<p>I recently got accepted as a transfer student to UCF. I'm transferring from Michigan State University. I'm going in as a sophomore student. I was wondering if there were any "Single" dorms at UCF and how to get a hold of them? I was also wondering if it would be possible to use financial aid to pay for an apartment at sterling? I plan to take up a job this year, but my parents are probably going to have to spot me on the rent for at least the first semester. I come from a family that has a gross income of $15,000 a year. I talked to a finnancial aid guidance aid and they said they might. I also want to be able to cook my own food, as I compete in Physique shows. I don't know if I should live in the dorms or in an apartment since I really want to make friends but I also really want to have access to my own kitchen. Also, Sterling is about $1000 for a single a month. Is there anything cheaper near campus? Thanks in advance guys I appreciate it.</p>
<p>Hi and congrats on your acceptance to UCF! It’s a great school; my daughter is now an alum working in her field and has stayed in Orlando. We are from the cold and snowy northeast so I know you can relate when I say you will love the FL winters! You should be able to use your loan to pay for housing as it is a legitimate expense, but of course don’t hesitate to call financial aid. They are very helpful. Also, are you intent on having your own apt? If you would be happy with your own single bed and bath, there are plenty of places near campus that have that setup, and you would share the kitchen, living, and dining rooms with 3 roomies, for example. Definitely cheaper than $1K/month. Lots of supermarkets around, too and almost all offer organics. There is a Whole Foods in Winter Park and another in Orlando by Universal, both are a distance away but if that’s where you shop you can take a trip and get all the non-perishable essentials if you are on a special diet. You will make friends, just get involved and see if as a transfer sophomore you can join the out of state student mentoring program (OSSM). That will get you to hit the ground running! Also, you will meet friends at orientation. I think there are some single rooms in the regular dorms, mostly for upperclassmen but it’s been awhilensoncheck with Residence Life, they are super nice and helpful! Best of luck to you!</p>
<p>Congratulations on your acceptance into UCF-it’s really an amazing school, though I might be a bit bias, as a sophomore there! I’ll try to answer your questions as best as I can. In terms of having your own room, if you are to be living on campus, you have a couple of options. You can live in the Nike/Hercules student apartments, but those are very difficult to get, so it may be best to eliminate that as an option. There’s lake claire apartments, where you get your own room (That’s on campus) but that’s for freshmen only. So the option at this point is going to be the towers, and while they are nice, they are NOT worth the price you would be paying, which is very expensive. Also, they’re all the way by the arena, which, despite what most people will tell you, is a long walk from common classes. In my honest opinion (take this with a grain of salt) I highly suggest off campus housing. While I did enjoy spending my Freshman year this past year in a dorm, because that’s how I met my friends (Though they were all randoms) you tire of it easily. For someone of your academic standing and age, I think off campus is a much better choice, as well as cheaper then what you’d spend at the Nike/Hercules apartments, and towers. Now, I don’t suggest staying in sterling. It looks beautiful from the photos, and is right across from campus, but it is pricey and also not worth the money, from what I’ve seen, and from what friends have said. The hallways are kept up horribly, there’s almost always police there, and there’s so much noise because of all the parties. While parties are okay, trying to sleep through them are not. Grants/loans and such can go towards your apartment (That’s how I’ll be paying for mine). While I know you said you wanted a single, and I know this seems like such a cookie cutter answer, I highly suggest going random and signing for an apartment with four other guys or girls. While you may shy away from it, this is where you begin to meet your friends-who you live with. I know going random can be scary, and maybe a couple of those guys you may not get along with, probability says you can get along with at least one. If you message me, I can give you a break down of cheaper off campus apartments that are a MUCH better deal. However, I HIGHLY suggest leasing at ‘TheLofts’. It’s right next to a publix (Probably not familiar with that, coming from Michigan, and I can understand as I’m an out of state student from the north, so I had never heard about it). The lofts are very nice. For a 4/4 (two floors, too!) it’s about $640 a month, I believe. For a 4/2, it’s $570. Hope I helped a bit:)</p>