Whether you landed a coveted internship or just decided to spend a summer away from home, it may seem daunting to spend a few months in an unfamiliar city. While it may be weird at first to hear people say “caw-fee” instead of “cah-fee,” venturing out of your comfort zone to experience a new environment is part of growing up. But, no one ever said adulthood was easy.
To make one step of the process a little less stressful, Her Campus is here with a comprehensive guide to the galaxy… or just housing for five major cities collegiettes tend to populate come summertime.
New York, NY:
Columbia University
Location: East Campus, 70-2 Morningside Drive?New York, NY 10027 (Morningside Heights)
Dates: May 27—Aug. 4, 2012
Types of Residences: Unless you’re staying for 10 weeks, Columbia University only offers single dorm rooms in suite-style living.
Services:
- Air conditioning
- Gym membership on campus
- Laundry services
- Computer labs in the building
Rates: $1,400 – $3,250, depending on how long you stay
Application: Apply online here.
For more information about summer housing at Columbia University click here.
New York University
Location: Manhattan, specific location depends on type of residence
Dates: May 20–Aug. 11, 2012
Types of Residences: On the New York University campus, there are housing options in traditional and apartment-style spaces. If you’re interested in a single, double or triple bedroom and eating in the NYU cafeteria, choose the first option. These dorms are all on the main campus, and only two of the four buildings are air-conditioned.
The second option, which is also for one, two or three people, has a kitchen and air conditioning in each of the apartments. These buildings are dispersed around Manhattan including Union Square, SoHo and Gramercy Park.
Services:
- Gym membership on campus
- Cable TV
- Wired Internet (need an Ethernet cable)
- Laundry services
Rates: $169—$368 per week
Application: Apply online here.
For more information about summer housing at New York University click here.
School of Visual Arts
Location: Several buildings across the Lower East Side, East Village and Gramercy Park
Dates: May 19–Aug. 4, 2012
Types of Residences: Whether you’re looking to replicate collegiate experiences in a dorm building or hoping to live in a more adult-like apartment this summer, the School of Visual Arts residences create a comfortable environment to escape the hustle and bustle of NYC. Each of their locations’ high rises are available for seven, nine or 11-week periods.
Services:
- Air conditioning
- Private bathrooms
- Cable TV
- Wi-Fi Internet
- Laundry Services
Rates: $2,300 – $3,900
Application: Apply online here.
For more information about housing at the School of Visual Arts, click here.
If you’d rather live in a facility unaffiliated with a college or university check out StudentHousing.org and NYCIntern.org.
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Washington, D.C.:
American University
Location: 4344 Nebraska Ave. NW, Washington D.C. 20016
Dates: May 13–Aug. 11, 2012
Types of Residences: Most interns who stay at American University will live on the Tenley Campus (in Tenley Circle) in a double or triple-occupancy room. There are a limited number of single rooms located on the main campus that are available upon request.
Services:
- Air conditioning
- Wi-Fi Internet
- Laundry Services
- Free parking
- Free shuttle to Tentlytown/AU Metro station
Rates: $246—$344 per week
Application: Apply online here.
For more information about housing at American University click here.
George Washington University
Location: GWU Foggy Bottom Campus (in the Foggy Bottom neighborhood)
Dates: May 27–Aug. 11, 2012
Types of Residences: From townhouse style living for Greek-affiliated students to dorm-style rooms with a common room, George Washington University offers a variety of residential options for their summer residents. GWU also offers small and large group living quarters if you’re planning on staying in D.C. with a team or club.
Services:
- Air conditioning
- Wi-Fi Internet
- Laundry Services
Rates: $217 – $427 per week
Application: Apply online here.
For more information about housing at George Washington University click here.
George Mason University
Location: Rogers Hall, 4300 Occoquan River Lane, Fairfax, VA
Dates: May 25–Aug. 4, 2012
Types of Residences: In George Mason University’s newest residential building, collegiettes will live in an apartment in a single or double occupancy room. When applying, there’s a space to fill out which kind of room you would prefer as well as if you have a preference for who you’d like to be your roommate.
Services:
- Air conditioning
- Cable TV
- Laundry Services
- Wi-Fi and Wired Internet
Rates: $29—$35 per night for a minimum of 30 days
Application: Apply online here.
For more information about housing at George Mason University click here.
If you’d rather live in a facility unaffiliated with a college or university check out some of our favorite student residence facilitators here or here.
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Boston, MA:
Boston University
Location: Residences in South Campus, an area encompassed by Beacon St., Mountfort St. and Park Dr.
