For the love of all that’s holy, please don’t allow your daughter to live in Roxbury. If my mother had known what Roxbury meant, she would have tied me to something rather than let me live there. On the one hand, people were very friendly at times–I once passed out in a Store 24 and awoke to find two guys who looked like gang members carrying me towards the emergency room. On the other hand, unless you like the sound of gunshots at night, I recommend living somewhere else. The rents are cheaper there for a reason.
I currently live in the Fenway/Kenmore Square area and my boyfriend lives in Back Bay. He lives in what I believe may be the cheapest apartment in Back Bay- a $995/month studio. It is not a very nice apartment. I rent from the same company and pay $975/month, and I’m right near BU, which is where I go to school.
I can recommend my rental company for cheap student apartments but they mostly do studios, which are probably too small for 2 people to share.
A car should definitely not be brought, especially since insurance costs here are high, taking another chunk out of what sounds like a limited budget.
Jamaica Plain is a good suggestion, so is Waltham. Avoid Roxbury at all costs. The area off the E branch of the Green line of the T is where you’d want to concentrate, I think. That’s the Northeastern/Berklee area and good for students.
Feel free to email me for more info or help if you wish.
Back in 1996 I lived in Allston, which was a little grubby at the time but nothing bad at all. There were a lot of college students and people who recently graduated living in the neighborhood. My decent-sized one-bedroom apartment was I think between $720-$760 a month (this is probably closer to $900 now). I lived about two or three blocks from the #66 bus which took me right into Harvard Square (where I worked) and about the same distance from the Green Line (which although a little slow sometimes can get you to any point on the T.). I found every neighborhood amenity in Allston, including a bar less than a block away, a drycleaner, video rental, supermarkets (Star and the local Korean), electronics stores, restaurants, etc. I didn’t personally notice a great deal of crime but I seem to recall the body of a missing au pair girl (does anyone else remember details?) was found in the park near my place. My utilities were included in my rent, as well.
Thank you, thank you, thank you all very much. It’s good to hear that this is only going to be difficult, rather than impossible. It’s one thing to look at maps and read the tourist brochures or check rental costs, it’s quite another to get personal accounts from the natives. I’ve sent my daughter a link to this thread and I will encourage her to register so she can reply and get further info from some or all of you (Are you paying attention, dear?) .
It also appears that we should book a hotel room as soon as possible, like say, last week. So excuse me while I check Expedia.
New tag line:
Dopers are great folks.
I completely agree. I also thank the people who provided the essential information. It may come in handy to me, too. 
Stay out of Roxbury, by all means. Waltham, Watertown, Brookline, and Brighton are all fairly reasonable, by Boston standards. Easy T access and you should be able to find a studio for 1000 or less. Parking is at a premium in Boston and it’s suburbs. Most apartments don’t have parking spaces allocated for tenants, though you can usually find a garage to park in for a monthly fee.
My cousin has a two bedroom in Back Bay which runs 2900 a month, and she pays an additional 320 a month for parking privileges. I’ve lived in a three bedroom in Belmont which was 1750 with included parking and a 4 bedroom in Brighton which was 1900 with on street parking available most of the time. An ex BF had a one bedroom in Cambridge for 1200 and another ex had a two bedroom in Waltham for 600. Don’t know HOW he ever lucked into that.
As you’ve been told, it’s VERY hard to find an apartment this time of year. It’s common practice to hire an agent to locate one for you. This generally costs a months rent, so you’ll need four months rent to move in (first, last, damage deposit, and agent’s fee).
You asked about jobs. If they don’t mind working in sales or service, there should be no problem finding one.
I wish them luck. It’s going to be an experience they’ll never forget.
Thanks Amberlei, that’s pretty good info. We’re leaving in a week and my eldest and her BF don’t have an apartment lined up, nor do we yet have hotel/motel reservations. I sometimes question their (and my) organizational skills. Of course, the worst that can happen is that I drive them back to Texas a week older and years wiser. Okay, that’s not really the worst thing that can happen on a cross-country drive in a rented mini-van (ugh), but we won’t go there (I hope).
Everyone cross your fingers for us, we’ll be needing it.
Boy, I hope we can an update of this adventure.
Good luck, Rhubarb…and I hope we get an update too!