<p>Can anyone give an opinion as to which is better, and maybe add some "pros and cons"? This would be a helpful thread for all of us UCSD-hopefuls in terms of housing. Thanks!!! </p>
<p>Oh, and on a personal note, I'm not too sure about The Village or off campus housing at all. I'm trying to get a 2nd (and 3rd, 4th, etc..) opinion to get more info on the matter</p>
<p>If you’re a transfer you get the village, no other options lol. It’s nice but it costs a fortune o_O</p>
<p>Your other option would be off-campus apartments that you can rent yourself. So there are other options aside from The Village, wwlink! 
I don’t know much about the pros and cons either. I’m trying to make the same decision myself if I do end up going to UCSD. Any input is appreciated!</p>
<p>Not 100% sure but aren’t the Village dorms literally new (~1yr old)? It true, thats a huge pro.</p>
<p>The West building is going on three years old now I believe. The East is opening this fall.</p>
<p>From what I am reading, it costs about $10,900 a year to live in the Village and that includes a $2200 meal plan. That is dirt cheap if I am reading it correctly.</p>
<p>I currently pay $550 a month to live in Pacific Beach (a few miles south of UCSD) plus cost of food/internet/gas + electric. All together I am paying around $15,000 for all my living expenses. </p>
<p>I imagine it will be more if I took summer sessions and tried to stay the full year, but still it seems like a deal to be able to live on campus.</p>
<p>Does anyone know which buildings are the substance free buildings?</p>
<p>It’s $10,900 for 3 quarters, and it’s tough (but possible) to live on the $8/day the meal plan provides.</p>
<p>I did some more math, to stay at my place and function properly, I need around $18,000 a year, and that includes commuting (which I hate the most about being a poor student. The bus sucks in SD so bad) I work part time now while in school, which is fine at the CC level, but I rather focus at a UC and get the most out of it. </p>
<p>I was in a touring band for years and learned to live off of $5 a day in a lot of cases, and I cook almost all my own food so that is not something I am most worried about. </p>
<p>Right now my FAFSA is for off-campus, does anyone know if they give you much more for on-campus?</p>
<p>I am In the same place as you guys. I would like to live in the village but I don’t get enough financial aid… So I am thinking I might live off campus.</p>
<p>I’ll probably use my dining plan once a day (if that.) I’m more of a fan of my own cooking, and I’ve eaten at UCSD plenty of times.</p>
<p>Yes, you can use your dining plan to buy foods to cook yourself. This is the most efficient way to use it–the restaurants are overpriced. In fact, if you pay dining services restaurants with Triton Cash (basically, cash you deposit into a UCSD account), you get a 10% discount.</p>
<p>I hope there’s a costco nearby</p>
<p>There’s no Costco all that close. Probably 15 minutes away by car.</p>
<p>that’s better than where i’m living right now! the closest one in newport beach is the one in Irvine by the spectrum, which is a 30min drive > ;o</p>
<p>I think this is a no-brainer. Renting apartments is a huge PITA. +you gotta worry about internet, water etc. I think the price is fair and since the new housing just opens up for fall…come on.</p>