Students blog

Embarking on the journey of off-campus living can be both thrilling and overwhelming, but fear not! Drawing from my experiences living in two very different apartments, I've gathered some invaluable tips and tricks to help new renters find the perfect living situation.

Firstly, when touring multiple apartments, it's easy to get overwhelmed and forget the details. That's why my first tip is to take a video during your apartment tours. This helps jog your memory when comparing different units later and also allows you to clarify with the apartment staff whether the unit shown is a model or the actual unit you'll be renting, ensuring you know exactly what to expect.

Next, consider the essentials nearby. Depending on your preferences and lifestyle, investigate transportation options such as buses, walking/biking paths, or carpooling possibilities. Proximity to a grocery store is also crucial to avoid costly grocery delivery fees. Additionally, don't overlook parking availability. Whether you have a car or rely on friends' vehicles, having designated parking spots can make life much easier, especially during moves.

Another essential tip is to visit the apartment location at different times of the day. This allows you to gauge noise levels and safety in the area accurately. Additionally, thorough online research is key. Check recent reviews across various platforms to get a comprehensive understanding of others' experiences before making your final decision.

Lastly, don't take everything the apartment staff tells you at face value. While they may paint a nice picture to entice you, it's essential to verify all promises in the lease agreement. Ensure that everything you're told is explicitly stated in the contract to avoid misunderstandings later on.

By following these insider tips, new off-campus college renters can confidently navigate the apartment-hunting process and find the perfect living space for their needs and preferences. Happy hunting!

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Transportation plays an integral role in the bustling life of a college student, dictating daily schedules and influencing overall campus experiences. The mode of transport chosen must strike a balance between cost, speed, learning curve, and convenience. When making my tier list, I envision a sizable campus spanning approximately 2000 acres holding 20,000 students, complete with paid on-campus parking facilities and shuttle services provided by the university.

Parking fees can add up over time, making cars the most expensive option – not to mention the up-front investment and upkeep costs. While cars are arguably the fastest option, navigating campus traffic and finding parking can slow you down. In addition, traffic can sometimes be unpredictable. The learning curve is generally small as it doesn’t take much time to learn the roads of a given campus and provides flexibility and convenience, especially since you are unbound by the schedule of public transportation.

While walking stands as the slowest mode of transport, it can certainly be an efficient mode of travel: particularly for short to moderate distances within the campus environment. Walking can sometimes be quicker than driving or waiting for shuttle services. After your first few days on campus, you should be relatively comfortable with navigating the area to the point where you have “mastered” walking. It also allows students to navigate campus pathways, sidewalks, and pedestrian-friendly routes with ease.

To bike around campus, a budget of $100-$500 should be perfect. I bought a bike for $300 about seven years ago that has stood the test of time and provided many uses. Aside from this, you will also need to invest in a dependable lock. Cyclists can often navigate through traffic more swiftly than cars or shuttles, particularly during peak times. With dedicated bike lanes or multi-use paths, cyclists can bypass congestion and reach their destinations efficiently. Bikes prove to be a convenient option as they can often be parked closer to destinations than cars, reducing the need for lengthy walks from parking lots.

Taking the bus can result in significant savings on fuel, parking fees, and vehicle maintenance expenses compared to motor vehicles as many universities offer it for free. While not as fast as having a personal car, buses are still faster than the average mode of transport despite their fixed routes and schedules. With a little planning, taking the university shuttle can be significantly faster than walking. The only learning curve is identifying the schedule of the bus and the routes, which is made easy with signs, applications, and frequency of trips. Depending on where you live on campus, the bus can either be super convenient or not worth it – with the way certain routes are set up, it might not make sense for some people who live far away.

You can easily secure a quality skateboard for around 100 bucks and there are rarely other costs associated with skateboarding. Skateboarding is exponentially faster than walking with speeds topping out at 15 mph. However, this method of transport hinges entirely on your ability to push. It may take a bit of practice to pick up a skateboard with it requiring skill and balance. However, once you have the slightest ability to use it, it will become the most efficient.

Many students find skateboarding to be an enjoyable and rewarding form of transportation, with the added benefit of promoting physical activity and coordination. Skateboarding offers unparalleled convenience and accessibility on campus. They are also lightweight and portable, making them easy to carry and store in dorm rooms, classrooms, or lockers. Skateboarding provides direct access to campus buildings allowing students to navigate the campus quickly without having to worry about storing it.

