The problem with off-campus housing is that most schools do not provide a list of options. Many landlords are happy to skirt licensing and safety requirements. A family relative (college senior) died in a horrific off-campus group house fire along with two of their roommates. We are still grieving 12 years later

Two of my kids had to rent their senior year. We made sure the property was licensed to rent, had working smoke detectors and we walked through each property to map out an escape route in case there was a fire.

It’s completely dependent on location and availability and desirability of off campus options. Some schools have off campus options that are just as close to campus - availability and cost varies.

Anonymous wrote:I would want guaranteed freshman housing for sure. Mine at William and Mary has the option to live on campus all four years and with the new housing opening, it should be available for anyone who wants it. I like a college that has enough housing for it to be an option. Some towns it is hard to find good off campus options.

I also worry about safety. DD is responsible but how will she know if future roommates will be? I don't want her living with someone who doesn't responsibly lock up the house.

I would want guaranteed freshman housing for sure. Mine at William and Mary has the option to live on campus all four years and with the new housing opening, it should be available for anyone who wants it. I like a college that has enough housing for it to be an option. Some towns it is hard to find good off campus options.

Anonymous wrote:They found it stressful? Oh dear, we better smooth anything away that might be stressful. God forbid we allow some stress to get in the way of them preparing to be adults…

Hey, weirdo, imagine going through a year of stress trying to find a new job. You find a job in a new city, find a rental and two months in you need to finalize a new rental for the next year with a group of people you have only known for weeks. That's extremely stressful for any age IMO but especially stressful for 18 yo.

Not just LACs
Vanderbilt guarantees 4 years of housing

Anonymous wrote:Very. I can’t imagine a landlord renting to a student who has little to no income or credit. And what about summer months? Leases are not 9 months. Seems like a burden for all.

Parents have to be on the lease. These landlords know what they are doing. It's not a mom and pop shop.

Often times the apartments are literally as close to campus as a dorm, but you get a 12 month lease at the same price as a 9 month dorm. Plus you aren't tied to a food plan, or have to pay for campus parking. For us the apartment is more affordable, and we don't have to keep moving in and out.

Very. I can’t imagine a landlord renting to a student who has little to no income or credit. And what about summer months? Leases are not 9 months. Seems like a burden for all.

I think four years of campus housing is great (and appropriate) at SLACs, where part of the value proposition is a tighter-knit community. My kid is at Wesleyan, which has a progressive independence approach, with students living in dorms first and second year, apartments third year, and houses fourth year. All housing is university-owned, but the apartments and houses are basically like the ones I rented off-campus when I attended a bigger school.

At bigger schools, it’s nice if they offer housing for three or four years as an option, but living off-campus in the upper class years is the norm, so I wouldn’t expect or demand that my kid living in campus housing any longer than they wanted to.

It's nice to know if they can live on campus all 4 but not be required to. I did much better once I moved off campus and was able to get away from distractions. The only thing I hope my kid chooses is a school that guarantees at least the first year. I can't imagine trying to find off campus housing in an out of town location as an incoming freshman.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid was guaranteed 4 years of campus housing - BUT the building they were in for the first year was the pits - mold and no AC!!

Next year, off-campus apartment in a huge new apartment building and my kid was happy as a clam. Does he cook? Some. But, he lives 30 minutes from home and if he wants something he can cook, or order, or pick it up from home.

Yes, super priviledged kid.

He may even learn how to spell…

Awww.. u take dcum so seriously.

Really depends on the kid. Our oldest was looking at large flagships and wanted to be able to move off campus for second year. Our youngest wanted the full SLAC residential college experience.

My dd loved living off campus in a 7 person house junior and senior years ( her school is about half and half upperclassmen who stay in and move off.) Socially it allowed a bigger group of kids who wanted to live together to come together, was much better than a dorm for hosting parties/events, she appreciated a little bit of a work/life balance that came with being off campus, they all developed some good adulting skills dealing with landlord, subletters, keeping track of bills etc. It also ended up being cheaper for us with her on partial meal plan and supplementing her own shopping. Sometimes I worried a little bit about safety as she was in a city, but she never had any issues.

Anonymous wrote:My kid was guaranteed 4 years of campus housing - BUT the building they were in for the first year was the pits - mold and no AC!!

Next year, off-campus apartment in a huge new apartment building and my kid was happy as a clam. Does he cook? Some. But, he lives 30 minutes from home and if he wants something he can cook, or order, or pick it up from home.

Yes, super priviledged kid.

He may even learn how to spell…