No upper class housing..when to look for apts/houses?

[Anonymous]

This is definitely something to look into when you are visiting colleges. At least so you are prepared for what lies ahead. I know it is common in large schools and urban areas, especially.

Just to let prospective students know, in virtually all of the SLAC's that my kid visited, you were guaranteed housing on campus for all 4 years. At most, they morph into university-owved apartments or shared houses (vs dorm rooms) for older students.

We really liked the convenience of not having to lease apartments each year. It allowed her to roll out of bed five minutes before classes. Each residence hall had a kitchen in the basement, but most kids did not cook for themselves, which also saves time (no need to buy groceries, clean dishes, etc).

[Anonymous]

Back to original question. When did you start looking for off campus housing for your freshman for sophomore year if on campus housing was not available.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is definitely something to look into when you are visiting colleges. At least so you are prepared for what lies ahead. I know it is common in large schools and urban areas, especially.

Just to let prospective students know, in virtually all of the SLAC's that my kid visited, you were guaranteed housing on campus for all 4 years. At most, they morph into university-owved apartments or shared houses (vs dorm rooms) for older students.

We really liked the convenience of not having to lease apartments each year. It allowed her to roll out of bed five minutes before classes. Each residence hall had a kitchen in the basement, but most kids did not cook for themselves, which also saves time (no need to buy groceries, clean dishes, etc).

Way to coddle. Well done!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Doing that soph year is fine...still crazy and a bit early but my own kids did that (after being required to live on campus first 2 years). So basically my kid signed a lease for junior year about 1 week after being a sophomore. Good thing their core group of friends were roommates and floor mates from freshman year, so they had a great group.

My child did it sophomore year, but many did it freshman year. If one student drops out for any reason, there are hundreds and thousands of others willing to take their spot in the house or apartment. It is really not an issue, the kinds/young adults really do work this out on their own.

[Anonymous]

My freshman started looking this week. Her school only has campus housing for freshman…..and her sorority has a house, so looking into that as well…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Doing that soph year is fine...still crazy and a bit early but my own kids did that (after being required to live on campus first 2 years). So basically my kid signed a lease for junior year about 1 week after being a sophomore. Good thing their core group of friends were roommates and floor mates from freshman year, so they had a great group.

My child did it sophomore year, but many did it freshman year. If one student drops out for any reason, there are hundreds and thousands of others willing to take their spot in the house or apartment. It is really not an issue, the kinds/young adults really do work this out on their own.

Most kids can obviously do it, but it creates a ton of unnecessary drama and stress, especially if the added student doesn't get along with everyone in the house/apartment. I'm still a proponent of 2 years of living on campus. I've done 3 college drop-offs, the most recently last week. 100% certain that for introverts, the thought of picking "roommates"/place to live in 3 weeks would put my smart kid over the edge. And my kid is normally very social, just with their core group of 5-6 friends at home---most at HS would consider them "popular". They are still adjusting to being 3K miles from home, knowing nobody and having to constantly try to be social (if you are an introvert, too much social activities can really really drain your energy). I'm happy my kid won't have to worry until March about picking a dorm room on campus. By then they will have a great friend group and be able to successfully manage it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is definitely something to look into when you are visiting colleges. At least so you are prepared for what lies ahead. I know it is common in large schools and urban areas, especially.

Just to let prospective students know, in virtually all of the SLAC's that my kid visited, you were guaranteed housing on campus for all 4 years. At most, they morph into university-owved apartments or shared houses (vs dorm rooms) for older students.

We really liked the convenience of not having to lease apartments each year. It allowed her to roll out of bed five minutes before classes. Each residence hall had a kitchen in the basement, but most kids did not cook for themselves, which also saves time (no need to buy groceries, clean dishes, etc).

Way to coddle. Well done!

It was my kid's preference. It allowed her to focus on school (she will have plenty of time to "adult" over the next decade). It worked for our family and there is no reason to attack someone trying to share her experience.

[Anonymous]

Down in Charlottesville, this whole thing is fueled by students who think they need to live in a select few buildings and complexes. The companies that run those places are happy to get their commitments.

No one needs to sign a lease in October. Just because some do doesn't mean your kid does.

[Anonymous]

Back to original question. When did you start looking for off campus housing for your freshman for sophomore year if on campus housing was not available.

