Attn: College Students who life in apartments

[Tiger Bass 5,000+ posts]

How far do you guys live away from your prospective schools?
How much are you guys paying for rent?

Also, list any pros and cons that you have experienced with moving.

sqfootage would be nice too if you appen to know it

All replys are greatly appreciated and will def help me get some ideas about all this shit. Yea I've been to college and lived in dorms before but, moving into an off-campus appt/house is something very much diff.

$325 for the apartment. About $50-75 for utilities and cable

Pros: Having your own room. Not having to worry about campus policies. Much, much nicer living conditions. Lower monthly rates. You have the apartment year round.

Cons: Start up cost is MUCH higher (you have to buy a bed, dresser, computer desk, etc). Commuting is a pain in the ***. It's real easy to think to yourself "fuck it, I don't wanna go to class today".

The apartment is a pretty nice square footage for two people, but Clemson is in the middle of Bumfuck, SC, so the rent is pretty cheap.

 

[bdawson72 5,000+ posts]

What other random *** things did you buy.

 

[soloXgt 10+ year member]

i pay $500/month everything included except food. i have 3 roomates in a 1.5 bath ranch and about a 5 min drive/ 13 min bike ride to class. roomates r sweet, no problems. my room size is fine. more than enough room for bed desk dresser. has a closet windows....

 

[macq32 10+ year member]

2 of us pay $410 a piece for 1000 sq ft 2br 2ba. I live about 7 miles away, but rush hour can be crazy, I plan on a 25 minute drive everyday and a whole lot more around 430-630pm

I split $60 a month for HSI/Basic Cable

Water Included

Electric way too much, the cost keeps going up, plus its been hot as hell so with a/c its about $120, but that's starting to decrease hugely as winter approaches.

The apartment's real nice and the freedom is cool compared to on campus. A lot of the same rules do apply though, seeings how you need to respect the people around you, so often that means the can and cant's. The city itself is cool as ****, a lot of college students havn't been off campus and don't know where anything at all is, which I already have down **** well which is cool. It feels like summer all the time, only I'm not back home with the friends I grew up with, but I have the freedom to enjoy the town at my disposal which is pretty cool.

Really though, its more cost efficient that living on campus for 9months of the year and paying $5,000 with three other kids for an on-campus apartment this is in no way in hell worth $3,500 a month combined. Such a ****ing rip off it pisses me off.

Cons: By the time I drive home I usually find myself out of "school mode" and pretty unmotivated to sit down and do some work. I usually just lounge, surf the web, and watch some tv; where if I was on campus in the past I'd be a little more focused mentally I think.

Also, I just transferred down here and came in knowing no-one within 500 miles (other than a friend in school in Savannah). So I feel pretty disconnected from the school and whatnot seeings how I'm really only there for classes. But then again I knew this was coming and didn't really care. In hindsight, coming into a new school I would probably consider living on campus at first a little more than I had.

 

[bdawson72 5,000+ posts]

2 of us pay $410 a piece for 1000 sq ft 2br 2ba. I live about 7 miles away, but rush hour can be crazy, I plan on a 25 minute drive everyday and a whole lot more around 430-630pm
I split $60 a month for HSI/Basic Cable

Water Included

Electric way too much, the cost keeps going up, plus its been hot as hell so with a/c its about $120, but that's starting to decrease hugely as winter approaches.

The apartment's real nice and the freedom is cool compared to on campus. A lot of the same rules do apply though, seeings how you need to respect the people around you, so often that means the can and cant's. The city itself is cool as ****, a lot of college students havn't been off campus and don't know where anything at all is, which I already have down **** well which is cool. It feels like summer all the time, only I'm not back home with the friends I grew up with, but I have the freedom to enjoy the town at my disposal which is pretty cool.

Really though, its more cost efficient that living on campus for 9months of the year and paying $5,000 with three other kids for an on-campus apartment this is in no way in hell worth $3,500 a month combined. Such a ****ing rip off it pisses me off.

