<p>OP, you bring up some interesting thoughts. Why don’t colleges give the option of someone living in the same dorm room year-around? I would think that they could find creative ways to make that work for all involved.</p>
<p>In most cases, I would rather my kids either live at home or on campus for their undergrad. Safety and support can go a long way. It sounds like it really depends upon the area you live as well. I have heard from numerous people that at OU it can be much cheaper to live off campus. Then you can weigh the convenience factors and all of that as well.</p>
<p>Some colleges like the one I attended do. At my LAC, unless there are some unusual circumstances the rooms are usually assigned for the entire year. </p>
<p>cobrat, at Oberlin rooms may be assigned for an entire academic year, but students are not welcome to stay there during inter-semester breaks (or winter session, if they are not registered), and summer housing is separate, and may not be in the same space (and requires that you have an approved on-campus job). So from the standpoint of a student like the OP, you have to move in and out of somewhere at least twice a year, and more if you count Christmas break as a move-out. It’s not anything like having the same place to live year-round for two years.</p>
<p>I guess my concept idea would be more like this…Freshman start in a particular dorm(s) and stay there for most of their academic career. They could lock up the dorm for the summer for one fee (akin to storage, but without moving your stuff) or stay if taking summer courses for another fee. Of course, students would be free to move about seeking new roommates or a different location, but the class of 201x would primarily be in the same dorms for their (hopefully) 4 years of school. It eliminates problems with moving in and out. I understand that many schools use the space for various summer camps and the like…that is the only negative that comes to mind right now.</p>
<p>Yes, @Torveaux, I was thinking more along the lines of your description. </p>
<p>I wish that there were dorms that were year long and not based off of the academic year. Sure, you can stay there for the academic year (Fall and Spring), but within a a two week span, you must move out and move back in for Summer session if you’re taking summer classes. Rinse repeat once Fall semester comes. It’s too much moving in and out for me!</p>
<p>I want a place where I can move in and stay!</p>
<p>Regarding winter term, it’s not hard to find reasons to return to campus during winter term if desired. However, many students do prefer to do winter term projects at home or other areas more congenial than spending it in NE Ohio with its cold winters. </p>
<p>Also, considering one is required to complete a minimum of 3 winter term projects to fulfill graduation requirements, one is likely to be registered for winter term unless one is a graduating senior who did 3 consecutive winter terms before or the extreme rare chance the winter term project requirement is waived for some reason. </p>
<p>Many (most?) schools don’t have enough dorm space for freshmen, never mind upper class students. If they do have upper classmen housing, it’s often nicer (suite style), so students want to move up to the better dorms, to Greek housing, to married student housing.</p>
<p>I’m hoping both of my kids move on after freshmen year because the housing/r&b are ridiculously expensive, and it will cost me less if they live elsewhere and eat at home. I can fee my entire family for 6 months for the cost of 4 months at the dorm for one student. We do not spent $25/day per person on food.</p>
<p>Universities use the summer for capital improvements, repairs, fumigation, upgrading technology, etc. It would be a nightmare to have 10 students living in a dorm over the summer when the building is scheduled to have the concrete on the walkway repaired, the elevator doors replaced, etc.</p>
<p>OP- I cannot imagine a college student evaluating an apartment on the basis of “outdated appliances”. All due respect- you aren’t Martha Stewart, and as long as the place is safe, why would an old dishwasher or stove be a problem for a college kid???</p>
<p>This thread mystifies me. If you are borrowing for a nice apartment now, what happens after you graduate and end up in “student like” housing because after taxes, loan payments, etc. it’s all you can afford???</p>
<p>Imagine it, blossom, because I am. The apartments I’ve seen that have outdated and old appliances tend to be the ones with ratty carpet and water damage in the walls. I’m not asking for modern appliances or the latest and greatest, I’m asking for something functional and not worn down. That’s not too much to ask for. Safety is my largest concern but it is not my ONLY concern. I’m not going to live in a worn down apartment only because it’s “safe”.</p>
<p>What happens after I graduate? Then I move. I’m unsure what’s so mystifying? Is it that I’m trying to find a place where I can settle? Or the fact that I’m not settling for anything that I come across? Some people are fine with crammed living spaces, or less than stellar places, or they just have different baggage than I do (i.e. a car), but I believe what’s most important is whatever is in my best interest. I want a place where I am comfortable, reliable, and safe. Not too much to ask for. </p>
<p>My point is that right now you can borrow to live in a nicer place than a student type worn down apartment. But when you graduate- you will no longer be able to borrow to finance your apartment. Your paycheck will need to cover your living expenses PLUS the loan payments. How will it feel to have your standard of living plunge once you have a full time job?</p>
