<p>Hey guys, I've been wondering if anyone's had experience or heard of anyone doing off-campus housing with a USC student. Basically, I'm an incoming freshman for UCLA and I have a friend who is going to USC as a freshman.</p>
<p>we made an agreement that if possible, we'd house together off-campus the next year. I was wondering if anyone here has any advice or input in regards to this situation. </p>
<p>Are there many places in between the two campuses in order to do this and will getting to class be a pain? Will it generally cost a lot?</p>
<p>do you have financial aid? apartments are cheaper than the dorms…but if you’re looking for a place in between the 2 campuses its going to be hassle waking up every morning to take the bus. there’s always morning traffic as well. </p>
<p>if its due to deep financial need, I understand taking an apartment first year. however, if you have good financial aid/not as much financial need, i HIGHLY recommend living the dorms. living in the dorms is where the college experience is: you’ll make many of your good friends and memories there. </p>
<p>also, if you shoot for an apartment between the two schools, the distance will essentially be like commuting…which is an even worse experience for a freshman. its hard to meet people/stay on campus when you commute; when you’re a junior or senior you’ll at least have a network of friends so commuting would be easier.</p>
<p>finally, I understand that you want to keep in touch with your friend, but you can still maintain contact without living in an apartment between your schools. it’ll force you to branch out and meet new people, and you guys can always hang on the weekends. later, if you guys have cars, it would be more manageable…but Westwood parking is another beast to consider. </p>
<p>tldr: If possible, i’d definitely try to live in the dorms…apartment life is better when you already have a network of friends. it’ll also be a hassle to come to school everyday. you can still take the bus to see each other on weekends, and you’ll have a better “college experience” in the dorms. good luck</p>
<p>Agreed, I’d highly recommend living in the dorms your first year as well. UCLA and USC are about a 20 drive between each other without traffic, and if you’re unfamiliar with LA there’s almost ALWAYS traffic. Plus if you do live off campus you’ll have to worry about parking permits, finding parking everyday, gaps in your school schedule with nothing to do, making friends, clubs and club meetings, study sessions, professor office hours, etc. I say you guys go your separate ways, keep in touch and visit on the weekends, invite each other to events or parties on campus and things like that. Trust me, this way you wont grow to hate LA, traffic and college. Heck, you might even find that one of you likes the other campus more and decides they want to transfer after 2 years.</p>
<p>Agreed with both replies above. I also think it’s a better idea to live with random people instead of friends - I’ve heard stories of best friends growing to hate each other because they were not compatible as roommates. One of my best friends from high school also attends UCLA, but we have never roomed together because of that possibility. If you’re really good friends with that person, then you’ll find time to hang out in other ways. In the meantime, make friends here.</p>