<p>Hey,</p>
<p>Just wanted to know if it's possible for undergrads to live in apartments after freshman year. If so, is renting an apartment in Palo Alto the only choice, or are undergrads allowed to stay in Escondido?</p>
<p>Also, is it true that very few Stanford students live in apartments?</p>
<p>Thanks :)</p>
<p>I'm not sure about possibilities, but this is what US News & World Report has to say:</p>
<p>"Percentage of undergrads living in college-owned, operated, or affiliated housing: 99%"
<a href="http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/college/directory/brief/drlife_1305_brief.php%5B/url%5D">http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/college/directory/brief/drlife_1305_brief.php</a></p>
<p>Part of that remaining 1% could also be people studying abroad. It doesn't really happen that often, but it's possible. I don't think undergrads stay in Escondido unless something really weird happens in the draw (like they get a 2999, a very very bad number in the housing lottery) and they run out of housing... basically it just doesn't happen. There are a couple of apartment-like housing options on campus that are available. Most students just go for that since it's much closer.</p>
<p>I do know students who live off campus. It's not so rare that it doesn't occur. What they tell me is that it's doable, and it ends up costing about as much if you really stretch (but probably more). You should also consider that living off-campus immediately means being at least a 10-min drive away. It's not like some campi that abut cheap housing.</p>
<p>I'm actually a rising sophomore looking for apartments for next year. It's definitely doable, but not very common, simply because housing in this area is very expensive. You'll almost certainly pay a bit more to live off-campus (rents are anywhere from $1000-$2000 per month, depending on the quality you're looking for), compared with the approximately $1000 for on-campus room and board. I'd recommend getting a 2-bedroom apt with a roommate and splitting the rent.</p>
<p>The US News number quotes college-affiliated housing, which also includes study abroad students, since obviously much more than 1% of the student body studies abroad at any given time. Stanford Housing's web site says they house 6200 out of 6700 undergrads, which is 93%. I'm guessing the remaining 6% comprises study abroad students.</p>
<p>Grad students face an even bigger housing crunch than undergrads, so under almost no circumstances will they be assigned to Escondido Village, no matter how bad their draw number is. The few exceptions include winter and spring quarters when undergrads returning from study abroad may be placed into graduate housing, because many master's students graduate and move out in the middle of the school year. There are a handful of undergrads living in CroMem, but that's because it's the least desirable grad housing option, and again that only happens during the middle of the year.</p>
<p>i couldn't imagine living off campus...especially in palo alto. the money would rape me...along with boredom. and it sucks b/c you can't drive back to your apt if you've been drinking on campus. eh...minor details.</p>