<p>Hello to everyone, I’m a Chilean Student that soon will become a study abroad student at UW, my questions It’s really simple, I would like to know what it’s the cheapest option for Housing. For me the University Dorms are very comfortable (because are furnished and the lease it’s only for 9 months) but are billing around 950-1000 monthly, room + dinning operation, my budget is around 1400 for month, so I don’t what to expend all my money in a room and food, I really think that are so many things to do in Madison and I want to experience the most that I can.</p>
<p>So the questions is, considering utilities, room and food, what is cheapest option, live at the University Dorms? Or try to get a Room-Studio around $600 + Utilities $50 + food (I don’t know how much I will expend on food in this case), could someone with experience in the UW life-style give me some advice, thank you very much!!!</p>
<p>Regards, Dario.</p>
<p>If you could find a roommate, you could cut your rent in half (obviously). You lose a bit of privacy, of course, but the monetary and friendship/companionship usually outweigh that concern.</p>
<p>Plus, it’s fun to have at least one friend with whom to go out on the town. Madison is such a fun town.</p>
<p>So I suggest this:</p>
<p>First, find a cheap apartment. If you can afford a two-bedroom, that is best. Also, keep it close to campus, if not on campus. Regardless, you might want to bring or purchase a bicycle to make it easier to get around.</p>
<p>Next, see if you can find a friend to move in with you. Then you can split the rent with that person.</p>
<p>That’s what I’d try to do. There are always people looking for roommates.</p>
<p>Join the New UW Madison Sublet and Roommate Group on Facebook. Lots of people looking for roommates to share houses and apartments. As for a food budget that all depends on how much you like to eat! For example, my daughter (who eats very little) spent about $1000 per year in her Housing Food Account. On top of that, she spent around $400 a year on the Red Card (a program you can sign up for which uses the card to pay for off campus eateries/fast food places and other stuff). Probably another couple hundred in cash/credit card for groceries and restaurants that didn’t take the Red card. </p>
<p>Agree, join the FB group to find students who still need a roommate, can be either single or double. Rent can be as low as $400 month to over $1000, depending on how fancy an apartment it is. Typically, the 2-3 story houses which have been turned into apartments are cheaper than the big buildings like Equinox, Grand Central and Luckie. Some apartments are furnished, like those on Spring St/College Ct and so have basic furnishings – bed, dresser in bedroom, sofa, coffee table and chair in living room. Madison Property Management is a big landlord which has a lot of student rentals, and I think they have a roommate search function on their website. There are other big landlords who operate a lot of student apartments in town, including, I think, Steve Brown. Many rentals are 12 months instead of 9 months, but if you are taking over a spot in an apartment from someone who originally signed the lease but then changed their mind, you could be in a position to negotiate a 9 month rental. Good luck – you will have a wonderful year!</p>
<p>I assume that Study Abroad is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for you at UW-Madison. While you could save money living in an apartment with a few roommates (though most rentals are unfurnished and are for 12 months, so the savings may be small), you may enjoy your experience more by living in a dorm with students eager to make new friends. </p>
<p>Some dorms have specific learning communities. What is your major or area of interest?</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.housing.wisc.edu/ilc”>http://www.housing.wisc.edu/ilc</a></p>
<p><a href=“http://www.housing.wisc.edu/crc”>http://www.housing.wisc.edu/crc</a></p>
<p><a href=“GreenHouse Learning Community – University Housing – UW–Madison”>http://www.housing.wisc.edu/greenhouse</a></p>
<p>Can I ask, how old are you? (because on the other hand, you may not want to be live with excited 18-year-old freshmen on their own for the first time in a dorm).</p>
<p>Best of luck to you at UW-Madison!</p>
<p>There are housing co-ops that have a mix of students and non-students. They can be interesting.</p>
<p><a href=“http://madisoncommunity.coop/”>http://madisoncommunity.coop/</a></p>
<p>Consider the costs of your time as well. Renting an apartment, even with roommates means cleaning it. It also means purchasing the cleaning supplies et al. Do you want to take your time buying toilet paper et al? Do you want to spend time cleaning your toilet? What about furniture? Bedding will need to be purchased regardless of where you live. But- pots and pans? Dishes? Consider ALL of the costs of setting up an American household for a short time- you won’t want to cut too many corners in doing this.</p>
<p>Definitely find out all costs of wherever you consider living. Consider the costs of groceries and sundries. Buying only what is available within walking distance or potentially saving money at the stores further away.</p>
<p>For one school year living in a dorm may be the least hassle. Fortunately Res Halls has good food and you only pay (discounted from public pricing) for what you eat. Therefore you can use some of your total food budget for outside dining. </p>
<p>Contact the international student organization (look it up on the UW website) for suggestions.</p>
<p>Thank you all for your advice and information, the bad news is that the University dorms are not available, they are already fitful all their units.
