On vs Off Campus Housing Options

gotpeter · 10-25-2009, 03:22 PM

What thoughts and recommendations do you have regarding the various options for SLO housing? My son, an engineering major, will be a sophomore and it occurred to me that he ought to be looking into this now. What can you tell us?

CalPolyMom · 10-27-2009, 12:29 PM

Our son is a sophmore this year, bio major. He made a lot of friends in the dorms last year and is now living in Poly Canyon with 5 other guys. He is real happy there. They have everything they need there - food, market, volleyball, pool, study rooms, covered parking, and even weekly maid service, and they are on campus. If your son doesn't have anyone in particular he is interested in living with, they can also go in as a single and will be matched up with other kids. There are different room configurations. We feel safe with him on campus, although I believe he is wanting to get off campus next year! It is more expensive than the dorms, but pretty much in line with what you would be paying for an apt/house off campus. Let me know if I can answer any other questions about P.C. for you!

gotpeter · 10-27-2009, 01:02 PM

Thanks CalPolyMom. Poly Canyon is certainly the option that makes the most sense for all the reasons you articulate. Of course that means its the last place my son wants to live; "Dude (no longer, Dad), living there means I have to follow all the campus rules!"
So, before I issue an edict I'm trying to figure out what the alternatives are hoping, of course, that there are compelling reasons for ruling them out. Make sense?

CalPolyMom · 10-27-2009, 02:13 PM

Dude (!), Does he have friends in mind that want to live together? And actually, my son prefered living off campus as well sophmore year. The time to look for places is in the spring. They found a few places that would be big enough for 6, but couldn't all agree on a place! There are so many things they need to check on for housing off-campus (utilities included, enough pkg for all, yard upkeep, etc) that it was making me crazy. Plus, they want to try to find something close to campus so they can bike there vs. driving. Plus, just hoping all the roommates get their rent and utility $$ together in time to pay... Poly Canyon is so easy - it's all figured out for you, no hassle. And they are relatively close to all their classes.

gotpeter · 10-27-2009, 05:55 PM

Okay, you've succeeded in resurrecting long repressed memories of the fun and games I had in my sophomore year with 6, or was it 7, roommates plus a million cockroaches in a 3 bedroom dump. The rent was $30 each and it was misery getting it out of them each and every month. The roaches were more cooperative. I swore never again . . .
Hmmm, perhaps this could be one of those "learning experiences" for him.

ralph4 · 10-27-2009, 06:15 PM

My son lived in Santa Lucia (Engineering dorm) his freshman year, then in Poly Canyon his sophomore year with friends he made in the dorm. By the end of sophomore year they really wanted to get off campus, so now, junior year, he lives in a house near campus (so they can walk/ride bikes to class) with 5 other roommates. Rent for the house is $4000 per month, so
$666 per month per person plus utilities. They have a master bath and 1 other bath and no washer/dryer. The worst part about the house is they had to each sign the lease (with parents co-signing) for 13 months. (June 1 through the next June 30). My son came home for the summer so we paid rent all summer just to hold his room. We're hoping that none of his roommates flunk out (they are all in engineering) because we're not sure what happens to their part of the rent if they leave. He's happy though with the living arrangement except when he has to do laundry!

I liked having him on campus, and it is much easier financially.

vballmom · 10-27-2009, 07:07 PM

ralph when you say it was easier financially, is that because at $666 per month for 13 months it was more expensive than the cost of a dorm or on-campus apartment for 3 quarters? Were there savings on food that offset the cost of campus dining?

ralph4 · 10-27-2009, 07:45 PM

Yes. 666 * 13 = $8,656 PLUS utilities is much more than than the approximately $6,000 we paid for the Poly Canyon Village apartment. We did not pay for a meal plan at PCV (not required for sophomores on campus). My son and his roommates went shopping to Costco and grocery stores for food, so no, there is no savings on food by moving off campus. It was also much simpler to pay Cal Poly one payment per quarter for housing, and not to have to worry with utility bills, or worry about whether or not each of the six roommates would pay their share of rent and utilities on time each month.

logicaldog · 10-29-2009, 03:49 PM

my son is an arch student and is a sophomore, hes in cal poly village, which is nice, but I guess they need to find something off campus for next year right?

gotpeter · 10-29-2009, 05:24 PM

No, any "continuing student" can live there - University Housing - Cal Poly - so your son can choose to stay.

PINEMTNMAMA · 11-03-2009, 05:29 PM

There is a pseudo-campus housing place called Stenner Glenn immediately adjacent to Cal Poly. It offers meal plans too. Really reasonably priced and a nice facility with a pool. They have 13 buildings split between Cal Poly and Cuesta students. Check it out!

gotpeter · 11-03-2009, 07:06 PM

Thanks PINEMTNMAMA. The web site - Stenner Glen Student Housing, San Luis Obispo - has it looking pretty good. I'll have my son check it out. I'd love to hear what current residents have to say about it.

gotpeter · 11-03-2009, 07:13 PM

Are you considering Stenner Glen for your two daughters?

PINEMTNMAMA · 11-04-2009, 07:25 PM

Actually they both prefer it to on campus housing because it is on the side of campus that is closer to town yet not further from their classrooms. It seems to have a very friendly atmosphere, we have visited two times.