<p>My son is transferring as a Junior. He was given a 20-25% chance of getting on campus dorm housing. He could wait to see if it comes through or just try and get off campus housing near the school. I am just concerned that living off campus will make it hard to meet people and be more isolating.</p>
<p>Should we wait to see if he gets the dorm or just get the off campus housing now? How important do u think living on campus is as a transfer student?</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>I think it is very important. As a junior, all other people his age will have their friends, and typically, the only ones who socialize on the first day of lecture are first years...at least that's how it works here. If he lives off campus, he probably wont even get to know his neighbors..but if he lives on campus with other transfers, he will be in the same position as everyone he is living with.</p>
<p>If he's very outgoing and makes friends easily and wants to live off campus...let him. </p>
<p>The average person, or a shy person, who transfers would probably want to live on campus if they can. It just makes it easier to make friends.</p>
<p>regardless it will be difficult. For instance places like Notre Dame i think over 80% of the student body lives on campus all 4 years ( i could be way off, but it is up there) and yet places like Uni of Michigan, most people move off after there soph year or even in frosh year. So depends on the school. Just make sure he is comfortable with entering the new environment.</p>
<p>As a side note - all transfers this past fall semester were denied on campus housing and had to get off campus housing. Most transfers are living off campus at this school.</p>
<p>What kind of transfer orientation do they have at that school? I know that at my S's transfer school it was relatively limited and he didn't go out of his way to take much advantage of what they had. But, I think if a transfer takes full advantage of that, it could help.</p>
<p>How hard is it to find off campus housing.... how much risk would he be taking by waiting to see if he gets a dorm spot? Does the school housing office help students (especially incoming transfers) find off-c housing and connect with each other? If they do that, it might have some of the feel of a roommate/suitemate situation... where he would be linked up with others and begin to have some social connections that way.</p>
<p>Do whatever you can to stay on-campus your first year at college. I was a CC transfer (now at U-Michigan) who thought "hey, I can save x amount of dollars by living with my parents" and I have basically went back to my community college days of going to class, going to work, and basically playing xbox and watching TV in my free time. If you're making the transition to a major university, you need to fully commit to the campus lifestyle.</p>
<p>what school is he transferring to?</p>
<p>He is transferring to SUNY New Paltz. They have a one day transfer orientation before school starts that is mandatory. That is all they offer to transfers. They have an off campus housing board but do not get involved in the housing placement. There is quite a bit of off campus housing available but it is of variable quality. Waiting may make it harder to get quality housing.</p>
<p>Each has it positives and negitives.</p>
<p>Off-campus:
Since he's a tansfer if it is a school where many students live off campus it is unlikely that there are many other students his age on campus. Like above, some schools students live on campus all 4 years, I go to USC and most move off campus soph year. Some live in the university sponsored apartments, but most go the private housing route. This is good as usually the rooms are larger, have kitchens, and relaxed rules. Problems you can have though are that you can get bad roommates with no out as your on a lease with them. I'm sharing a room with a guy now who seemed completely cool when I talked to him prior to getting a room with him in a 4 bedroom apt. After we moved in he turned into a nightmare complaining about everything and telling me I need to give up half my side as he wanted open space by the doors (since I have the side of the room with a door to the closet, a door to hall, and door to the bathroom.) No one else in the apartment likes him and he steals everyones food. Both my neighbors have roommate issues themselves. Depending on the area this can either be more or less expensive. In LA it's more expensive to live off campus. But most areas outside of cities it is cheaper off campus. This also enables a greater food choice as you'll likely have a kitchen, which can lower cost than going to fast food all the time or eating the same thing on campus all the time. </p>
<p>Oncampus:
Its good as you instantly can make friends on a floor in a dorm. Most people will have doors open during the start of the year, and you sort of form a bond via living on the same floor. Off campus people will usually keep their doors closed. If you happen to not like your roommate for a reason you can switch to another room. However you may not have your own bathroom or even a sink in the room and have to use community bathrooms. Also living on campus and come with a required meal plan and mean dining halls with subpar food. </p>
<p>I personally think living offcampus if the better route unless it's a school where most live oncampus. Dorms have way too many rules, have meal plans, small cramped rooms, etc. Just make sure you screen potential roommates prior to signing anything. I got screwed as I was OOS. If you can try to get roommates who are continuing students. 6 people in my apt are continuing students and it basically gave me a outlet to meet people right away. I do feel a bit left out on the experience of not living on campus at my current school, and don't know a lot of the campus. However that can be leveled out by joining clubs.</p>
<p>Thanks for all your opinions and help. I spoke to the housing director yesterday and he said that if you find good off campus housing to take it. If you wait, you may end up with nothing as the on campus housing is not a sure thing at all.</p>
<p>We did see a nice townhouse where my son would have his own room and have to find 2 others to share the house. It is really nice, has a big kitchen, LR, DR, is all carpeted, W/D and the bedrooms are on the second floor. It is probably a 10 minute walk to campus and a 3 minute walk to town.</p>
<p>My main concern is that he will be isolated from things happening on campus and the other students. It is a hard enough adjustment as a transfer student, I don't want to make it any harder. Also, he is sort of laid back and doesn't tend to be a go getter that gets involved in lots of campus activities and make friends quickly. It usually takes a while.</p>
<p>Well....after my experience at NP I'd say go with the townhouse :-) Esopus and Lenape are the 2 nice halls...I lived in Lenape for a few months. I know the campus is slowly renovating all of the other halls...but they're still not the greatest. I moved to Gage Hall b/c I needed winter session housing during the swim season. It wasn't bad...but wasn't fantastic. </p>
<p>I find that people at NP are very welcoming and even if your son isn't a "go getter" he won't be isolated...and so I don't think he'll be at a disadvantage of living off campus.</p>
<p>Thanks Dewdrop - I appreciate your input as a previous New Paltz student!</p>
<p>I think we will try and go with the townhouse. It is in a good location and on a street where there are many other student filled houses. So maybe it won't be as isolating as I think. It would be nice for him to have a big carpeted bedroom and some privacy. Since it is near Main Street, he can eat at the restaurants in town or cook his meals and not have to suffer with the campus food unless he chooses to between classes.</p>
<p>I will keep my fingers crossed that it all works out for the best. :)</p>
<p>Make sure to try out McGillicuddy's, P&G's and Barnaby's....they're delish.</p>
<p>On that note...avoid campus food as much as possible. When I was there they were using Olestra as their cooking oil...made for some rough nights <em>rolls eyes</em></p>
<p>A full day Transfer Orientation might do the trick to connect him to a number of others, LilyMoon. At my S's school, there was a lunch only and maybe a 1-hour session after that (which I'm not sure my S even attended). I think a full day could be all he needs.</p>
<p>dewdrop - thanks for the restaurant recommendations. We have been to The Guilded Otter, Main Street Bistro, Harvest Cafe and Karma Road. There are an impressive amount of restaurants in town. I look forward to trying the ones you suggested. Yuck...Olestra....a sure reason to stay clear of the dining hall! I'm surprised about that since NP tends to be a more health conscious place.</p>
<p>Andale - I hope you're right. It would be nice if he made some connections during orientation.</p>
<p>OK, so we took the townhouse and now my son needs to find two roommates to share the other two bedrooms. He put an add on the housing board but if anyone knows New Paltz students looking for a place to live near campus, let me know!</p>