How old is too old to dorm and advice with housing options? (costs, schools)
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I will be attending grad school in the near future and I'm unsure what to do about housing.
I will be 22 going on 23 when I enter my program and I'm unsure if I'm too old to dorm. The school I'm attending doesn't have separate graduate housing, but has several housing options to choose from.
Option 1- Traditional Dorms with one roommate and shared space. One of the cheaper options, but also requires buying a meal plan. Mix of freshmen- graduate students.
Option 2- Upperclassmen Dorms. Basically same as the traditional dorms, but with a shared bathroom. Also requires a meal plan and a little more expensive. Mix of sophomore- graduate students.
Option 3- College Apartments. 2-3 roommates with separate bedrooms and either one or two bathrooms. Also comes with living room and kitchen. No meal plan required and costs only slightly more than upperclassmen housing for some reason. Mix of sophomores- graduate students and in quieter part of campus.
Option 4- Off Campus Apartment. Basically whatever I can find available close to campus. Rent in the area ranges from $400- $1000 per person per month from what I've researched. The only issue would be finding roommates to split the rent. There seem to be a good amount of listings in the area, so I don't think it would be too big of a problem.
I apologize if I sound clueless. It's been a long time since I've lived on campus and I'm not sure what's typical/ in the best interest as far as living arrangements for a grad student. If anyone could give me some advice or your own experience I would be very grateful.
If I were a graduate student I would not want to live in a traditional dorm. I would opt for the on-campus or off-campus apartments personally. Maybe if you could get a single room in a traditional dorm but I couldn't see wanting to live with a bunch of freshmen .
If I were advising my own student, I'd say go with opt. 3. My daughter lived in one of those complexes her senior year. It was MUCH better than the off-campus apt. she had the year before. The university was a way better landlord, and there were more amenities, such as laundry facilities every few floors that took a preloaded card so you didn't have to save up quarters all the time, etc.
I will be attending grad school in the near future and I'm unsure what to do about housing.
I will be 22 going on 23 when I enter my program and I'm unsure if I'm too old to dorm. The school I'm attending doesn't have separate graduate housing, but has several housing options to choose from.
Option 1- Traditional Dorms with one roommate and shared space. One of the cheaper options, but also requires buying a meal plan. Mix of freshmen- graduate students.
Option 2- Upperclassmen Dorms. Basically same as the traditional dorms, but with a shared bathroom. Also requires a meal plan and a little more expensive. Mix of sophomore- graduate students.
Option 3- College Apartments. 2-3 roommates with separate bedrooms and either one or two bathrooms. Also comes with living room and kitchen. No meal plan required and costs only slightly more than upperclassmen housing for some reason. Mix of sophomores- graduate students and in quieter part of campus.
Option 4- Off Campus Apartment. Basically whatever I can find available close to campus. Rent in the area ranges from $400- $1000 per person per month from what I've researched. The only issue would be finding roommates to split the rent. There seem to be a good amount of listings in the area, so I don't think it would be too big of a problem.
I apologize if I sound clueless. It's been a long time since I've lived on campus and I'm not sure what's typical/ in the best interest as far as living arrangements for a grad student. If anyone could give me some advice or your own experience I would be very grateful.
I moved out of campus housing as soon as I possibly could. But what's typical and preferable varies from school to school.
I'd also balk at the meal plan -- although some schools have good food; alas, mine wasn't one of them -- and take option 3 or 4. Option 3 wouldn't require you to search for roommates, which can be a pain when you don't know anyone, and you'd still get the "joys" of communal living and meet a range of people.
I would say that dorming really becomes undesirable once you become 21 and older.
That's b/c the rest of the dorm population whom are overwhelmingly aged 20 and under will put extreme pressure on you to buy them alcohol; this could put you in a really uncomfortable position especially if you give into pressure easily. As well as the more party-oriented atmosphere which can affect academic performance, which i'm sure your aware of.
I will be dorming my Senior year and I will be 21 years old. That is just b/c I transferred into my current school last January in a city where I don't know anybody so I want to make friends, meet ppl and not be bored; dorms are by far the most social atmosphere and the easiest places to meet people.
If I were advising my own student, I'd say go with opt. 3. My daughter lived in one of those complexes her senior year. It was MUCH better than the off-campus apt. she had the year before. The university was a way better landlord, and there were more amenities, such as laundry facilities every few floors that took a preloaded card so you didn't have to save up quarters all the time, etc.
I agree. Although, a lot deends on the college. My daughter expected a lot more interactions between residents.
I moved out of campus housing as soon as I possibly could. But what's typical and preferable varies from school to school.
I'd also balk at the meal plan -- although some schools have good food; alas, mine wasn't one of them -- and take option 3 or 4. Option 3 wouldn't require you to search for roommates, which can be a pain when you don't know anyone, and you'd still get the "joys" of communal living and meet a range of people.
Good luck to you!
Agreed! Also, at my daughter's school anyway, you were just responsible for your own housing, not the whole apt. In other words, if someone moved out at semester, you and your roommates didn't have to find a replacement.
When I was in grad school, friends of mine were older than you and they dormed.
Some students dormed and others lived in Manhattan and commuted over an hour to NJ for class.
It's all what you want.
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Best decision? Depends on the environment you need.
