Finding College Housing: 5 Tips and Tricks for Students

Completing high school and going off to college has become quite a milestone for so many of American youth. After the sometimes grueling process of applications and rejections or acceptances, a choice must be made regarding which one to attend.

Then comes the next task, which is finding a place to live. Apart from students who choose to commute if their college is close enough, those looking to secure affordable and comfortable.

housing in a new city or even country can find themselves in a harrowing endeavor, with choices being affected and sometimes complicated further by such factors as new languages, desired demographics, and foreign laws.

However, there are hundreds of thousands of students in the exact same boat. Furthermore, there are many tricks and tips to help students be successful in their academic journey.

Table of Contents

1. Decide on Type of Housing

The first tip to successfully finding and deciding upon student housing is to decide which type of housing is most suitable.

On-campus accommodation such as shared dormitories can offer chances for a more immersive and sociable experience, while off-campus options like private apartments can offer a bit of privacy without too heavily compromising closeness, so long as a location close enough to be covered comfortably by personal or public transport is found.

More private options and those further from campus are usually more expensive. On-campus housing can typically be looked up and applied for on or at the university’s website or office, while off-campus options can often be negotiated with a liaison officer.

2. Do Research

The second tip to finding suitable student housing is to do as much independent research as possible.

While a plethora of information can be offered by the university at its offices or on its website, navigating one’s particular desires and needs is a personal process.

Anything from reading reviews and asking other students to map out locations, searching for short term rentals, and making lists of pros and cons can help find the best possible fit and avoid hassle.

Search around your university for short term rentals, for example, if you’re going to the University of Washington you might search for short term rentals in Seattle.

3. Decide on a Budget

The third tip to finding suitable student housing is to decide upon a suitable budget. Nothing in life is free, and student housing is no exception to the rule. In fact, it is the biggest university expense.

As a result, deciding upon whether or not to save money by living father away from the city center or spend more money on a private room is of utmost importance.

University dormitories are the most common and usually the cheapest option, though at the possible expense of privacy. Catered housing options can help save money as it reduces a need to eat out, which can be costly in the long run.

4. Work Backwards from the Ideal

The fourth tip to finding suitable student housing is to work backwards from the ideal environment. For example, knowing what sort of environment is most suitable helps make more informed and guided choices during the application process.

Failure to do so can lead to a difficult situation to get out of down the line. For example, if the ideal environment is to be peaceful and private, making choices that are nearby venues where there is a lot of socializing and partying may not be ideal.

5. Familiarize Oneself with Housing

The fifth and final tip to finding suitable student housing is to become familiar with the student housing accommodations.

It is strongly recommended to be as familiar as possible beforehand of all potential expenses and risks. For example, costs involved in maintenance, utilities, parking, furnishing, appliances, amenities, and so forth can add up quickly.

Therefore it is helpful to know if some if any of these costs are covered by or included in the monthly rent or some other fashion.

Familiarizing oneself with the safety features of the decided-upon housing is also immensely important in the case of an emergency.

While the process of finding student housing can seem to add pressure to the already momentous milestone of going off to college, informed research and decision-making can help demystify the process and make it an exciting and joyous one.

After all, it is a milestone to be celebrated rather than feared and dreaded. It is also important to ask the right questions in order to find the best and most personalized fit possible.

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Emma

A mother and lover of all things practical. My blog covers about motherhood by exploring all areas of life. Our tips and tricks help the large community to do more in less time so they can spend time enjoying happy, healthy families.