Are you going to UW? You'll definitely find housing up in the U-District close to campus. If you want to be downtown, Belltown has lots of nightlife and a higher crime rate, and Queen Anne has more residences and higher rents. Flanking the university, Capitol Hill/First Hill in the east and Fremont in the west are hip neighborhoods with lots to do, if a little expensive. For cheaper rents you'll want to head south to Beacon Hill or Columbia City (my neighborhood, which I LOVE!!), although they are not close to any of the colleges. Bus routes are going to be cut back but it is still pretty easy to get around...few of my friends have cars here. Also, the light rail is going to connect with U-district in the next couple years so if you want to live further south the commute will be eased considerably.