Dear Madison Madison85 I’m 22 years old.
So my options now reduce to:
• the Steve brown apartments (highlanders, the regent, Gilman) because they have 9 month leases and are furnished (but I have read some awful reviews)
• The Palisade apartments (but I have read some awful reviews)
• The Farm and Industry Short Course Housing, they have dorms with dining operation, I would love to hear an opinion about them!
• Some others short term leases for rooms, specifically some Greek apartments that have rooms available, but I don’t know if I would fit there?</p>
<p>Also I have been on the Facebook group for months, but just bad luck for me, sometimes I understand, It’s not easy to choose to live to someone that you don’t know and it’s an outsider, but I will keep trying.
Thank you all! For your time, advice and information, you don’t know how helpful it’s for me to receive your advices. </p>
<p>If you decide to live in a dorm, there are two main areas:</p>
<ul>
<li>Lake Shore</li>
<li>Southeast</li>
</ul>
<p>I spent two years in Sellery A, which is one of the Southeast dorms. The Southeast dorms are close to State Street and Library Mall, Bascom Hill, the Union and Langdon Street, etc. </p>
<p>The Lake Shore dorms are on Lake Mendota – farther from the action but prettier.</p>
<p>And also towers on the towers for $790, it’s true wis75 that I should consider my time, thank you for your advice</p>
<p>Besides rent and utilities, how much a student will spend aprox monthly, for food+ hangout+activities ? could somebody give a number, please!</p>
<p>I gave you a rough overview of food expenses in my previous post. That, is for a woman that doesn’t eat that much and was on a Housing Food Account. Her daily food expenses probably were about $10-$12. A guy, eating more and without the housing discount, might expect to pay $15-20 per day for food if you are eating in the cafeterias or a combination of campus dining and off campus places/groceries from home. Buses are free so that will help. Weekend activities could range from $5.00 for a cup at a party to a lot more if you go to the bars. There are lots of free activites for students and many low cost ones as well. Laundry isn’t too expensive. So maybe $500 a month for food and activities.</p>
<p>The short course dorms are owned by the Agriculture and Life sciences college and at the beginning of the school year are used for overflow Res Halls students until enough students depart and they get their permanent dorm rooms. Those students will use the Res Halls dining facilities. Later those dorms are used by students, typically in farming, who come for a short course of a few weeks offered by the Ag school. You will share the dorm with non college students but be within the Lakeshore complex of dorms and eat with college students when you use the various dining facilities nearby. Most dorm residents will be freshmen, with the remaining generally sophomores.</p>
<p>Regardless of where you live you can always eat in any Res Halls facility. They are open to all, Res Halls dorm residents pay less because they are already paying a fee for the facilities. This can come in handy if you choose to experience a wide variety of foods Americans eat and more home style than eating in a restaurant. The people you meet in your classes are likely to live off campus unless they are freshmen.</p>
<p>Remember that there will always be complaints about apartment management. At this point in time you are limited in your selection. Read the off campus housing information on the UW website. </p>
<p>Your costs for entertainment et al can vary widely depending on your lifestyle. You will also find that spending your time trying to take full advantage of the nonacademic activities can hinder your studies. At a campus of this size it is always easy to find someone to party with or waste time with instead of doing your work.</p>
<p>You can find the utility costs (heat, A/C and electricity) for any apartment from Madison Gas and Electric’s website. Be aware that your costs can vary based on how you do things compared to the previous tenants. Don’t forget your internet/cable bill as well. Costs can vary based on the location within a building, the age (insulation) of a building et al.</p>
<p>Again- contact the international students organization! They will be a huge resource for you with answers to many of your questions.</p>
<p>You should strongly consider the short course dorms since the room comes furnished, is for an academic year period, and you avoid hassles that come with apartment living. I second @Wis75 suggestion to contact the international students organization for more advice and assistance.</p>