I go to Northern Kentucky University, where I am a recipient of a full ride scholarship (tuition, room, board, the whole lot). I really don’t like living in the dorms all that much, though, and would like to try living in an apartment. I was told initially that my housing component of my scholarship can only be used for on-campus housing. Because of this, I would have to pay rent out of pocket if I live off-campus. However, there are rooms in my dorm that have extra people living in them (3 people in a 2 person dorm) and the university is paying those residents weekly for the inconvenience, while I am taking up a room, not giving the university anything for it. Wouldn’t it make more sense for them to put a paying resident in my room (so they wouldn’t have to be paying those 3 person rooms), and let me live wherever? I feel like I should be able to apply this scholarship to wherever I want. Do you think there’s a chance I could convince them to change their policy?
You are thinking that the scholarship is actual money, that the school could give you the money rather than just crediting an account on your behalf. I’d also imagine that those living in triples are getting a better rate, not that they are living for free AND the school is handing them money on top of it (unless they are also scholarship students, then yes, maybe they get extra; do you want to live in a triple?)
If you don’t like the arrangement, you are free to pay your own housing but the free to you housing in on campus. If the school is giving the free housing, it is entitled to set the terms. You can always ask them if you could be assigned a triple, take the extra money, and use it for living off campus. You’re roommates would be happy as then they’d really have a double and still get the extra money too.
^^I agree. Why don’t you ask your parents instead of giving a room in their house they just pay a room in an apartment for you, so much more attractive for you and everything.
The school isn’t really “paying” for your dorm. They’re just not charging you for it. There’s a difference.
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However, there are rooms in my dorm that have extra people living in them (3 people in a 2 person dorm) and the university is paying those residents weekly for the inconvenience, while I am taking up a room, not giving the university anything for it.
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What does that mean?
Usually when triples are living in doubles, it just means that each person in a triple is paying less than if they were in a double. I don’t know what you mean by “paying them for the inconvenience”.
For instance…
If a person in a double, normally pays $5000 per year for a double, then while they’re in a triple, a school may credit $100 a month for 10 months ( a thousand dollars).
In that case, the school is now collecting $12k per room (after $1k credit) rather than $10k per room.
How is your school’s situation different?
https://housing.nku.edu/campuslivingoptions/woodcrest-apartments.html
Your college has university-owned apartment-style living.
You could try your hand living in one of those.
Use your work study and / or summer job earnings to pay for the difference over the standard form cost.
Contact housing to figure out if and how and when you can make this happen.