<p>My D is currently a freshman and is looking for next year's housing. She is an Honors Program student currently living in an on-campus dorm and is loving it. However, she feels that next year she will be done with the traditional dorm (with hall bath) and would like to move into a apartment style or suite dorm. She and 2-3 friends (also Honors) are planning on rooming together. Right now, they are talking about Christiana Towers, but I hate that idea due to its distance from campus. They also agree it is a bit too far, but are under the impression that it is their only real option. By the way, they do not want to live in an all girls dorm. Given that background, does anyone have any suggestions. I/they are open to off campus housing as well. On that subject, does anyone have any information on the comparative cost of on-campus vs, off-campus (assuming we purchase a meal plan either way). As always, thank you...</p>
<p>As far as I know, the Towers are the only University owned apartments available to undergrads and all the suite style dorms are on the Laird campus. The Ray Street Complex is probably the closest suite style dorm to the Green. But, my daughter lived in Ray Street and found it inconvenient to a dining hall. She usually ate at Pencader but if the weather was bad she generally didn’t bother because of the distance from her Ray Street dorm to the dining hall. Sophomore year she lived in Thomas McKean which is directly across from the Pencader dining hall. I don’t think she ever felt that living on Laird was overly burdensome in terms of distance from things. (Most of her classes are in the Old College area.) She only took the buses when the weather was bad. But she never wanted to live in the Towers. (She said they weren’t “very nice”.)</p>
<p>Junior year she went “off” campus to a townhouse on Haines Street, directly across from the parking lot by Graham Hall. Her main reason for going off-campus was to not be obligated to buy the meal plan. She really hated the dining hall food, ate a lot of peanut butter and jelly, and left many meals unused every semester (even with the least meals, most points plan).</p>
<p>I’m not sure if it is cheaper off-campus or not. We give her what we would pay for the meal plan for her food. She gets parking from the complex so we save on the UDel parking permit. But, it is a 12 month lease. (It was nice not to have to move her out and in between Jr and Sr year. ) I think the prices for off-campus housing vary greatly, so whether or not it is cheaper depends on lots of things.</p>
<p>S lived in George Read his freshman year and is in the Towers this year. He hasn’t found the distance to be a problem at all - he usually walks to class, except in bad or very cold weather, and the buses are very reliable. The Towers are not particularly nice, but they do have small kitchens and a living room, so it’s better in terms of space than a typical dorm setup. Also, if your D is planning on doing winter session next year, the cost of housing for that term is included in the Towers cost, which is slightly higher than a regular dorm. S is happy that he’ll be able to stay in his same room this winter.</p>
<p>That said, he and his roommates want to move off-campus next year, and there do seem to be options which are less expensive than the dorms. There will definitely be food cost savings - the UD meal plans are very expensive.</p>
<p>I lived on laird campus for two years and distance to class was never a problem. I took the bus frequently and during the day you won’t wait more than 5 minutes for a bus.</p>
<p>I would recommend staying on campus through sophomore year, as a sophomore your still adopting to life at UD and that’s easier to do in the dorms vs off campus.</p>
<p>Thanks so much for the great input and perspective. For those that live on the Laird Campus, how do the students (especially girls) feel about safety when walking to and from classes? As a parent, I can say that when driving around at night, the area between Laird and Main Street does not seem well lit or secure.</p>
<p>I would recommend Laird Campus too. My DD, a soph, is in the Independence Complex (there are Ind West, East and McKean). It’s not an apt – it’s more of a suite, with two huge doubles attached by a large bathroom. They still eat in a dining hall. But absolutely huge and nice and new compared to Rodney! She is really happy there.</p>
<p>I got her a bike this year - which she uses sometimes and walks sometimes. Rarely takes the shuttle. She walks to class/library with friends. Haven’t had any safety issues.</p>
<p>Do many students live off campus in the area between Laird and Main Street (New London, Ray Street, Cleveland Ave)? Most of the homes look rather old. Plus, there appears to be only two places to cross the railroad tracks to get to the University.</p>
<p>There are a number of relatively new apartments (1-3 yrs old) located on East Main Street (I believe run by the Lang Development Group) that offer an excellent location - closer to many classrooms then many campus dorms. My D lived in one her Jr. and Sr. year with a number of her sorority sisters. Her apartment was almost right across the street from the new bookstore.</p>
<p>I know there are arguments both for and against off-campus housing but I believe one positive aspect is that it helps students develop real life skills in becoming resposible for maintaining an apartment and all the costs associated with it. These skills can be very helpful once students graduate and have to begin to establish independent lives for themselves. Just my perspective.</p>