Cons: By the time I drive home I usually find myself out of "school mode" and pretty unmotivated to sit down and do some work. I usually just lounge, surf the web, and watch some tv; where if I was on campus in the past I'd be a little more focused mentally I think.

Also, I just transferred down here and came in knowing no-one within 500 miles (other than a friend in school in Savannah). So I feel pretty disconnected from the school and whatnot seeings how I'm really only there for classes. But then again I knew this was coming and didn't really care. In hindsight, coming into a new school I would probably consider living on campus at first a little more than I had.

Were you able to meet any new people even though u live so far away from campus?

And, getting home and not feeling like doing any work kinda scares me. So i guess I'll have to force myself not to be lazy.

 

[macq32 10+ year member]

I'm planning on going to VCU (Virginia's largest Public University-Total undergrads: 22,163)
So honestly nothin that youve said even in the cons will bother me.

All i can think of is Classwork, *****es, Classwork, *****es, *****es,*****es, Classwork, *****es

I looked at VCU, it was either Richmond or Charleston for me. I drove down from Maine, and boy... is Richmond a SHITTHOLE or what? The campus was pretty nice, but it was right downtown and the hobo's utilized the campus more than the students did, there were really nice parks around the campus but they were FILLED with homeless, i've never seen a flock like they had in Richmond in my life. 2 blocks from school is the ghetto. That was one school my girlfriend and I looked at eachother and said "**** that". University of Richmond, on the otherhand is nice as hell, we really wanted to go there and were just waiting on her to get accepted and praying she would... until we continued are trip a bit more south and his College of Charleston. As nice as the Richmond campus was nothing will tough downtown Charleston, I dont care what you say... 5 months later... here I am!

(I'd be real careful where you live off campus in Richmond, and remember if it looks like you're getting a good deal for a nice place, there's probably a reason for it, and you're probably surrounded by crack dealers and can expect some break ins)

 

[bdawson72 5,000+ posts]

I looked at VCU, it was either Richmond or Charleston for me. I drove down from Maine, and boy... is Richmond a SHITTHOLE or what? The campus was pretty nice, but it was right downtown and the hobo's utilized the campus more than the students did, there were really nice parks around the campus but they were FILLED with homeless, i've never seen a flock like they had in Richmond in my life. 2 blocks from school is the ghetto. That was one school my girlfriend and I looked at eachother and said "**** that". University of Richmond, on the otherhand is nice as hell, we really wanted to go there and were just waiting on her to get accepted and praying she would... until we continued are trip a bit more south and his College of Charleston. As nice as the Richmond campus was nothing will tough downtown Charleston, I dont care what you say... 5 months later... here I am!
(I'd be real careful where you live off campus in Richmond, and remember if it looks like you're getting a good deal for a nice place, there's probably a reason for it, and you're probably surrounded by crack dealers and can expect some break ins)

Dont you think that I know what richmond is like.

I dont understand your point. Like thats gonna change my decision, impact me, or even help me out.

 

[bdawson72 5,000+ posts]

No need to try and shit on my school.

 

[macq32 10+ year member]

Yea, it's cool because I've met a handful of real cool people on campus and I've met a few real cool people on the complex, so it's kind of 2 places to meet people instead of 1.

My freshman year at my old school I just had a real good floor and everyone had similar interests and got along so well, I don't think people would always get paired up that well, I think I just got lucky. But I've met some cool people, it's never hard to do.

As far as motivation, yea I am a bit unmotivated, I think I need to pull my computer away from the TV so I focus a bit more. I did pretty well my first 2 years at my other school, made presidents list 3 out of 4. I'm still doing pretty well here grade wise, but I'm just procrastinating too much and rushing through assignments.

I'm sure your pretty familiar with VCU and have already accounted for some of the possible negatives?

