<p>Are there any students or parents of students that can provide feedback on the experience of moving off campus into a house their sophomore year? Pros and cons are fine. I am seeing only cons as a mom :) and worry how this might affect continued campus involvement and/or grades. It seems like this is something that is seen more in the junior and senior year. Any feedback would be appreciated.</p>
<p>This is really going to depend on the situation.</p>
<p>Personally, my involvement INCREASED after moving off campus. I don’t think it was a RESULT of moving off campus…I merely feel that the two are unrelated. My grades remained unchanged. I also felt closer to my support system of friends. Living together with a group of my choosing definitely turned school into a true “home” away from home for me. Learning to cook, clean, etc. are things we all need to learn sometime. It is best S/D learns when he/she WANTS to with a group of people S/D is excited about, rather than wait until FORCED, right? </p>
<p>Of course, I am referring to a house that is under 1 mile to my classes (a similar distance, in fact, to dorms from my classes!). Also, we are a house of studious and involved people, and so we simply transferred a dorm attitude to a house. I imagine you might have a totally different set of concerns if someone is moving into a fraternity housing, moving far away from campus, moving into an apartment alone or into a house with people they don’t know well, etc.</p>
<p>The one true negative of moving off campus so early is that the rental housing market in CP is BRUTAL. It is a PAIN to search for houses, search for people interested in houses, find something suitable, coordinate, and sign the lease before another group of students does so. If anything distracted me from schoolwork it was the month (sometimes months!) spent looking for and talking about where we would live next. Once you move off campus, you are NOT given the opportunity to move back on (either into dorms or into Commons or Courtyards). This might not be a concern for your S/D…if housing is a fratnerity/sorority or apartment, then I assume they are gaurunteed a spot there for as long as they like. </p>
<p>There are also various legal concerns…most houses in CP are zoned for only 5 unrelated people. But it goes without saying that houses will be priced to fit more, especially if said houses have shareable rooms or simply more than 5 bedrooms (yes, talk about stupid law…only 5 students in a house with 6 or 7 bedrooms…give me a break!). Therefore, you are in a situation where you’re going to have to feel comfortable #1 signing a lease and being responsible for X thousands of dollars a month (all signers on a lease are usually responsible for everyone else) and #2 living in a house with and relying on monetary payment from some people not on the lease at all. </p>
<p>Living off campus definitely creates more logistical stress, due to concerns with finding a house, signing onto a house, etc. But once settled into a place (assuming reasonable closeness to campus and a decent group of friends), I believe there is no impact on grades or involvement, really. At least, there certainly doesn’t have to be…it would only be in very specific cases where this would be impacted if the kid is otherwise is inclined to participate in campus life. CP has a thriving “neighboring commuter” life…sure, most sophomores choose to avoid the hassle of signing leases/finding houses for as long as possible (and then try to get into campus-affiliated housing such as Commons or Courtyards). But if said rising sophomore already has a plan down pat, I don’t see how there could be a lot of real problems with it.</p>
<p>There are a lot of kids who choose to move off campus as early as sophomore year. Your kid has his head on straight…I don’t think you have anything to worry about…and I think you’ve said in the past that he’ll probably take his truck (?) next year…it’s a whole lot easier to live off campus if you’ve got transportation, but you can certainly made due with the busses, and counting on friends with transportation. He’ll have a lot more “space” in which to live, even if he’s living with a lot of people, which has got to be good…I could give you a whole list of cons too (that mom thing, you know?), but hopefully we’ll both hear some “pros” from experienced students!! Hopefully, both D’s will be on campus in suites/apts next year, so this isn’t on my radar (yet).</p>
<p>great summary, umcp11!</p>
<p>umcp, thanks so much for your insight and astro as always, reassurance. </p>
<p>I still can’t say I am comfortable with the idea mainly because he will be relying on 3 other students to pull their weight financially. DS would be the only Honors student and the only one on full academic scholarship (so lots at stake) if it becomes the new party house. We had a major meltdown today about it and I’m not feeling very good about the way things went. It’s such a huge responsibility and added stress if even one of the other 3 flakes out on a month’s rent. I don’t want his scholarship money to end up going to cover someone else’s rent. Also, he will not be able to go back to campus housing down the road if it should not work out. Once he’s out, he’s out. He has no furniture, washer/dryer, etc. He’s made up his mind though and it looks like they found a house today. I don’t know how landlords hold a house with just a deposit until August, but okay. He’s made up his mind. Also, the idea of him getting such a huge check every semester for room, board, and the books just freaks me out. It’s a lot of money for a soon to be 19 year old to have in his account and manage. Did I mention the other 3 are fraternity brothers? Any thoughts now?</p>
<p>Well, Jewel, take some deep breaths…it’s certainly not worth having a meltdown with your son about. This is one of those risks that he’ll recover from if it happens not to work out. Throughout the school year, there are always people coming and going…if one of the roommates flakes out and doesn’t pay, they can always get rid of him and pick up one of the many people who will be looking for a place to live. As far as furniture, there seems to be this “mystery” supply of apartment furniture that just kind of floats around…it may not make the pages of decorating mags, but for a bunch of college student guys, it will work out great. </p>
