<p>It's almost the begining of 2nd semester and everyone is telling me to start thinking about looking for apt or if i want to dorm again next year. There is of course pros and cons for both, but right now I'm leaning towards dorming again for 2 main reasons: 1. convenience, 2. social atmosphere (heard apt can get quite boring and lonely). My main worry though is money. Dorming is definitely more expensive than apt, but I heard that you get less financial aid allotted to living expenses if you do apt over dorms (I heard like 6000 for apt compared to 10000 for dorm or something like that, correct me if i'm wrong). Is this true? what would be more beneficial to me if I get almost a full financial aid package (including loans and all). Thanks.</p>
<p>I can’t speak to finances but I’m going to do the dorms again next year for exactly the same reasons you mentioned. (current frosh)</p>
<p>The financial aid stipend for off campus housing is usually much less than the dorm stipend, so plan on supplementing your off campus housing costs if you want your freedom. If you do not mind the dorms, why not stay another year? There are advantages and disadvantages to both choices… make a list and see what your priorities are. Good luck.</p>
<p>You may want to consider the co-ops. They are markedly less expensive than the dorms and they provide the social circle that you don’t get in an apartment. Another possibility is to rent an apartment and board at the co-ops.</p>
<p>My son is on FA and is living off campus this year. </p>
<p>Even though he receives less FA, his expenses are much lower than when he lived in the dorms. Bottom line? We are paying less out of pocket this year.</p>
<p>It probably depends on how much you end up paying for rent, utilities, food etc.</p>
<p>The COA is a couple of thousand less for off campus housing, but the cost is less, too</p>
<p>A “full” financial aid package means they’ll pick up the additional dorm cost in the form of grants. In other words, it’s free. On the other hand, I think the off campus budget is underestimated, which means you’ll likely have to cover the difference out of pocket. Dorm is a no brainer for people who have “full” financial package.</p>
<p>im a sophomore living in the dorms, but in my opinion, besides convenience and it being relatively safe because ppl can’t go in and out as they wish without swiping…you would soon want your own place
i mean, as a frosh, of course you’d feel excited…but pretty soon, living on your own would be more appealing because you can have people there whenever you want, throw parties once in a while
it’s not that lonely when you think of it, you can invite friends over ahaha</p>
<p>I’m currently a freshman, and I really want an apartment for next year. Yes, the dorms are more convenient, but let’s face it, Berkeley dorms are just rip-offs.</p>
<p>You’ll soon find out that Berkeley apartments are rip-offs too.</p>
<p>yea i am debating over the same question as well</p>
<p>idk.. i am watching this thread and see what others will say</p>
<p>I’m either going into the co-ops (which are much cheaper than dorms, but still have a pretty social atmosphere) or getting an apartment with some friends. I’m not ready to be living alone just yet.</p>
<p>I really want to move out into an apartment, but I’ve realized that it’s not as glorious as I once thought. True, you might have your own place, but for me, the cons outweigh the pros. Not all apartments have secured entryways, the surrounding area may not be safe to walk alone at night, it will take a while to walk to campus and back without a bike/car depending on where you are, you’ll have to cook your own food unless you buy meal points or have enough money to buy off campus food regularly, etc. I think I’m just going to go for the dorms next year, despite the high costs. I don’t get FA but I think it’s just better not worrying about walking at night or cooking my own food. </p>
<p>My friend is living in an apt. this year and one of her neighbor’s units burned down cause a thief decided to set the place on fire after stealing a laptop. On their street, there have been three cases of rape reported to the authorities… I think I’ll just wait it out till I’m an upperclassman.</p>
<p>I think financial aid gives you around $800/month for rental if you live off campus? Correct me if I am wrong since I still live in the dorm and don’t know the real situation. I think if you get $800/month for rental, that’s a lot considering that it’s definitely enough to get your own room (but maybe shared bathroom and kitchen). I am considering moving out simply because I am a person who absolutely need my own space (I feel restless when my roommate is there…). I have lived by myself for couple summers when I was doing internships and I enjoyed it. So..I guess I will definitely move out next year. Now I am thinking to rent apartment with friends (like 3 bedroom apartments w/ 2 other friends). I think many of the apartments are quite safe (especially the complexes).</p>
<p>i really want to get an apartment next year, for these reasons
- with the buttload of money i have to give away to caldining, i could be eating out quite often/cooking my own ish whenever. and i realllyyy hate crossroads
- a parking space would be a godsend…if i could get my hands on one, my car at home would be put to use…
- the akwardness of coed bathrooms hasent left my head as of yet</p>
<p>omg, I got so lucky and found a great apartment. I got a parking space, and it’s amazing not eating crappy crossroads. And it’s a studio, so I’m alone. 650/mo a steal!</p>
<p>I would always recommend trying to find an apartment, it’s worth it.</p>
<p>wow. great deal! How far away from campus?</p>
<p>yea, that’s the worst, but still not too bad. It’s ~15-20 min walk to my classes, which are usually leconte/evans, so up the hill a ways.</p>
<p>how should we go about looking for apartments this early on? what are good ways to look around?</p>
<p>well, now might be too early. The primary resource is craigslist, that’s what you should be searching. I spent the last month before the end of Fall semester, I sent out close to 20ish emails, but in the end, I found my place like the day after my finals were over, so all that searching did nothing…</p>