Good morning to you all! It has been a while since I have considered the great advice in this forum to get both of my kids up and running with college. I am very grateful to all of you posters!
Now I am back… My sophomore student is planning next year’s junior year in College Park and we are figuring out what options we have with a 16.5K/yr budget for room and board. I think he prefers to live off-campus during junior/senior years. Any tips/advice you can give to make it work within that budget? Is close-by off-campus housing too expensive to fit our budget? Are there safe areas a short bike ride away that are within our reach?
Thanks and I am very much looking forward for any thoughts!!
What would he do over summer? Many off campus options have year round lease starting in June.
Might sublet in a house off Metzerott Road, especially filling in for students away for study abroad.
Does he have older friends or friends of friends who are seniors? Can get referral to landlord from current seniors. Often themes of friendship, major, hobby, are continued in various houses, informally.
UMD Off Campus Housing Office should have list and tips to check that housing meets building codes, especially for fire exits, smoke detectors, pest control, mold, rights of tenants(regarding billing, fees, security deposits).
Thanks @Hippobirdy . I understand that most off-campus housing options are always for the full calendar year. What his plans are over summer? lol, I wish I knew! And he probably also wished he knew. In my mind having a place to stay over summer wouldn’t hurt as it provides options for summer job/internship in the area. We would have to account for the higher housing costs this brings…
There are sure to be some summer jobs on campus with all the youth camps, and incoming student orientations. Babysit for faculty and staff. Get internship in DC, take metro.
Paid internships for federal government often are announced in fall.
He should ask classmates now about any upperclassmen who have nice housing. Seems like nicest, affordable housing is passed on by word of mouth.
Thanks @soofdad. I looked into SCC but at over 900/mo it is a bit steeper than what I am hoping for, not leaving much budget for food and other essentials…
@WilliamNYC I think it will be difficult to find what you are looking for. The older shared rental houses off Metzerott or Adelphi Rd or Baltimore Ave, may be further than he’d like to ride a bicycle, but there should be bus service.
The newer apartments close to campus are as much or more than SCC. Still, should be something, behind fraternity row, or off Rhode Island Ave.
I do think upperclassmen pass down news of when their leases are up to younger friends, and these types of openings never get advertised- since the landlord can fill on word of mouth referral.
