<p>So, just thinking about housing options for sophomore year already. Which is the better option and why? I'll have to move off campus and get a credit card EVENTUALLY, right? But when exactly is the best time to start this, and how do I find roommates I can trust to pay utility bills and rent on time?</p>
<p>In my case, living off campus turned out to be a better deal than living on campus, as I have my own room, bathroom, a shared living room and kitchen for nearly the same price as a double in a dorm. I don’t know what it’s like in your area, but search to see if there are apartment complexes that offer individual leases. I live in a fully furnished 4/4 with utilities, cable, and internet included in the rent so I don’t have to worry about if others are responsible or not. One major downside is that I have random roommates since I’m a freshman and didn’t know anyone, but see if you can get a group of friends together for the same unit. Around here a lot of places start leasing for Fall 2010 in early Spring 2010, though there are still a ton of openings well into the Fall semester.</p>
<p>"and how do I find roommates I can trust to pay utility bills and rent on time? "</p>
<p>This is why I am not getting an apartment unless it’s with my boyfriend after graduation. My most trusted friend bought a house this past summer and the others…ehhhh… not worth the risk. Getting an apartment with people you don’t KNOW beyond a shadow of a doubt are responsible enough to pay bills on time is a recipe for disaster. If you know people you trust, good. If not, I’d tread lightly. </p>
<p>My school offers on campus apartments that do not even necessitate a roommate if you get the right room, and I believe they are either comparable or less pricey than the dorms. You just have to be able to pay for food and cook. I think that would be preferable to an off campus apartment because it IS an apartment and you live in an apartment complex (quieter than the dorms and nicer), however you don’t have to come up with monthly rent because it’s paid the same way dorms are. I would make sure your school doesn’t offer something like that before going off campus, it’s a really convenient choice here and probably what I am going to do.</p>
<p>There are off-campus dorms that function in a similar manner to on-campus dorms, but still have no kitchen or living room area. Again, like the on-campus dorms, those are mostly full of freshmen. I’d rather move into a more serious environment.</p>
<p>There are also near-campus apartments with individual leases, but they are insanely expensive and high-end. Not to mention utility bills must still be split, as the only available all bills paid apartments are supposedly unsafe and/or trashy, as well as very far from campus.</p>
<p>Hmmm, I’m just really worried about getting stuck with the bill. My most trustworthy friends are unfortunately not at my current college, and I’m wary about taking the risk with anyone who isn’t dead set on an apartment with me. They might decide to just stop paying rent and utility bills halfway through the 12-month lease! 
The lease contract time length really worries me, as well. </p>
<p>While a studio or small efficiency apartment might be ideal for a graduate student, I think I’d rather share an apartment with other people, just for the somewhat more social aspect. Hopefully I can find some at least semi-trusted friends, because dorm life is getting on my nerves a bit–I need more freedom.</p>
<p>I have a friend that leased a pretty big apartment this year with like 6 other people-- I don’t know how far away that is from dorm life but perhaps if you got enough people together you could afford the individual lease apartments? Maybe a two bedroom and four people or something?</p>
<p>I would check around and make sure there aren’t any shorter leases. Because this is a college town here there are LOTS of leases that correspond with just the school year or just the summer, but you have to look around for them.</p>
<p>Well, the individual lease apartments will always have a high price per room, even for the really large (~4-5 people) apartments. Plus it might get annoying to schedule cleaning, general maintenance, and utility bill payments with that many people! But would it be safe to trust that many people to pay the utility bills? I’m not so sure. And it would probably not be to my benefit, anyway, as I never watch TV, take short showers, and make sure to keep a damper on electricity use. I can’t expect to find many undergrads as conscious of cost as I am! </p>
<p>Unfortunately my college does not offer nearby apartments with shorter leases. This is probably because off-campus housing here is in high demand, so there’s no reason for any of the apartments to make compromises on their leasing charges in any way. I guess I’ll have to hope someone trustworthy comes along soon.</p>