Student housing can be a great experience, but it can also be challenging. There are many factors to consider when looking for student housing, including price, location, size of the unit, amenities offered by the complex, and proximity to class. Perhaps the most important factor that determines success or failure is student awareness of what they need in order to have a positive living experience during their time at college. Firms like Nelson Partners work hard to provide great student housing options for students across the nation.
1: Get to know your roommates
Many students choose to live on their own, but most often, it’s better for everyone involved if roommates are chosen with consideration. Sit down and talk about expectations of one another before choosing a housing option. You want to make sure that your living arrangement is compatible; after all, you’ll be sharing the space together every day.
2: Make a budget and stick to it
Living on your own means you’ll be responsible for your own expenses, not to mention college classes and any other activities you want to enjoy during the semester. Creating a budget is essential to making sure that you stay afloat. You can use apps like Mint or personal finance software like Quicken to make this process much easier.
3: Get involved in campus life
In order to have the most fulfilling college experience possible, it’s important that you get involved in things that happen on and off campus. For example, getting to know your professors can help you succeed at both college and work. Participating in activities like intramural sports or clubs is a great way to make friends and meet new people who might share similar interests.
4: Get to know your neighbors
One of the major benefits of living on or near campus is that you have plenty of opportunities to get involved with your community. Finding out about local events happening around town can help improve your experience while broadening your horizons. Even if you’re not able to take part in every event, simply knowing about what’s going on around the area can help you feel more connected to your surroundings.
5: Negotiate a lease with your landlord
If you’re signing a long-term lease for an apartment or house, it’s important that you negotiate terms and conditions of agreement. If there are things that you don’t want included in your contract, you can ask for them to be removed. On the other hand, if there’s something that you feel strongly about, such as compensation in case of fire damage or regular pest inspections, you might want to include those clauses.
6: Get acquainted with appliances and fixtures
It may seem obvious, but knowing how things work in your new living space is key to making the most of it. Whether you’re moving into a house or an apartment, ask your landlord how appliances like washers and dryers work. Or, if it’s a house that you’re sharing with roommates, make sure that everyone is on the same page when it comes to basic things like utilities.
Student housing can be a great experience if you take advantage of the opportunities it provides.
