<p>Suppose that I decided to rent an apartment (15,000/yr) which costs as much as or more than a room in the dorms (14,000/yr). Would I get less financial aid because my living quarters are off-campus even though my apartment costs more than living in the dorm?</p>
<p>Of course. The point of living outside is to find a cheap/decent place so if you find somewhere more expensive than dorms (whywhywhy), then you’ll need to pay the difference. FA only differentiates b/w on-campus, on-campus apartments, and off-campus.</p>
<p>Living off-campus should not be $15,000 a year, unless you have a one-bedroom apartment to yourself. Assuming you have a roommate, it should be around $700 per month = $8400 per year.</p>
<p>Or even less if you live in the BSC co-ops:
[Academic</a> Year Rates](<a href=“http://www.bsc.coop/housing/info-and-rates/academic-year-housing]Academic”>http://www.bsc.coop/housing/info-and-rates/academic-year-housing)</p>
<p>Ideally, I would want a studio to myself, as my current roommates are dirty and late goers. </p>
<p>The apartments I’m looking for are all in northside (I’m EECS), making it all the more expensive. So it’s generally agreed that I’ll get less financial aid even though my apartment will cost more? </p>
<p>Damn the stingy FA officers. This is discrimination against all students living off campus!</p>
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<p>Yes, how dare those darn taxpayers and state government not want to give you enough money so that you can live by yourself, something that most people cannot afford!</p>
<p>^Exactly. I worked hard to get into this school. And this is what I get? Discrimination for not paying lip service to the campus’s crappy housing? Unbelievable. Just another reason I should have never attended Berkeley.</p>
<p>Or this can translate to A LOT of saving if you find a cheap place… This is similar to on-campus living too. If you opt for single room, you’ll still get the same FA package as someone who lives in a triple. Triple will save you money while single will exceed the expected budget on your FA.</p>
<p>Calicious, you make living with two other people sound simple. It’s not. </p>
<p>When you live with men, you have to be the first one to establish dominance: usually by throwing your clothes all over the place, or distributing your urine in strategic places. Not only that, you have to make your roommates sign a contract to share the woman or women they bring over. I swear, I had to get my roomies to sign this contract at gunpoint (they have two Brunette girlfriends that come over weekly). </p>
<p>Jokes aside, it really isn’t a pleasant experience to live in a triple. Three people in a single room is just too much. But since you are so insistent on saving money, you should try it some time.</p>
<p>I’ve been in a triple dorm for the last 2 years. I have no problem both years (all random roommates). It might just be your roommates so find new ones and to share your rent. Expecting to have more FA just b.c you want a single room is ridiculous (I’d do that if that’s the case; anyone would…).</p>