Dates: May 29–Aug. 18, 2012
Types of Residences: As a non-Boston University student, you’ll live on the South Campus in either an apartment-style residence or a dorm room with at least one other person.
Services:
- Wired Internet (need an Ethernet cable)
- Laundry Services
Rates: $1,204 – $3,554
Application: Apply online here.
For more information about housing at Boston University click here.
Northeastern University
Location: Back Bay neighborhood
Dates: June 3—Aug. 11, 2012
Types of Residences: At Northeastern, residences can select a room in a suite- or apartment-style residence in either a single or double room. In the “Enhanced Housing Option” collegiettes can live in an air-conditioned room with a common living area, two amenities not guaranteed in the “Standard Housing Option.”
Services:
- Cable TV
- Internet
- Laundry Services
Rates: $285 – $425, per week
Application: Apply online here.
For more information about housing at Northeastern University click here.
If you’d rather live in a facility unaffiliated with a university check out Boston Apartments and Rental Beast.
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Chicago, IL:
Northwestern University
Location: Foster-Walker Complex, 927 Orrington Ave., Evanston, IL 60201
Dates:June 17–Aug. 18, 2012
Types of Residences: Located between Northwestern’s notorious north and south campuses, summer residents in the Foster-Walker Complex will live in rooms of 3-5 people.
Services:
- Air conditioning
- Wi-Fi Internet
- Laundry Services
Rates: $237 per week
Application: Apply online here.
For more information about housing at Northwestern University click here.
University of Illinois at Chicago
Location: Thomas Beckham Hall,?1250 South Halsted St.,?Chicago, IL 60607
Dates: May 29 – Aug. 5, 2012
Types of Residences: At the University of Illinois at Chicago, residents can opt to live in two- or four-bedrooms apartments, which are about a 25-minute ‘L’ ride away from the loop.
Services:
- Wired Internet (need an Ethernet cable)
- Cable TV
- Laundry Services
Rates: $300 per week; $900 for 4 weeks
Application: Apply online here.
For more information about housing at University of Illinois at Chicago click here.
If you’d rather live in a facility unaffiliated with a university check out Chicago Summer Housing and The Buckingham Chicago.
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Los Angeles, CA:
UCLA has a website where collegiettes can find hundreds of listings for apartments, rooms in houses and short-term sublets. Although there is limited housing on nearby colleges, this website provides a plethora of living opportunities for those collegiettes lucky enough to land a job in LA.
Other options for summer housing:
- While it would be nice to live on your own over the summer, if you have family members who live near your summer job ask if there’s a spare room in their house where you could live. Depending on your relationship with them, it may be nice to offer to pay rent or do certain chores around the house while you’re there to ensure you’re not a nuisance.
- If you’d rather not live in a dorm, check the colleges near your internship to see if your sorority house is on campus there. Some chapters have programs that allow any member of the organization to stay in the house over the summer; regardless of what chapter they’re from!
- If you’ll be in a city with friends, organize a group to find an apartment or other living facility. This way you’ll each only have to pay a percentage of the rent and can have a good time together when you get home from work!
- Check Craigslist for housing posts. The website has different sections for housing in most major cities, including each of the cities we listed above.
- Some internship programs also house their interns. Before you go through the sometimes stressful process of finding living accommodations for the summer check with the company to make sure it’s necessary.
When figuring out where to live check to make sure…
- The residence has furniture or if you’ll need to bring it with you. You definitely don’t want to end up sleeping on the floor all summer!
- You’re comfortable with the bathroom situation in the residence. This may seem like a “no duh,” but it’s important to remember the little things when deciding where to live for a couple months.
- There’s a public transportation stop within walking distance. If you’re not comfortable walking in a city at night, make sure your room is close enough to the transportation that it won’t make you feel uncomfortable.
- There are laundry facilities you have access to. Without your mom to do your laundry, you may need to go to a laundromat nearby to wash clothing. Lugging a bag of clothes isn’t fun; make sure there’s a location that isn’t a trek to get to.
While these websites will be of some help in your search, don’t forget to also talk to people about their experiences with these cities. Upperclassmen, career counselors and mentors likely have the nitty-gritty information on which of these city neighborhoods are safer than others. They’ll also provide you with a good sense of what prices are reasonable and what would rip you off. You don’t want to end up in a situation where you’re uncomfortable so make sure to utilize all the resources available. After that, all you have to do is psych yourself up for an awesome summer!