Are you ready for your first off campus student apartment? Are you sick of dorm room life, or sick of living with your parents?
An apartment is more of a hassle than student housing, so make sure the benefits of living off campus outweigh the hassles. Before you make the leap and ditch the dorm, here are some sensible questions you should ask yourself.
Money. This question varies at every college. In some places, apartments are much cheaper than dormitories, and vice verse. But when you figure in the cost of an apartment, there are more expenses to consider besides just rent, including:
- utilities, including necessities like gas and "luxuries" like DSL and digital cable.
- groceries.
- the security deposit.
- basic furnishings and household goods.
- the added expense of a year-long lease versus a nine month dorm contract.
- possible extra gas or bus money to commute to campus.
- possible parking expenses.
Quality of housing. This also varies by school. In some places, dorms are much nicer than off campus housing, and vice verse.) Questions to ask:
- How much do I have to spend to get a decent apartment?
- Will my apartment be in a safe neighborhood, and is the building secure?
- Will I be able to afford my own room?
- How many roommates and apartment mates will I need to afford it?
- Will the apartment be close to campus and other places I need to be?
Responsibility. An apartment is definitely more responsibility than a dorm room. This can be a disadvantage, but also an opportunity to learn to be independent. Ask yourself if you feel ready to take on these responsibilities:
- Paying rent and utility bills. (Failure to do so can mess up your credit!)
- Preparing your own quick and easy meals and dealing with your first kitchen.
- Cleaning a whole apartment, as opposed to one room.
- Shopping for groceries and other apartment needs.
- Mediating disputes with roommates and neighbors without an RA.
- Living within a budget.
New roommate issues. Sharing a dorm room is difficult, but sharing an apartment brings up a whole host of new potential conflicts. Before moving into an apartment, ask yourself if you are ready to negotiate the following issues with a roommate:
- Paying the shared rent and utility bills on time.
- Sharing cleaning responsibilities.
- Sharing responsibility for purchasing items for the apartment.
- Deciding what items are shared and what aren't (including food).
- Negotiating quiet time and space for studying.
- Dealing with frequent visitors.
Transportation issues. This depends on your situation. Some questions you might need to ask:
- Will I have to buy a car, or depend a lot more on the car I own?
- Will I have to deal with the hassle and expense of parking on campus?
- Will I be paying more or less for car insurance?
- Will I have access to reliable public transportation to campus and elsewhere?
- Will I be in walking or biking distance to campus, and is it safe to walk or bike at night?
Leaving the dorms can feel liberating. On the other hand, you have your whole lives to deal with responsibilities like an apartment. Assess your situation carefully before you make a decision.
For more ideas on setting up your first place, visit the College Student Apartment Guide!
Naomi Rockler-Gladen - Instructional designer and freelance writer, Naomi Rockler-Gladen writes some of Suite101's most read work.