I never looked. I received an email asking me to co-sign a lease out of the blue - I think it was late in the first semester or soon after returning to campus second semester. DS is now a senior and has lived with the same guys all three years off-campus (they lived on his floor during freshman year). I did not feel the need to be involved in selecting the apartment - he did not really care as a 18/19/20 year old dude and they just picked a place that was convenient to where they had most of their classes. It was fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Back to original question. When did you start looking for off campus housing for your freshman for sophomore year if on campus housing was not available.

I am not looking but S is -- he has found 3 guys to look for an apartment. They want to book this month.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Back to original question. When did you start looking for off campus housing for your freshman for sophomore year if on campus housing was not available.

Your student should start trying to figure that stuff out now, as in what are the options, what they like and can afford, and who they'd want to live with. Then get on waiting lists. I'm guessing landlord don't have perfect information right now because whoever is in those houses/apartments right now hasn't decided if they're staying or not. But if you've toured "University Flats" and like it and know you want to live with Susie and Becky, you put in an application and get approved, and you're on a waiting list. If you do it early, you're probably in good shape. If you wait until May, not so much.

[Anonymous]

I had no issue last year while in town spending the day with my freshman helping her look at apartments. Kids now adults don’t just have the knowledge of what questions to ask management, to think about driving complexes or houses at night, to ask the right questions of current residents.

My role as a teacher didn’t just stop when she turned 18.

OP, she signed a lease last October and every single roommate dropped out of the room and she was placed with random girls.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Back to original question. When did you start looking for off campus housing for your freshman for sophomore year if on campus housing was not available.

My son is at VT. They definitely start hearing about the push for 2nd year housing almost as soon as they arrive on campus. However, we attended a talk about off-campus housing during October parents weekend where the staff told people they absolutely did not need to commit so quickly. DS ended up finding a spot in the apartment community he wanted and signed the lease right after winter break. I'm in the college's parent facebook group and saw plenty of people needing an additional roommate late in the school year.

If you absolutely want to live with a specific group of people and want an apartment very close to campus, then you probably need to be prepared to commit in Fall semester. But could also end up being one of those roommate groups looking to fill a spot when one of the people backs out since your BFFs the first month of college may not be your BFFs by the end of the year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Down in Charlottesville, this whole thing is fueled by students who think they need to live in a select few buildings and complexes. The companies that run those places are happy to get their commitments.

No one needs to sign a lease in October. Just because some do doesn't mean your kid does.

You are underestimating things. MOST of the small and medium sized well located apartment buildings will be sold out by end of October. My DD wanted to live in what she thought was a little known complex and called at 8 AM the day they said they would know what they had available (which was in early Oct). Low and behold they had 70 applications already for probably less than 10 apartments. My DD didn't even know you COULD put in an app earlier, because she definitely would have. The next few weeks saw availability decline on a daily basis. My DS's roommates dad came down over parents weekend and took the boys around, made a spreadsheet of the options and then the boys made the decision. There's alot that an incoming freshman does NOT know about areas that are safe, what is popular, what is ethical, what is a good price etc. They do need help and if we parents want to help them, there is nothing wrong with that. With my DD she only looked at one apartment with her roommate, loved it, booked it all done.

Those nice smaller builders were done by Nov 1st. Booked and done. The "select few buildings and complexes' that are the most popular actually tend to have availability a little later because they are larger and more expensive. The trick is finding the smaller ones that no one knows about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is definitely something to look into when you are visiting colleges. At least so you are prepared for what lies ahead. I know it is common in large schools and urban areas, especially.

Just to let prospective students know, in virtually all of the SLAC's that my kid visited, you were guaranteed housing on campus for all 4 years. At most, they morph into university-owved apartments or shared houses (vs dorm rooms) for older students.

We really liked the convenience of not having to lease apartments each year. It allowed her to roll out of bed five minutes before classes. Each residence hall had a kitchen in the basement, but most kids did not cook for themselves, which also saves time (no need to buy groceries, clean dishes, etc).

Way to coddle. Well done!

It was my kid's preference. It allowed her to focus on school (she will have plenty of time to "adult" over the next decade). It worked for our family and there is no reason to attack someone trying to share her experience.

Lol it “allowed her to focus on school.” She sounds 12.