The end of the school year and the beginning of summer is both an exciting and scary time. There are graduations, goodbyes to friends you have spent every day within the dorms, the struggle of moving out, the list goes on. It’s funny how life can repeat itself. In senior high school, the fear of the unknown regarding college decisions weighed on students. Four years later, there’s that same cycle of applying to jobs or grad schools and holding onto that fear of the unknown. But before getting to this same fear again, there’s time to savor with friends and fellow students, and one of the biggest things to savor is having your own apartment/house with friends.
This is my first year living off campus, and after nine months of being situated in my townhome, I have picked up on a few things that I wish I would have pondered on before signing my lease. That being said, I love where I live this year, but after visiting friends who live in different complexes and homes, there is a lot to think about when choosing college housing.
- Distance to campus
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This was my number one priority (besides rent) that I considered when choosing a place to live. Ideally, one would want to live within walking or biking distance from campus, but those places get expensive, fast. So, to get the most out of my money while still having feasible access to campus, we chose a spot that has a bus stop with several different buses coming each day. This saves me money from buying a parking pass and allows me to still be connected to campus via the bus.
- You will have to make sacrifices
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It is unlikely that you and your roommates will agree on every aspect of the housing, without having to spend a pretty penny. I wanted a complex that had a pool and an outdoor communal area, my roommates couldn’t care less. In the end, that complex ended up being much more expensive, and ultimately the sacrifice to give up the dream of a pool and communal area saved me money to do other things I enjoy.
- pick roommates wisely
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I have been fortunate to have had close to no issues with my roommates, who I consider my best friends, but I have heard plenty of horror stories about roommates who do not clean up after themselves, are disrespectful, and are downright obnoxious. Living with someone is much different than seeing them outside of your home, and people begin to show their true colors. Be patient and courteous with your roommates, but also set a standard for which a good living environment should be.
I am sad to say this was my last year living with both of my best friends, as I am studying abroad next year and one of my friends is graduating early. I am going to cherish the memories that we have had in our home and savor the time I have left. Living on your own for the first time can be scary, but in the end, it will be some of the best times of your life.