<p>Yes, you may be crowded with a roommate or two. But increasing your loan payments for a stellar living arrangement while you are a student seems to be setting yourself up for a standard of living you may not be able to recreate once you’re out in the working world.</p>
<p>Safe and cheap seem to me to be the two things to optimize here. Worn down may in fact be where you end up AFTER graduation… have you looked at loan repayment schedules?</p>
Yes, I believe my paycheck should cover my living expense and my loan repayments. I have run a loan repayment calculator based on the loans I would take out. A whopping $130 per month and that’s if I don’t contribute any of my income to the rent - a fully financed apartment. My standard of living will not plunge. </p>
<p>If the best is to optimize safe and cheap, it’d be great if you can suggest some apartments for me. The apartments I’m looking at range from $500 to $600, if you could find something lower that’d be great. :)</p>
<p>I agree with blossom that it is kinda foolish to rent a showplace apartment when something more modest and affordable will suffice. I paid $450/mo. rent 2 years ago for a furnished apartment including all utilities across street from USF in Tampa…paid $425/mo. at same place 3 years ago. $900/mo. isn’t necessary for a decent place by the USF campus imo. </p>
<p>I’m not even renting a place that is $900…If you guys see in the OP that is the monthly cost of the highest range of the apartments ON CAMPUS. The apartments I am looking at are no more than $600 per month. </p>
<p>I am thoroughly confused why someone with excess scholarship money every semester is taking loans instead of using up the scholarship money. I am thoroughly confused why someone who already has all the answers is posting on an anonymous message board looking for advice. I am somewhat confused by someone who is still in college already knows what their future paycheck, after tax, is going to look like.</p>
<p>But I’m starting to get the picture. Best of luck to you and Namaste.</p>
<p>I do not appreciate how you are caring on. I came here for advice. Many posters have helped me and given me food for thought, for that I am grateful. You can speculate my reasons for being here, but please do so elsewhere. I have learned from this thread and have adjusted many things I’m looking for in an apartment because of the replies. I didn’t know that you had to be completely clueless to ask for advice on this site. </p>
<p>Many of your confusions would not exist if you would read what I am saying and I feel you are wrongly judging me in ways you would not with someone different. You are perplexed by a college student knowing what their paycheck would be like after college. I suppose you are perplexed by people basing off their students loans that are no more than their first year’s salary, as well? There are starting salary ranges, there are take-home-pay calculators, and there are loan repayment calculators, which I wouldn’t have known about if you didn’t mention it. To your dismay, $12,000 in student loans will not break me. </p>
<p>As for my financial situation, I do have excess scholarships that can go towards my living expenses. This has been my plan, but as I am further researching prices and what I can afford, I see I cannot fully fund my living expenses with my scholarships, no matter if it is on campus or off campus. I have said I am willing to take out loans to cover them. The difference between partially funding my apartment with loans and fully funding it just might be worth it than to be pooling all of my part-time income into my rent in the long run. </p>
<p>What I had hoped to see are posters who share their experiences, tips, suggestions to further guide me and help me. To those who have posted and helped me, thank you. What I had not hope to see was wrongful judging and assumptions. I am not buying a “showplace” and I’m not Martha Stewart. Please read my situation and post helpful responses. </p>
<p>While I understand the desire to not have a rundown apartment with worn or non-functional appliances, there is something to be said for the benefit of living in dumpy conditions in college so even a less dumpy post-college situation looks like a substantial step-up rather than a step-down. </p>
<p>Granted, each individual has his/her own tolerance levels and standards of what’s dumpy or not. </p>
<ul>
<li><p>If you cook yourself in an apartment, food will be MUCH cheaper than at the dorm. But you’ll have utility fees that offset some of the savings. </p></li>
<li><p>Most apartments have an annual lease, so you pay 12 months (whether you live there or not … a subletter lets can help cover costs if you are lucky enough to find one) . </p></li>
</ul>
<p>The utility fees can vary so it is a YMMV. The extent of how much cheaper it is than the dorm also depends on factors such as:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Ability to budget and extent/willingness to squeeze as much out of one’s grocery dollars.</p></li>
<li><p>Availability, product selection, pricing, and convenience of nearby supermarkets/groceries. Sometimes, it pays to shop further away from the campus/more expensive areas of a given region to get the best bang for your grocer’s buck even after factoring in gas/time/effort expended. With online supermarket/grocer price circulars, it is much easier to see which supermarket chains/grocers have the best deals/sales for a given product each week and plan one’s shopping trips accordingly. </p></li>
<li><p>Willingness to tolerate or even enjoy eating a monotonous diet to economize and/or to cut cooking time/effort. I’m the type of person who can happily subsist on eating the same things for weeks at a stretch. Most people IME can’t and actually find my ability to do so and enjoy it for that time length to be “weird”. </p></li>
<li><p>Ability to organize and arrange consumption of foods before they go bad. </p></li>
</ol>