College Freshman Moving Off-Campus Trend!! DD doesn't know what to do....and neither do I...

[Anonymous]

So, my DD was supposed to move on campus at UMW. Campus move-in date pushed back to 10 September.

She had reached out to roommate and now roommate just texted her to let her know that she was planning to get out of her housing contract (which UMW is allowing) and plans to rent an apartment near UMW and is asking my DD if she was planning anything like this - presumably to see if my DD might be interested and they could rent a 2 bedroom.

Ugg...on the one hand I'd much prefer (in a normal non-COVID environment) that DD be on campus - more security and socialization. But if even freshman are moving off campus....DD will be alone in her dorm and now I'm getting the sense that the dorm/campus will be a ghost town. She will be miserable.

But being off campus as a freshman...even with a roommate....she'll need her car most likely (not a big issue as she has one). But I worry about her safety...the only good thing about it would be if campus does end up being shut down she wouldn't have to pack up and leave.

Options are:

(a) move on campus and be isolated....if/when campus shuts down or at Thanksgiving come home.
(b) have 1-year contract for off-campus apartment (her roommate is saying this would be cheaper but I'm not so sure)....and 1 year....so my kid doesn't come home for the summer?

F%$@ing COVID!!

DD doesn't know what to do....and neither do I at this point.

[Anonymous]

I’m letting (helping) my son get an apartment. I’m fine with him not coming home for breaks other than holiday visits. They are adults. He’s going to get a job and make his own decisions.

[Anonymous]

What is the point in getting an apartment if all classes are online. Social gains?

[Anonymous]

What is the point in getting an apartment if all classes are online. Social gains?

Well, my DD does have 1 in-person class on campus and nobody knows what will happen for Spring Semester...she might have 1-2 or more of her classes in-person.

[Anonymous]

Don't move off campus.

[Anonymous]

I would recommend AGAINST starting college in an off campus apartment.

Those are riskier for corona spread. There is no one (like an RA) organizing social events, and keeping an eye on how residents are faring. In a dorm, your daughter would also have recourse if the roommate situation goes south in a dorm (i.e. , they will mediate any one moving out, no lease complications, etc). Also, this means your daughter can focus on school, without having to find time to grocery shop, cook, etc. Finally, if your daughter were to get infected, the school would kick in to care for her (food, monitoring, etc). Who knows how that would work off campus.



Let her adjust to college first, then in years to come, she can make the move to living off campus.

[Anonymous]

I think the apartment will be less miserable AND less difficult than living in the dorms. She won't have to worry about getting out on time every break and/or if students are sent away to finish term at home.

Also, even if she has an apartment all year, she still might come home... but it is a lot more flexible.

[Anonymous]

As a freshman, I would stay on campus. Really don't see the advantage to moving off campus if classes may end up being online anyhow in the Spring.

Now your dd gets a single, hopefully, which is safer and may get to meet other students.

[Anonymous]

I’m letting (helping) my son get an apartment. I’m fine with him not coming home for breaks other than holiday visits. They are adults. He’s going to get a job and make his own decisions.

I get that...and if my DD was a sophmore or older I'd say sure. But she is 18 and I don't mean this to sound sexist but an 18 year old young "lady" being on her own in apartment complex that may or may not be in safe areas.....I haven't even broached this with my DH, but I'm fairly certain what he'll say.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a freshman, I would stay on campus. Really don't see the advantage to moving off campus if classes may end up being online anyhow in the Spring.

Now your dd gets a single, hopefully, which is safer and may get to meet other students.

Same. Other students will stay on campus too.

[Anonymous]

If you were doing this, the Eagle Village apartments just off campus are run by the school, I don't know if those are available. The other rentals right by the school are OK. Avoid the apartments off of Fall Hill Avenue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is the point in getting an apartment if all classes are online. Social gains?

Most young adults do not want to live with mommy and daddy, abiding by curfew, no drinking, no overnight guest rules.

[Anonymous]

I don't think the experience of your daughter's roommate moving off campus = a trend.

My freshman DD is on campus, and we found out on move in weekend she wasn't getting a roommate. So now she has a single, has still made friends with other kids in her hall and dorm building, plus she's on campus so to get to buildings and dining halls.

Sure, it's not typical freshman dorm experience, but I still think it's better than going straight into apartment living, and all of the extra responsibilities and expectations (meals, etc.) that go into that.

Also, you have more flexibility. If circumstances change and they want to send kids home, they close the dorms, and you don't have to pay for spring semester room and board. If you do an apartment rental, you are on the hook for the full year.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for all above input!!! She will be happy in a single - more closet space!!!

[Anonymous]

honestly...is it too late to defer?
I wouldn’t recommend starting college in the middle of this shtshw.