Evaluate all the transportation options available to you as you start classes this semester and you’ll be navigating your way around campus like a pro in no time.

Do you have a compelling story or student success tips you’d like to see published on the Pearson Students blog?  If you are a college student and interested in writing for us – click here to pitch your idea and get started! 

As you go through your college experience, the sense and urgency to mature and embrace adulthood starts to dawn on you. The realization is not just something you understand in your head, but something you feel and experience. Many have their own view of what that first real step of adulting in college feels like, but to me, the first thing that comes to mind is to take that big step of renting an apartment off-campus.

Though this may seem intimidating, here are 10 things every college student should know about living off-campus!

1 - Checklists! Checklists! Checklists!

Even before you move in, it’s a good idea to have a bunch of different checklists of what you are looking for in an off campus living space, some examples being location from campus or any amenities you desire, such as a shuttle to campus or a gym/pool. All those things should be listed to help track pros and cons of each living space you come across in your search.

2 - Communication is Key

If you plan on living in a space with a roommate or several, it is important to establish clear communication with all parties. Make a set of guidelines for the different responsibilities and things that could cause conflict in your shared space. Since you oversee your own things and there is no overall authority, it would be a good idea for everyone to contribute to the guidelines.

3 - Smart Shopping

Without a meal plan it can be quite challenging to decide on what to buy food wise. For those who live alone, it would be best to decide your essentials beforehand so you can get the basics of what you need. As for people with roommates, it’s better to decide together who buys what or if you’re going to split the grocery bill at all.

4 - Practice Self-Control

Along with smart shopping, knowing the difference between needs and wants is a huge skill to learn while you live off campus. This is not money coming out of your tuition, this is your own expenses and learning where to invest that money is very important. You do not need those $500 headphones.

5 - “Hey Siri, Play the Clean Up Song”

It is crucial for tenants to fully comprehend their responsibilities regarding the maintenance and repairs of the rented property. This is where you live, and you want to make sure everything is up to your standards. Utilize maintenance request for larger repairs, but a bi-weekly clean up goes a long way.

6 - Public Transportation is Your Friend

As someone who does not drive, I was getting tired of spending money for Uber and Lyft. Check out the local transportation and see what services they offer. If your residence is close to campus, ask if they offer a shuttle that drives to the local stores in the area. Bikes are also useful forms of transportation, going to class or to your local corner store, and you can get some exercise done.

7 - Stay Safe!

Become familiar with local emergency protocols and resources. Using tools like a Ring camera on your front door keeps you at ease when you’re away. It is also a good idea to become aware of the location of the closest police, fire, and hospital stations.

8 - Don’t Always Rush Home

Having a gap between classes allows you to use that time productively. Instead of going home and potentially getting distracted, you can stay on campus and make the most of your time. Whether it's studying in the library, working on group projects, or catching up on readings, staying on campus can enhance your focus and productivity.

9 - Remember the College Experience

No matter how far away you may live off campus, you are still considered a commuter student. A lot of emails about events and other activities that happen on campus might not reach you until it’s too late. Try to keep a schedule of the different events that way you can still get that thrilling college experience.

10 - Sweet, Sweet, Freedom

This is your own place! It gives a better sense of adulthood, and you get a more profound sense of independence without supervision. Living off campus gives you a high level of privacy that you are probably looking for after the lack of it in dorm life. The creative possibilities are endless. Decorate or design it however you like. You make the rules, enjoy it!

Living off campus during college comes with several perks. It offers a taste of independence and responsibility, preparing you for life beyond the campus bubble, while also encouraging you to engage with the local community and develop a more well-rounded college experience. I hope the decision to live off campus can contribute significantly to personal growth and a more enriching college life.

Do you have a compelling story or student success tips you’d like to see published on the Pearson Students blog?  If you are a college student and interested in writing for us – click here to pitch your idea and get started! 

You’re in the second semester of your first year of college and it’s been a blast. You’ve made friends, lived on campus, enjoyed the food, did well in classes, and joined a bunch of clubs. But like every other college student, you want to save money. You come up with this genius idea to save money by living off campus the next semester, as you’ve heard it’s relatively cheaper. Problem is, you don’t know where to start. This was me in March of my freshman year, I have now moved to housing off campus! Super exciting, I know. But how did I get here? What is the must-dos, must don’ts, tips, and tricks of off campus housing? While only a few months have passed since then, I believe I have some insight as someone who’s been there and done that – as in having lived in the dorms as well as off campus.

