<p>so i'm looking around for a place to stay in the fall. i was considering a plaza until i saw the price. even the halls run almost to 10k and isn't that only for 9 months? sounds really expensive... i'm guessing the surrounding area outside of campus won't be much cheaper?</p>
<p>could you give me the website for the housing price?</p>
<p>i think that's including food no?</p>
<p>Ever heard of 'supply and demand'???</p>
<p>All colleges are expensive. I believe Berkeley starts at $12,400 for a triple.</p>
<p>motojdm,</p>
<p>Look at it this way. You're going to spend at least $500-700 a month on a shared bedroom in Westwood. Then assuming you eat very little, factor in about $250/month for food (you'll eat out here and there.) Factor in utilities, which is about $35-75 shared.</p>
<p>Rent: $500-700
Food: ~$250
Utilities: $35-75</p>
<p>You've just spent about $900-1100/month in Westwood. Now, you can do this for less. You can do it for more. I'd say that an absolute spartan lifestyle can be had for about $800/month. But you'll still have to share space and you'll probably be living a mile or so off-campus. Now, assuming you do it for 9 months, you're looking at spending either $1100/month for living on-campus, not dealing with bills other than one flat rate, much faster internet than you'll get on your own, and the pleasure of not having to cook. You also lose autonomy.</p>
<p>Off-campus, if you luck out and get a place in Westwood, you're looking at saving maybe $300/month if you're incredibly spartan, but you'll probably have to head out to Palms to do it. Then you add in the time spent on the bus (time = money), and it might not be worth it.</p>
<p>That's my take, at least.</p>
<p>Hongda, here's the link:</p>
<p>
[quote]
You've just spent about $900-1100/month in Westwood. Now, you can do this for less... But you'll still have to share space...
[/quote]
At least you're not going to be packed in a room like sardines in the dorms if you're going for about ~600/month. :rolleyes:</p>
<p>Compare a shared room in an apartment to the 3-person closet space in the residence halls. It's the same price!!!</p>
<p>Oh and being in West LA helps the prices soar... -_-;</p>
<p>^agree</p>
<p>But i have to say the one big thing I miss about living on campus is definitely the food. Not how good it is but how convenient it is. You can practically get food at any time during the day, instead of making food on your own and having to clean up (provided you already bought groceries).</p>
<p>UC Berkeley has even more expensive housing than UCLA. :rolleyes:</p>
<p>
[quote]
But i have to say the one big thing I miss about living on campus is definitely the food. Not how good it is but how convenient it is. You can practically get food at any time during the day, instead of making food on your own and having to clean up (provided you already bought groceries).
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I prefer having a kitchen. For instance, some times I wake up at 3 am ~ 6 am and I can't get any decent food. How about on the weekends? Breakfasts is served at 10:30! Sure they open at 9:30 AM, but you can only eat cereal and fruit. That's overpriced cereal.</p>
<p>6 of one half a dozen of the other, as far as food goes. then again i can't WAIT for a kitchen!!!</p>
<p>you could always get a commuter meal plan if you really want convenience ;)</p>
<p>all on-campus housing is "outrageously priced"...but it includes food. going off-campus doesn't save you a whole lot though, at least not in Westwood.</p>
<p>and if UCLA's rates are outrageous, what's Cal's? few more thousand for small triples in crappy buildings with halls (and stairways) not wide enough for two people. i don't think they have the excuse of good food, either, though they don't have to walk up a fat hill.</p>
<p>Remember guys, it's all about trade-offs.</p>
<p>Kitchens mean freedom to cook, but they also mean time spent cleaning and cooking. </p>
<p>More space in an apartment means more comfort, but it also means more cleaning and usually involves purchasing furniture and walking to campus (time.)</p>
<p>Moving off-campus means that you gain abundance of one thing but increased scarcity of another.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Kitchens mean freedom to cook, but they also mean time spent cleaning and cooking.
[/quote]
I think it's great. If I had another year of dorm food, I'd die. Cleaning is usually OK seeing that it's divided four-ways and well, you're usually just responsible for cleaning your own stuff in the complex at large. That and not everyone cares about living civilized! :( </p>
<p>Considering North Village - Walking to campus isn't that bad - if you live as far as Veteran, you can take the shuttle at Weyburn Terrace. Provided that you walk there 30 minutes in advance, you should manage to catch one on time and get to class in a few minutes. If it's like 15 minutes, it's a gamble if you get there right to class on-time, 5 minutes... or at latest 10 minutes. </p>
<p>As far as Veteran - if you're a complete slacker, practically crawling, enjoy-the-scenery type, can't walk up BruinWalk without complaining, 25-30 minutes max to get to Royce. The other places aren't that bad. It'll be what, a maximum of an additional 15 minutes or something?</p>
<p>mme-lin,</p>
<p>Oh, I agree that overall it's not a huge problem. It's just that when you get down to it, a 30 minute commute is 1 hour of your day spent commuting. Most college students are fortunate that they can afford it, but it should still be a consideration.</p>
<p>As for cooking... well... I hate doing the dishes. For me, dorm food, while bad, was better than washing dishes. :p</p>
<p>it's not that expensive, especially compared with the apartment rates in westwood. may be it's just me, but id rather live close to campus and get meals for a little more each quarter...that and i don't pay for anything, my parents thankfully cover it all...</p>
<p>agree with bruinboy.
i like the convenience of living within a close proximity to campus and the ability to forego a a fraction of my day cooking and cleaning.
i also cannot leave rendezvous bacon bagel sandwich. i tried to replicate it at home, but it does not have the same je ne sais quoi. :)</p>
<p>it's not that much farther away... heck n. village feels like another "hill" just - just not run by ORL... and compromising mostly upper-div bruins</p>
<p>i thought i wouldn't be able to live without certain foods either...
but then i just eat them way too much, get sick of them, and move on lol.</p>