<p>As long at you don’t have classes at rush hour commute times, living in various parts in and around Columbia including Lake Murray is viable.</p>
<p>My daughter attends U of SC and we know The Retreat. Seems like a good option. I haven’t seen it myself but we haven’t had any problems. Seems well run. However, the student will need a car if they live there. I don’t think the shuttle bus service would be flexible enough if a student didn’t have their own car.</p>
<p>A friend has children at Garnet Riverwalk and Club (?near baseball stadium) and is pretty happy with both. Both have pretty reliable shuttles at least for their schedules. Garnet has been responsive to some roommate issues and friend is overall happy although move-in was a little chaotic.</p>
<p>I visited my son last weekend and we went to some off campus properties within walking distance to USC. I have done a lot of research and read reviews although I’ve been told to take them with a grain of salt. The recent webinar for parents was very well done and it is available on the off campus website. We felt that there were too many variables to leave it up to him completely. Having said all of that, I am very discouraged by and concerned about the choices available for off campus housing. Of course, they are college students but having my son live in a place where 1) there are rampant roach problems, 2) the property mgmt. company and on site staff (some of which are just college students) are unresponsive to students needs (repairs, etc.), 3) the shuttle service, which is not the USC shuttle, is unreliable, etc. is unsettling. These are comments that I have read about almost every property EXCEPT for one. During a visit, I asked the student that was showing us around what I should do with the information that concerns me. She listened and was very honest (a good sign). She confirmed that the issues I was asking her about do in fact exist.</p>
<p>We visited 3 properties but there were several more on my list. None of which give me any degree of comfort! I know I won’t be the one living there but I would like peace of mind. My son and his friends are interested in one property in particular. He will not have a car so we need to let him know it won’t work. I keep looking for other options. </p>
<p>We visited Senate Plaza (couple blocks from school - sounds and looks very nice), Olympia Mills, and we stopped in Wilshire House (which has a walkway to Strom Fitness Center). I have not been able to find any reviews or comments about Wilshire House so if you are familiar with it , please let me know. Thanks and please share any advice that you have!</p>
<p>
Why? Let him make his own mistakes. They have to grow up sometime. And a few bugs never killed anybody.</p>
<p>Got a letter from DD’s complex (Stadium Suites) saying they expect to be completely booked by December 31 (!), so she would have to commit for next year right now.</p>
<p>If they are all like this, it is a good thing you are looking already.</p>
<p>DD wants to do a semester abroad next school year, so she can’t commit for a whole year. Hopefully she can get in a dorm…</p>
<p>My son and his 3 friends decided on Garnet River Walk. It is under new management, which hopefully is a good thing, and the security deposit was waived and the price is reasonable. I realize the parent info session said you could wait until Feb-March timeframe but they have 4 of them trying to get a 4 BR unit together, and those apparently are the first to fill up, so they all wanted to sign up now rather than risk not getting a 4 BR for their lot. </p>
<p>We drove down and toured several with son and one of the roomies and even though this isn’t ‘easy’ walking distance (2 miles), it was my first choice (for what that is worth, which isn’t much! - at the end of the day, I was a bystander in the decision). </p>
<p>Just some notes on what we discovered on the trip re: the places we visited: </p>
<ul>
<li><p>Garnet River Walk - 2 miles from campus. Appears to be a nice area- very convenient to grocery stores, restaurants, Vista area. Price is reasonable ($585/month per person for a 4 BR / 4 BA -each room has it’s own bathroom). All utilities included with a cap on electric. Free parking and free shuttle service- which I heard from 2 sophomores that live there now is reliable except possibly if a train comes, which is obviously out of their control. Son has a car so this is non-issue. Fully furnished, which I think is the case for most of these- they seem to cater to college. </p></li>
<li><p>The HUB - Popular new spot opening next fall. I talked to them a few times and they emailed me info. Comparing apples to apples (4 BR) - some of their 4 BR units have 4 BA and some with 3 BA, but either way, the price was substantially higher (~ $670-$750/month per person) and only includes “Internet, trash and cable”…. thus, electric is NOT included. They said one of the roomies would need to take responsibility and put it in their name. If I recall, parking is not included either ($40 /month). They say “walking” distance, but it is still a mile from campus. A mile isn’t much but they do not provide shuttle service so if it’s pouring down rain and you have no car, you’re SOL … grab a raincoat. Also, consider walking back from an evening class by yourself. They also charge security deposit, unlike Garnet where it was waived. </p></li>
<li><p>The Loft - Also ‘within walking distance’ but I was turned off by this place after talking to them on the phone. They were downright rude and you could not just walk up and get a tour. You actually had to make an appointment for a tour!! They could not guarantee my son would get a room with his buddies no matter how far in advance they signed up. Garnet, although not 100% ‘written’ guarantee on this, they seemed more reassuring since they signed up so early. Plus, I heard the roach problem was huge here. My son is not afraid of roaches but I heard of it more here than anywhere else… as well as the lack of response to maintenance issues. Prices were higher than Garnet but I believe less than HUB. </p></li>
<li><p>Pointe West - This is across the bridge as well but on the other side of the railroad tracks (so no risk of getting caught by a train on the way to class). It’s a bit further distance than Garnet (2.5 miles vs 2 miles so not enough to even ponder). Son and his buddies liked this place as well. Apparently one of the IT guys on campus lives here and he really likes it (told my son); however, it seemed very dated - smelled musty and old- and looked old too. Plus, I was not crazy about the surrounding location, at least at first impression. $500 /month per person, includes same utilities as Garnet. Also has shuttle. </p></li>
<li><p>Copper Beach Townhouses - These are past the stadium near the Woodlands (HUGE complex) approx 4 miles to campus. They liked the layout of these- 3 stories, lots of space- up to 1800 sq. ft. for a 4 BR /4.5 BA. $485/month per person (utilities not included but could pay more to include utilities). Their concern was traffic being near the stadium and the drive to campus potentially more traffic than the direct route from Garnet. </p></li>
</ul>
<p>They also considered renting a house nearby the campus but really like the community aspect you get with the apartment living. Living off campus, you’re already losing the ‘dorm socialization’ but in an apartment, you still have the community socialization. </p>
<p>Also, I agree with notrichenough re: paper-thin walls… you get that in the dorm already- and most apartments as well. It’s part of apartment living, which is a right of passage at that age in itself! :-)</p>
<p>Wilshire House: I had friends who lived there. I personally think it’s way too expensive, but it is a nice place and the location can’t be beat.</p>
<p>My four friends split a two bedroom. I wouldn’t recommend it. They were practically on top of each other. I’m pretty sure their rooms were smaller than typical dorm rooms. They had to loft their beds (with desks underneath), had only one closet to share in each room, and had barely any free space to move. Split four ways, their rent was pretty decent, but really, the 2-bedroom apartments are designed for two people. Split two ways, it’s just prohibitively expensive.</p>
<p>If you’re willing to spend the money, then go at it. It’s a really nice location and it’s a pretty nice apartment complex and my friends had no complaints.</p>
<p>I come home from Paris in about a week. After a few days, my roommate and I are planning on visiting Columbia and looking around for info on apartments for next year. I’ll take detailed notes and let you all know what I find out from a student’s perspective!</p>