*just read posts* I'm not shitting on your school, it'd be a great school to have a degree from and all, the city kind of ruins the school IMO, that's all. And yes I think some of the information is helpful, especially keeping in mind if a deal looks too good to be true, it probably is. IE I looked at one place that was 1200 sq ft for $710 a month. Everything else 950+ was never lower than $800. They did a great job of making it seem nice, but all it took was a look at the neighbors to turn us away, at first I was optimistic but by the 2nd visit I knew I wouldn't feel safe with my gf living here.

 

[bdawson72 5,000+ posts]

Tis all in good fun. I appreciate all the answers

 

[bdawson72 5,000+ posts]

And must be nice to make the presdents list. Lol

 

[macq32 10+ year member]

Word, at least you have a BBALL team to pull for. I'm assuming your planning on going next fall? If so you have enough time to figure out what areas you might want to look at more than others, also you can find city/area crime statistics through the police station and whatnot. Those should be pretty important factors, although I probably wouldn't care too much if I didn't have a female to worry about. I'd just be ready to spend a lot of money initially then around $1000 a month. I spend more than I expected. Ridiculous grocery bills, so just come in with the mindset of spending more than expected and leave yourself some headroom.

 

[bdawson72 5,000+ posts]

Word, at least you have a BBALL team to pull for. I'm assuming your planning on going next fall? If so you have enough time to figure out what areas you might want to look at more than others, also you can find city/area crime statistics through the police station and whatnot. Those should be pretty important factors, although I probably wouldn't care too much if I didn't have a female to worry about. I'd just be ready to spend a lot of money initially then around $1000 a month. I spend more than I expected. Ridiculous grocery bills, so just come in with the mindset of spending more than expected and leave yourself some headroom.

This is true. Im gonna be all up in that bish. And nah, im pulling a retarded move and going in the spring and i know finding appts is really gonna ****. I am not trying to be a freakin 21 year old freshman. lol.

Grocery and other random expenses do scare me though. I have no idea what truly living on your own costs. I mean I pay for all my shit now. And that's expensive enough. But not having your parents as a safety blanket every once in a while is gonna definitely different. I mean I didn't have them at my last college. But then, I didn't have any bills at all to worry about.

 

[2kchevy06civic 5,000+ posts]

I can't comment about an apartment because I've never LIVED in an apartment. I've stayed in apartments for a couple weeks but never actually had my name on the lease. Personally....I've always tried to find a room mate to either live in a house(first choice) or a duplex(2nd choice). I've always been the kind of person who wants to have a decent size place, which apartments can have, with the ability of playing music at a volume that may not be tolerable to those around me. That's why I've hated and dreaded the thought of an apartment. I mean if it's what fits your budget then by all means, do so. it's a great way to just have YOU in the place by yourself. If you are not up for sharing space, then get an apartment if you can't afford a duplex for yourself.

I live in a house again with a guy I work with. If you remember I had a deposit down on an apartment but never actually moved in. I pay 400 dollars a month which includes my room and all utilities. It's far away from work but hey! it works great.

 

[ctt0002 10+ year member]

I don't live in an apartment but i do live off campus. Its a trailer and its about 10 mins from campus. I paid $22,000 for a single wide trailer with a student loan that i got so i don't really have rent to pay. But i do have to pay lot rent which is $160 a month and that includes garbage disposal. I have a roommate that pays me $250 a month and we split the utilities.

Internet & cable=$130 a month

Water=$45

Electricity=$135

I also pay for a cell phone bill, gym membership and thats about it. I also spend about $150 a week on grocery and i spend another $50 a month for the normal house hold stuff like trash bags, air fresheners, carpet shampoo, etc.

When i first moved in i had to buy a lot of stuff and it got expensive as hell. A couch, coffee table, 2 lamps, tv stand, etc. I forgot how much money i spent when i first moved in but it was a lot.

Recently my roommate just moved out so the bills will be cut down in half other than the cable bill/internet.

also gas is a *****! i use like half a tank of gas just by going to school and back to my place in a week, that excludes the other trips that i make to else where.