<p>Question about campus living. We didn't really look into the private dorms thinking they were way out of our price range, but I've been looking tonight and am confused.</p>
<p>Traditions says 1 year 1 payment for 2 bedroom + unlimited meals would be $9300. Would this be an entire room with two bedrooms for just 2 kids? That sounds awesome.</p>
<p>Mosher (engineering living/learning/whatever dorm) = $2290 per semester = $4580.
Meal plan (250/$100 dining dollars) $1743.</p>
<p>Is 250 meals enough for a semester? I'm already at 6323 without unlimited meals. Can you GET an unlimited meal plan? I don't see that option, but I guess I was expecting more than a $3000/year difference between the fancy "private dorms" and the crowded, crazy ones. </p>
<p>Can someone clarify? Do you think it's too late to change so I shouldn't waste my time researching? I didn't think he would end up at A&M, but recentlyit has moved to the top of his list and I'm wishing I'd paid more attention earlier!</p>
<p>I am not sure what option that would be in Traditions. But, there are options in the private dorms that cost less than some on campus dorms, they are like the dorm option with two kids in a room.
We checked out all three off campus dorms and settled on Callaway House for our daughter. The Traditions & Callaway House are close enough to campus to walk. Cambridge is too far to walk. We just liked the way Callaway house looked, it seemed to be better maintained - even being the oldest of the three off campus dorms.</p>
<p>Our daughter does the 150/$150 plan, and it works out just about right every semester. She eats about one “meal” a day, and uses dining dollars for the other 2 meals. You can always add meal bundles during the semester if your child needs more. The dining dollars are more flexible if your child just wants to grab a sandwich or a smoothie on the way to class.</p>
<p>Wow, this is SO hard to figure out. klparker, we are familiar with Callaway from many soccer camps. They typically have a living area + 2 bedrooms. For camp they put 2 kids in each bedroom, but we thought that normally each person had his own bedroom…is that wrong? </p>
<p>My son has never had to share a bedroom. He’s pretty sociable, but he also enjoys sleeping :-). If there is an affordable option that gives you your own room I would definitely think that was worth extra $$$.</p>
<p>Please let me know… it may be already too late to switch. What about the Engr LLC? Anyone have any insight on that?</p>
<p>Callaway, Traditions, & Cambridge all have double room options(2 kids per bedroom) and they are comparable to the cost of on campus dorms - the more expensive on campus ones.
It isnt too late to switch, you may lose your dorm deposit. But it may be too late for some of the private dorms, they do fill up quickly especially Callaway.<br>
I know at Callaway they do have options for a single efficency style apt, a single apt, 3 persons 3 bedroom apt, 4 person 2 bedroom, 2 person 2 bedroom, 4 person 4 bedrooms. I would just call the private dorms and see what is still available.</p>
<p>Like you, we have been looking at Off campus housing vs on campus dorm. Beside the benefit of getting more square footage, we just did not see the big saving everybody was mentioned. Our son2 has been in 2 different modular On campus Honor dorms last 2 yrs. The housing is $2502 and meal is $1224 (per 2009-2010 pricing). Therefore total $7452 for 2 semester. Most places we check range from $500-$700 per month and you have to sign 1 yrs lease = $6000-$8400. For OOS like us, S2 will not be around in summer. That is not included utilities, and food yet. So, I don’t get it where are all the huge saving everybody is talking about. The saving of per month cannot be equate, as the U is not charging for summer months, and apartment you have to still pay regardless. Not to mention the inconvenient of taking the bus if it is on the bus route to class. Having a car need parking sport and insurance. We also found the site below for rating the apartment. Many don’t rank that great, and knowing college students, who is doing the cleaning? If they don’t have washer and dryer in the facilities, that just a pain to do laundry. I think there is more perceived saving that meets the fact so far for us. I am sure there are some very cheap place, but probably pretty bad too. We can only see huge saving if a few of them rent a duplex or house and share it. But who is going to be responsible for the lease when summer come around everybody vacate? We are still searching in case S2 really wants to move out. So far, we are not convince of the saving yet.
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<p>there are many apartment complexes that have 9 month leases. Most have washer & Dryer’s in the apartments.
cleaning - they are on their own there…
the private dorms all have washer-dryers and a light cleaning service</p>
<p>AllThis~ sharing a room in the dorm, at least for freshman year, isn’t so bad, and it can be seen as part of the whole “college experience”. As the only girl in the family, our daughter never shared a room either before starting college, and she’s done just fine. It has definitely taught her to be more flexible and tolerant. Some roommates even turn out to be best friends! (Plus, I’ve heard the single rooms in the dorm referred to as “psycho singles” because the occupants have issues and have to live alone - not saying this is always or even often the case, but it might be a stereotype to be dealt with if your child chooses to live in a single dorm room).</p>
<p>I’d recommend staying on-campus freshman year… if you could. People in dorms are way more friendly and welcome to meeting people/making friends than people in apartments/off-campus. Not quite sure why, but that’s how it works out. You can’t beat the location of being so close to classes and study areas either. That’s the one thing I miss about living on-campus. Taking the bus or driving and parking everyday can be a hassle. Not to mention if you are looking to save money, staying on campus is your cheapest option other than leasing a house with some people.</p>
<p>The off campus dorms contain mainly freshman. Freshmen who want their own bedroom, but in a dorm-like setting… I have called them Apartments with training wheels. Yes Traditions is close enough and perfect location for an engineering student.</p>
<p>Alas, we toured the Tradition dorm and while it was VERY nice (I would definitely live there) my crazy son said he wants to be more “in the middle of things” which means he’s back to the icky dorms with 4 kids sharing one bathroom.</p>