<p>Plans are already afoot to live off campus next year.</p>
<p>Does anyone have any thoughts, advice, experiences to share?</p>
<p>My daughter moved off campus sophomore year and loves it. It can be cheaper than on campus because many of the upper class dorms are pricey. She said she would do it again even though the first place she chose was not really right for her and she moved the next year. Fortunately she had good roommates so no drama there. As a parent I was a little worried but it all turned out fine.</p>
<p>So where did she live? </p>
<p>And what were the issues with the first place she tried?</p>
<p>I’ll send you a pm…she’d kill me if I gave too many details on-line. The reason she didn’t like the first place is because some roommate plans fell through and she and a friend got “matched” up at a complex that does individual leases…they ended up with two 24 year old roommmates who were not students (which was not what we expected). Had she been there with all 4 of the original group she may have liked it better, but maybe not. There were other issues about the complex she didn’t love.</p>
<p>Yikes, 24 year old roommates is not quite what one would expect from a “matching” service!</p>
<p>S is off campus in same complex and apt as last year…Pointe West.No roommate issues as 4 boys went in together in a 4 bed/2 bath and have stayed together. Complex is decent and theres a shuttle to campus if car is an issue.His rent actually went down this year as more complexes opened and theres more competition.He has a washer/dryer in apt and a balcony ovelooking the pool area.We did have to cosign lease but i think thats standard.It works out to be cheaper than campus Honors apt would have been…even with paying the 12 months vs 9 mos for campus.No complaints or worries from me over him moving but then gain, hes a 2nd kid and older one is a D and I did all my worrying then!</p>
<p>We are in the same boat, D wants to live off campus next year. We went to a few of the complexes she was interested in but only got brochures from 2 of them. The others were closed because of the game. I guess everyone wanted to start tailgating very early. LOL</p>
<p>The Daily Gamecock had a list of off campus housing and occupancy rates early in the semester.</p>
<p>The one I really liked the looks of (and my daughter concurs!) is Aspyre.</p>
<p>Is that one of the ones you checked out?</p>
<p>I’m also interested in what happens with the 12-month lease. Do students just leave the apartments empty for the summer? Or do they tend to stick around town so they can live in them during the break and get their money’s worth?</p>
<p>My daughter interned in Columbia the first summer, then when she had an internship out of state the next year she was able to sub-lease at least one month to a friend. Her other roommmates are from SC so they were in and out over the summer fortunately. That way it was just not left empty for months.</p>
<p>My D is living off campus for the first time this year. She has a 3BR in Olympia Mills. It seems expensive, but she seems to like it so far.</p>
<p>fendrock
S’s friend is living at Aspyre this year.Its brand new and way more expensive than some other options (for example, its at least 120$/month more than S pays) but could be considered more luxurious I guess. The traffic in the area was crazy during the football game time period.</p>
<p>Yes, I did note that Aspyre was more of a “luxury-apartment” than some of the other offerings, but I guess this is one of those instances where I am living vicariously through my daughter and that’s the one I would pick ! – would you at least say that it is within walking distance to campus, which many of the others are not?</p>
<p>I also liked the looks of Olympia Mills (their web site, at least), but apparently the proposed roommate has already visited them and didn’t like them.</p>
<p>I wouldnt classify Aspyre as walking distance…maybe a bike ride? Do they have a campus shuttle?</p>
<p>D has lived in Copper Beech the last two years. They moved into Phase Two when it was brand new. They have a four bedroom four and a half bath, three story apartment that is about 2200 square feet. There are two bedrooms on the first floor and third floor with the common areas on the second floor.</p>
<p>Each bedroom has its own ensuite bath with large closets, a nice sized living room with a large eat in kitchen with a serving bar and a big outdoor deck on the back.</p>
<p>They each pay $450 per month (furnished) and have been very happy with it. They have a nice clubhouse, beach volley ball area, fitness center and pool. The complex has regular bus service to campus all day that also runs at night to Five Points and downtown for those who have been out to the bars.</p>
<p>It is on Bluff Rd which runs adjacent to the football stadium about three miles from campus and is adjacent to the Woodlands and the Retreat which she initially was very interested in but is now glad that she didn’t choose. All three complexes are full of USC students.</p>
<p>My d is zeroing in on The Woodlands.</p>
<p>What does your daughter consider preferable about Copper Beech?</p>
<p>I would also like to know eadad as my D’s first choice is the Retreat. Thanks</p>
<p>My S is also looking to live off campus next year. Does anyone know when they should be putting in a rental application? Do they wait until just before the spring semester ends or do they do it at the beginning?</p>
<p>MeKimber, I am also trying to get a handle on such information.</p>
<p>Aspyre is asking for $50 to be put on a waiting list - apparently they require 60 days notice from residents who will be moving out, so they do not yet know which units will be available for the next school year.</p>
<p>The Woodlands told me that the type of unit my daughter is interested in (2-bedroom) has availability for next year and she can just come in and sign the lease (obviously with the associated credit checks etc.)</p>
<p>One thing I would like to say about Copper Beech is that they are very slow to respond to maintenance issues. D had A/C problems when we were there for parents weekend that required us going to the office and getting involved for them to take it seriously. Even after that they were getting lip service and a cursory investigation. After about 5 phone calls and complaints they finally discovered a freon leak that required ordering a part. They installed window A/C units until they could get the part. Over a week later the window units are still installed.</p>
<p>As the parent of a daughter, I have also been concerned about security there. One or more of their security gates always seems to not be working. The main gates are now open all the time supposedly related to a shortage of access remotes that were not turned in when people moved out. That said, the Woodlands doesn’t appear to have security gates or if they do, they are always open as well. On game days everyone cuts through the Woodlands to get to Copper Beech because the main road to Copper Beech is converted to one way traffic “out” for game day traffic.</p>
<p>EAmom spoke to D briefly last night regarding Copper Beech. She said she could NOT recommend it to any students right now; I don’t have the whole story but will try to find out. I think there are some CC posters living in either Copper Beech or the Retreat; hopefully they will respond as well.</p>
<p>S signed his lease for his rental at Pointe West right after the spring break of the year before he moved in there.There seemed to be plenty of availability and they were able to request the unit they wanted in the location they wanted,but of course they didnt get confirmed into it until the summertime before move in.There was no waiting list.S’s complex is not gated but is somewhat removed from the main road areas.
I wondered what traffic/manuverability was like in the stadium area complexes on game days,it’s crazy around there!</p>