<p>It looks like I'll have to be in off campus housing (which is daunting for an OOS transfer). Does anyone have any advice on this process? What apartments in the area are best/worst? Is it better to sublet or sign a lease directly? Anything else I should know? </p>
<p>I have looked at the off-campus housing website and the classified ads for open apartments, but if anyone can shed some more light on the whole process I would be very grateful.</p>
<p>I know it has been a while, but maybe you are still looking. My D was in the same boat when she transferred there as a sophomore in 2010. By the time she decided to accept her offer from PSU, all of the on-campus housing was gone- and even if it hadn’t been, she did not want to live in dorms. We are from CA, and she had gone for a campus visit, by herself, and really had not looked at off-campus housing. We could not really afford to go back and look, so did it all over the internet. She used the PSU off-campus housing ads and searched for roommates that already had housing. Try to look at a map to get something close to campus. She found a 2BR that already had 3 girls and needed a fourth. They checked each other out on FB and thru talking. We did have to sign a joint lease so that was kind of risky, but we didn’t have much choice. There are some off-campus student apartments, that are new and farther from campus, and they do have individual leases, but they are quite a ways from campus. It all worked out and while she didn’t end up absolutely loving her roommates, they all did OK together. She loved the location of her apt. and ended up staying in the same building (different apt., different roommates) this year. Next year she is moving a little farther up the street. It is nice to get near a bus route as it is easier to get to campus. </p>
<p>One thing we had to laugh about on the on-line ads, is that everyone advertising lists themself as "easy to get along with, clean, social but not a partier, considerate, etc, etc. "I cracked up when I saw the ad my D placed, as she described herself as “neat”. I love my D, but she is kind of a pig - fortunately the other girls were no more accurate in their own ads!</p>
<p>You can PM me if you need more info! Good luck-</p>
<p>Also, if your parents are planning to go with you to help you move in, be sure to make hotel reservations early. The area has a set number of hotels, and they fill early for busy weekends (football games, move-in, graduation). Once they are gone, it is not like you can just stay outside of town, as there really isn’t anything! I just reserved something for May 2013 for graduation- and a lot of places were already sold out!</p>
<p>takeitallin, if you ever get stuck for reservations feel free to pm me. I used to run a B&B in town (less than a mile to campus), but have been taking a break from it the last few years. I still take guests occasionally when people we know have work-related visitors coming in on football weekends and in other “emergencies”.</p>