In the midst of all of the clubs you’re participating in, midterms you’re taking, and the upcoming buzz of Halloween, I’m sure you’ve begun to hear whispers of where your classmates are choosing to live next year. No matter if you’re a freshman with big hopes, or a rising senior who’s ready to live out their last year in comfort and style, this is a daunting task that’s going to be on your radar soon, if not already. Never fear, Her Campus is here to help you decide what living situation is best for you! Your three main options for moving out of traditional dorm living would be On-Campus Suites, Off-Campus Apartments, and Off-Campus Houses… Let’s take a look.
1. On-Campus Suites: If you’re a rising sophomore, this may be the best option for you. If you’re not exactly ready to pay bills or totally surrender your meal-plan, then I would suggest living in a Suite-style dorm, like Sobrato or Casa. Here you’re able to live in a large suite with four to six roommates that share your living room and kitchen area. I know what you’re thinking, “KITCHEN?? LIKE FOR COOKING?? Well maybe not exactly that…but that was my reaction. Don’t freak out if you’re not the best cook, you can always keep your meal plan and then cook whenever it’s convenient for you. (Then you can learn to cook in a less high-pressure-trying-not-to-starve kind of way!) Plus, you’re still close to classes if you miss your alarm now and then.
2. Off-Campus Apartments: Here we are kids, the big leagues. Away from prying CF’s and Resident Directors, you are finally your own master! It’s all going well when… what’s that noise? Did a pipe just burst?? Welcome to the harsh reality of independent living. Here, you are at the mercy of your landlord, who may or may not answer his phone. However, one of the pros is that you’re only dealing with the household drama of two or three people. This is great because chores are easily divided, you won’t have to argue about decorating schemes, and it’s smaller than a house so there’s less to clean! If you’re low-key but still social, check out the smaller apartments on Bellomy. If you’re looking for a swankier upgrade, there are the shockingly affordable Park Central apartments (complete with pool and gym), though it’s recommended that you have a car.
3. Off-Campus House Living: There are essentially two lifestyles you can lead if you live in an off-campus house, and they are based on location. The first is the Bellomy/Alviso party-circuit housing. With great location, comes great responsibility. Depending which house you choose, (particularly anything in Maples, Bellomy “Apartments”, or Alvisos) you WILL be expected to rage at least once a quarter. If you don’t, well… that’s up to you, but then why would you really want to live there in the first place? Then there’s the outer rim of Santa Clara that includes “dark side” (near Franklin Square). This is ideal if you just want to live with a bunch of good friends in a relaxed environment. Sure, you’ll have people over, but it’s too out of the way to have random freshmen knocking on your door. The main difference is just the amount of people. Instead of the 3-4 in an apartment, you can have anywhere from 4-8 people in a house, which can be more fun if you love having people around!
Whatever choice you make, the most important thing is to make sure you’re living with good people. Any living situation can be made ideal (or at least livable) with good housemates. Good luck house hunting!