gniemesh

Butler_Blue, I'd suggest paying a little more in rent your first year in DC. Then after that go looking for cheaper places that may be less secure. I lived in Indiana my whole life, also working/living in the near east-side of Indianapolis. The insecure areas of DC are more intimidating than the insecure areas of Indianapolis. Just my opinion. Anyway, I plan on following my advice when I move to Nashville, but I could just be rationalizing it. Currently I live on the main drag between the Courthouse and Clarendon metro stations in Arlington. I see the G'town shuttle stopping at the Clarendon metro station as the university has some offices there. One bedrooms within 5 minutes walking of the metro run about 1300-1500. Generally, the buildings are new, large, luxury condo type buildings. Cheaper 1-bedrooms are a little farther away and in older (built in 60s or before) garden style apartments. The distance from the metro is still doable and probably closer than you'll find in DC. The orange-line corridor is probably the safest area you'll find. It's yuppie/young professional/mid-life hippie central.

I grew up 15 minutes from West Lafayette. Housing is very cheap. Its more expensive close to campus, but still no where new college park or the other areas you are looking at.

Starting at 25 is not wierd. I took my math classes after graduating undergraduate, and I will be starting my program in the fall at 25. My experience is this: Multivariable Calc was computation based, with the professor rarely breezing over the proofs in mostly outline form. Linear Algebra was proof based, but in my mind the proofs in LA aren't as difficult as those in analysis. So if you're rusty on your math take calc first and put in an effort to read over the proofs. Then take Linear algebra. A semester of probability and a semester of statistics in the math dept. would be good as well. In econ: intermediate micro/macro, and probably econometrics are necessary. Gravy: Maybe an upper level course in the field of your main interest.