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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pretty much. My kids go to UVA where there is plenty of on grounds housing but many second years decide to get apartments. Mine did and had signed leases by Nov 1st. Things started moving on and off the market super fast once Oct 1st hit.

How do kids have strong enough friendships in Oct of first year to commit to living with each other the following year? When I started college (many moons ago), the friendshios made in the first few weeks tended to be friendships of convenience, and then later in the semester “real” friendshios emerged which sometimes included thise first friends but often did not.

I guess we were in luck. My DD is best friends with her now roommate and they were already very close by mid October. My DS is living with his first year roommate because they were a perfect match along with one other friend. They have a four bedroom apartment so they recruited a fourth by January who they get along with but we’re not really friends per se. I think it will work out well for them.

I know if one of my DDs friend group who is living with a group she’s not really friends with anymore but they are not enemies, so it’s just a matter of sharing an apartment, which is much easier than sharing a dorm room.

I will say that alot changed for the girls after rush, friendships changed and new ones formed but I think for the most part the kids have not made enemies of each other so they can still live together.

I have heard otherwise from students at UVA. It is a reason I want my HS senior to think twice about applying ED there.

What exactly have you heard? Sure some roommate relationships don’t work out but I don’t personally know why right now amongst my UVA kids. What exactly are you trying to avoid by not allowing your kid to apply ED?

I did hear this from a second year student there. I heard during the first year that it was stressful to have to pick roommates after only being at school a short time. Fast forward to now and she doesn't like her living situation because she's with people she'd rather not be. I am trying to avoid my DD who is anxious anyway from having to make this type of decision during the very first few months of school, which are overwhelming anyway. I think it is a major flaw in how the school's housing is run. I'm frankly surprised others don't think it is a big deal. Some kids are that laid back, I guess. My kid is not.

I totally agree with you. My DS is a jr and this is something we are considering in the college search. He’s shy and I don’t think it’s good for that to be a looming decision when school has barely started. I don’t know about UVA specifically, so I don’t know if there are, in fact, good on campus options but it all just seems like unnecessary stress.

The PP is not being clear. This is not a UVA specific problem, it is going to happen at any large state U. And in fact, i believe the number of second years living on grounds is about 50/50 to compare to off grounds so its not like "most" people go off grounds. Many do, yes. But if your kid doesn't want to, they can wait and see what they get in on grounds housing which starts up in January. The fact is though that if they have a group of friends who wants to move off grounds, and she doesn't, then she is not going to live with those kids. There is a certain amount of peer pressure to decide early.

My DD lives off grounds in a great apartment and JUST got her renewal notice. They have been there for two weeks hahahaha, but now she has to have to conversation with her roommate again to see if she wants to live with her NEXT year, so even earlier than the first years would have to address it. It does give her some anxiety but I think they are going to stay there, thank god.

[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!

NP. You help no one by dissing someone else's experience. You made different choices. Fine. Please do it w/o indicting someone else. There's a lot to be said for having guaranteed housing, and it is something to consider as people look at colleges.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pretty much. My kids go to UVA where there is plenty of on grounds housing but many second years decide to get apartments. Mine did and had signed leases by Nov 1st. Things started moving on and off the market super fast once Oct 1st hit.

How do kids have strong enough friendships in Oct of first year to commit to living with each other the following year? When I started college (many moons ago), the friendshios made in the first few weeks tended to be friendships of convenience, and then later in the semester “real” friendshios emerged which sometimes included thise first friends but often did not.

I guess we were in luck. My DD is best friends with her now roommate and they were already very close by mid October. My DS is living with his first year roommate because they were a perfect match along with one other friend. They have a four bedroom apartment so they recruited a fourth by January who they get along with but we’re not really friends per se. I think it will work out well for them.

I know if one of my DDs friend group who is living with a group she’s not really friends with anymore but they are not enemies, so it’s just a matter of sharing an apartment, which is much easier than sharing a dorm room.

I’m the PP, and, yes, this one of the reasons my kid is looking more at smaller schools. It’s not the only reason by any means, but is one of the factors.
I will say that alot changed for the girls after rush, friendships changed and new ones formed but I think for the most part the kids have not made enemies of each other so they can still live together.

I have heard otherwise from students at UVA. It is a reason I want my HS senior to think twice about applying ED there.

What exactly have you heard? Sure some roommate relationships don’t work out but I don’t personally know why right now amongst my UVA kids. What exactly are you trying to avoid by not allowing your kid to apply ED?

I did hear this from a second year student there. I heard during the first year that it was stressful to have to pick roommates after only being at school a short time. Fast forward to now and she doesn't like her living situation because she's with people she'd rather not be. I am trying to avoid my DD who is anxious anyway from having to make this type of decision during the very first few months of school, which are overwhelming anyway. I think it is a major flaw in how the school's housing is run. I'm frankly surprised others don't think it is a big deal. Some kids are that laid back, I guess. My kid is not.

I totally agree with you. My DS is a jr and this is something we are considering in the college search. He’s shy and I don’t think it’s good for that to be a looming decision when school has barely started. I don’t know about UVA specifically, so I don’t know if there are, in fact, good on campus options but it all just seems like unnecessary stress.

The PP is not being clear. This is not a UVA specific problem, it is going to happen at any large state U. And in fact, i believe the number of second years living on grounds is about 50/50 to compare to off grounds so its not like "most" people go off grounds. Many do, yes. But if your kid doesn't want to, they can wait and see what they get in on grounds housing which starts up in January. The fact is though that if they have a group of friends who wants to move off grounds, and she doesn't, then she is not going to live with those kids. There is a certain amount of peer pressure to decide early.

My DD lives off grounds in a great apartment and JUST got her renewal notice. They have been there for two weeks hahahaha, but now she has to have to conversation with her roommate again to see if she wants to live with her NEXT year, so even earlier than the first years would have to address it. It does give her some anxiety but I think they are going to stay there, thank god.