Find Roommates Early

Look in Facebook groups, ask friends, ask parents to contact friends – just use your resources! There are people always looking for roommates. It’s not only important to find your roommates but also communicate with them your needs and concerns. I didn’t communicate enough with my potential roommates, and by the time summer came, we were all too busy doing our own things to discuss where we wanted to live and other miscellaneous details. This led to one of the roommates not living with us and me not having housing near campus for 2 weeks. I ended up crashing at my friend’s apartment for those weeks, and while not terrible, it’s nice to have your own space.

Looking For a Place to Live

I didn’t even start thinking about housing for my 2nd year until March of my freshman year, but I would highly recommend starting to think about this in January. It may seem early, but housing options fill up fast. If you spend most of your time on campus and are just looking for a place to live, explore the possibility of renting out a room in a rental house or finding friends to possibly rent a house or apartment. Think about how close you want or need to be from campus. If you want convenience, student apartment complexes near campus can be a good choice as those are usually closer, have more amenities, and may provide bus transportation to and from campus.

Be Picky

Since you’re moving into a new place, you get to decide what you want or don’t want. If you’re a more outgoing person, you may want another extravert to talk to, or if you’re an introvert, you may rather keep your own space and have time to yourself. Know what you value when it comes to money, other people, cleanliness, food, the list goes on, and be decisive!

These are just a few things I have learned through my first month living off campus. While it can seem daunting to even start the process, I think it is definitely worth it! Although my commute is about 20 minutes, I love having my own room at the fraction of the cost. Through this whole process, I have learned skills that will be useful if I decide to have a house of my own in the future. I had to navigate the application process, communicate with roommates, and manage utilities. I had to learn (and am still learning) time management in commuting to and from school. These skills are applicable to the real world as well and open your eyes to the different needs and wants of others. Off-campus housing has its irks, but the end results are worth the hassle.

Do you have a compelling story or student success tips you’d like to see published on the Pearson Students blog?  If you are a college student and interested in writing for us – click here to pitch your idea and get started! 

Even though classes at many U.S. universities will be virtual this Fall semester, students are still moving back and may be transitioning from living on-campus to moving elsewhere off-campus. While there is no clear formula for optimal success in adjusting to the change, here are a few tips and tricks that can help students live a happy, healthy, and efficient life in their off-campus residences.

Choose the right housemates

Selecting the right people to live with is objectively the most important factor to consider when moving off campus. Living with people you clash with will make your residence feel less like a home and more like a battleground. On the other hand, living with your best friends may not be ideal if you get easily distracted and are unable to create boundaries. Ultimately, the ideal housemate is someone you get along well with but recognizes that there are times for fun and times for productivity.

Learn to grocery shop and cook for yourself

One of my favorite aspects about living in a house is that I can shop and cook for myself. Until I moved off-campus, I had no idea how much I enjoyed visits to the grocery store. Cooking for yourself allows you to be in complete control of your diet and nutrition, as you are no longer bound to dining hall meals. To make cooking healthy and entertaining, I try to experiment with at least one new main ingredient and recipe each week.

Consider your commute

Sometimes living a short commute away from campus is unavoidable. Figuring out how to get to class each day can sometimes be stressful. While each situation is different, many options for transportation exist. Some may prefer a more active method like biking, while others may be more attuned to driving or taking public transportation. If you choose to drive, then carpooling is a great option. Whether with roommates or other off-campus residents, coordinating schedules to carpool can be very beneficial.

Find your study spot

One of the most challenging aspects with living away from campus is figuring out where your ideal study location is. For some, it may be as simple as a kitchen table. Others may prefer the outdoors or local coffee shops. Some may even decide they are most productive on campus at the library. Having a few spots where you are comfortable studying and rotating between them helps to boost your productivity outside of a traditional learning space.

There is no singular formula for how to be successful when living away from campus. It ultimately comes down to each individual’s habits and personal preferences, and likely some trial and error. I hope these tips prove to be helpful for anyone making the transition into off-campus housing and creating a happy, healthy lifestyle outside of a traditional dorm.