<p>I’ve had to keep reminding myself of my own experiences back in the dark age…couches with no springs, milk crate end tables, and I would be appalled if either of my daughters lived in conditions that I did my Jr. and Sr. year in college!!! </p>
<p>Regarding studying…he’ll probably end up doing most of his studying on campus, anyway…most schedules don’t end up working out just perfectly, so those 1-2 hr breaks between classes when there’s not enough time to go home are a really good excuse to get work done. He’s a spokesperson for the Honors program, for goodness sake! It’s highly unlikely that he’ll go terribly crazy and forget everything he’s known for 13+ years about learning. Relax, and ask about how far he’ll be from campus, would having a bike (or scooter) help, how will he get groceries (altho Giant’s Peapod delivery service is good), etc. All the other stuff will work itself out.</p>
<p>I’m convinced that if kids don’t go off the deep end into blowing off classes and grades and partying themselves stupid during their freshman year, they’ve learned the self-control and know the proper priorities for why they are in school. Besides, you have the ease of him knowing full well already that if he slips below the required GPA, his B/K will be gone. That’s a more driving issue than anything you can bring up. (And he’s probably got the filter up already on the issue that interprets what you say as “blah, blah, blah” if he’s like my kids!!!) </p>
<p>He’s had a great freshman year…the classes will get tougher, and he’s ready to step up… believe it!</p>
<p>Well…look at it this way…if your S chose to remain on campus for sophomore year, it is likely it would have been his last.</p>
<p>The majority of juniors at MD are kicked out of on-campus housing, and do not get into campus-affiliated housing such as Commons or Courtyards.</p>
<p>I was one of those juniors. I see why you’re concerned, but if he’s going to pick frat brothers now, he’d probably pick frat brothers later 
In my experience off campus was not a huge free-for-all…there is a similar amount of drinking/partying/etc. You may not have RAs, but you do have neighbors…and those neighbors with elementary school kids can be LESS likely to turn a blind eye to loud parties than 20-yr-old RAs.</p>
<p>I can’t say whether 1 extra year prepared me any better…and in fact, at least as a sophomore he will be taking less major classes, less upper-levels, less pressure to get internships, etc. You generally think of sophomore year as a less critical time than junior/senior years. Perhaps if he is going to make a mistake or encounter challenges with the transition, now is even the BEST time…if this year is a huge crash and burn, at least he will know to go for a studio apartment for the following years, when the tests are harder and pressure is REALLY on!</p>
<p>In terms of financially relying on the other guys, well, yeah, that’s a concern. But in many cases MD students (such as myself) have no other option. The fact that your S has a scholarship is a HUGE cushion in his favor. None of us can know if our roommates are perfect…and most of us are also breaking the bank just to make our REGULAR rent. At least if a roomie drops out, you and/or S will not be in a huge financial hot spot. The other roomies have more to worry about.</p>
<p>I think it is odd indeed that the landlord is not requiring parental cosigning. Most landlords in the area do (though I know of at least 1 who does not…let’s just say he’s questionable…not to make you nervous…there are 100s of landlords…who knows what your S’s is like). In any case, I am sure your son would let you meet the roomies and parents thereof in question. Or, I hope he would! Maybe it would help ease your concerns somewhat. If you are required to co-sign, you may also ask the landlord if he/she runs a credit check (or can run a credit check) on the other co-signers.</p>
<p>P.S. most houses come with laundry machines! If your S’ doesn’t, you might want to let him know that that’s pretty atypical! </p>
<p>P.P.S. Craigslist “free stuff” section is great for kitchen tables, couches, and anything else you’d need ;)</p>
<p>Good luck!!! It’s a stressful time, but I suppose rip the bandaid off quickly, eh?</p>
<p>"The majority of juniors at MD are kicked out of on-campus housing, … "</p>
<p>He might have been guaranteed access to residence hall housing on campus for all four years, as I have …</p>
<p>plumazul, please explain.</p>
<p>Banneker/Key Scholars are guaranteed access to on-campus housing all four years. :)</p>
<p>[Banneker/Key</a> Scholars - Honors College - University of Maryland](<a href=“http://www.bannekerkey.umd.edu/bkhousingfaqs.php]Banneker/Key”>http://www.bannekerkey.umd.edu/bkhousingfaqs.php)</p>
<p>“Banneker/Key Scholars who entered as first-year students in fall 2008 or later are guaranteed 4 years of on-campus, residence hall housing.”</p>
<p>Ah…I would have entered in Fall 2007 so my friends with the Banneker were not guaranteed housing…lol, they just missed it…what a bummer.</p>
<p>If Jewels’ son has Banneker and is a rising sophomore he may indeed have housing…so it would probably be advised not to let him move off campus!!! </p>
<p>Though it’s hard to push around a kid with a full scholarship :/. You can’t hang much over his head!</p>
<p>Thanks guys, and yes, he is guaranteed on campus housing if he wants it for all 4 years!! This is why I was apprehensive about having him go off campus. He cannot come back on campus, once he’s off. That’s the rule.</p>
<p>He is looking at another house tomorrow with several other guys from his floor in Queen Anne. They are not “brothers”, but they are all Honors students and he’s gotten to kinda sorta live with them by being in and out of their rooms this year, eating with them, staying up late, etc. The house they found is further from campus and never been rented out before and sounds like it’s probably more of what he is used to at home. He has defintely decided on not staying on campus though. It’s out of my hands. It was bound to happen eventually, but I just want it to be the right academic decision. The stakes are so high with the full B/K. </p>
<p>He called today and we’re okay after the meltdown. He saw some of my points were valid and that’s when he told me he was asked by his floormates to go to this new house. I’ll know more tomorrow, but even this landlord will hold the house with the deposit until August. That’s so weird!</p>
<p>Thanks for all your good posts. You have really put my mind at ease! Love my CC family! I’ll keep you posted!!</p>