<p>Your son is attending school in NC - I also have a student in NC (out-of-state).</p>
<p>The housing situation you have described is not unique - housing guaranteed for freshman only - but I think you have options - by crunching the numbers you may actually find that the housing/dining costs are better by your son not living in a dorm. </p>
<p>Example - right now - his housing/dining costs are almost $10,000/year while in a dorm - the option that his school offers - in the new place you described - is a little over $6000/year (figured over 12 months - not 9 month school year - so this figure could be high depending on how long the agreement is for) - and that would put him into his own completely furnished apartment and own room with a lock - (my student lives in one of these also - the crunched numbers were much better in this situation than being in the dorms - that is why we chose that option). This would leave you with about $4000 to play with - and you will probably find that that is a high figure.</p>
<p>If he is put on a budget for his personal items and food - he would actually be spending much less than what would be spent to put him in a dorm. This is exactly what has happened to our students situation. We have put a semesters rent into a checking account and our student pays her rent monthly - in the savings account is the other funds for personal items and food - that our student is responsible to budget monthly.</p>
<p>I don't know if your son is on financial aid or loans or what - but you may want to consider contacting cfnc.org (ask them when $$ is/how it is dispensed - to you or to the student thru the school or????) - regarding a loan to cover the time you need covered - and when financial is dispensed by the school to the student - you could possibly pay it off - but there is a way to do this.</p>
<p>Don't know if this helps you out but the $$ stuff for college is a constant juggle at times in this ever changing world we live in. If I can assist you in any way about all this - feel free to let me know - I really do understand your situation - been there......................</p>