assignment of the lodge is based on the location of our main campus. Here's the thing, I don't know how they define "main campus". Does "main campus" mean where the prospective professor's lab is located (in my case, Shirokanedai campus), or the campus that houses the department (if any), or the campus that houses the graduate school (in my case, Kashiwa campus)?
I didn't raise these questions to the authority, as I have decided not to live in a lodge.
Incidentally, I viewed the department's
curriculum and got to know that the master course's lectures will be given in several campuses. If I manage to pass the master course's entrance exam, I will need to commute here and there to attend different classes, mainly in Hongo and Shirokanedai campuses.
To
@Buke, it is indeed inconvenient to live in
Komaba lodge when the commute from Komaba lodge to Hongo campus takes 44-60 minutes. However, the total of monthly rental, internet fee, utilities and etc. is reasonable, it is about ¥55,255 / month (the 15.0m² room with bath/toilet unit). If you are planning not to live in Komaba lodge, prepare to pay a huge amount of upfront cost (deposit,
key money, agent's commission, guarantor company fee, fire insurance etc.) in addition to the first month rental. The upfront cost can go from minimum 2 times to maximum 6 or 7 times of the monthly rental, depending on the room.
There are some rooms near Hongo campus that are targeting to rent to students, so the rental is really cheap, albeit small (6.6m² to 15m²). Google "部屋探し" and find rooms near Hongo, then decide whether or not to live in a lodge.
P/S: be mindful of some really cheap rooms as they might not have bathroom attached.
