Cutting costs at Berkeley

20LEGEND · 07-08-2008, 10:11 PM

As an International, I'll be paying quite a bit for my Cal education - about $49,000 per year. Needed a few queries answered:

1. I've hear living off campus is much cheaper than living in the dorms; how big is the difference?
2. Internationals are eligible for Financial Aid after their freshman year right?
3. Can people who haven't got "Work Study" apply for on-campus jobs at the library etc?
4. Are there any good frats for someone like me-South Asian shooting for a high GPA.
5. Coop housing is dirty, right? Is it still worth it?
6. 120 units, 3 years?

Ektaylor · 07-08-2008, 10:31 PM

In response to your question about on campus jobs, you don't have to be eligible for work-study, but the jobs are not guaranteed nor federally funded, so there is no limit on the amount you can work them.

UCBChemEGrad · 07-08-2008, 10:47 PM

Hi, 20LEGEND.

I'll try to answer some of your questions...

1. I recommend living in the dorms for the first year. For sophomore year, most students move out of the dorms to nearby apartments, fraternity houses, Co-op, etc. If you can get an apartment and share rent with roomates, it can be cheaper. It all depends on location, size, etc. The apartment will likely be cheaper because you aren't paying for food up front. Use the first year in the dorms to get acquainted with some friends that you may like to room with...get used to some of the cheaper, good eats around campus...get used to the campus and surrounding area. Later in your spring semester, start looking into housing options for next term...Cal held some housing options workshops then at the dorms.

5. Some Co-op housing is pretty rundown and dirty...some houses are a little better...I think you may have to spend your first year at the Co-op in a not so ideal place...you build up seniority in the system and you can then get access to the better places later...check out the Co-op housing website and office for more info.

I'm not sure about your other questions.

Here's my advice though:

Don't fret too much about expenses and future living arrangements, especially your first semester...it will distract you from your studies and acclimation. Things have a way of working out.

ethancc2 · 07-08-2008, 10:50 PM

1) Apartments are cheaper, but the difference in cost varies. You can rent a pretty bad place for as little as $500/mo or a decent place for $700-750/mo. That's just rent so you'll have to factor in utility costs, food costs (which are rising), and furnishing the apartment. In the long-run most students tend to save more money by living in an apt vs. dorm.

5) LOL Some coops are dirty... there may be some decent ones I think? Coop housing is really cheap, but some people don't like the drug problems and dirtiness... so it really depends on your personality.

20LEGEND · 07-08-2008, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Don't fret too much about expenses and future living arrangements, especially your first semester...it will distract you from your studies and acclimation. Things have a way of working out.

Once I'm there, I definitely won't be bothered about the financial bit. That's why I'm trying to be clear about all the options I have right now.

UCBChemEGrad · 07-08-2008, 11:04 PM

^ The problem is you won't know the answers until next year when you apply for housing, etc. Apartment hunting in Berkeley can be a very stressful time.

If you can find a fraternity you like, it will relieve a lot of uncertainty about housing - early on, too - which is a benefit. I'm unsure though about the average fraternity costs compared to an average apartment.

20LEGEND · 07-08-2008, 11:41 PM

The frats are really cheap I think. ~$700 a month. But I guess there's no food included in that.

Sambago · 07-09-2008, 12:36 AM

There are drug problems in coops?

stalker · 07-09-2008, 03:42 AM

Why problems?

Castel · 07-09-2008, 09:37 AM

More like benefits.

stalker · 07-09-2008, 11:56 AM

Exactly lol

sputnik · 07-09-2008, 04:55 PM

I was wondering about Question #2 too. After freshman year, can international students apply for financial aid?

20LEGEND · 07-10-2008, 03:38 AM

So do all the co-op houses have a major drug "problem"?

somemom · 07-10-2008, 11:46 AM

I do not know for sure, but i have always heard you must be a citizen to get any federal iad (grants/stafford loans) You probably could apply for merit aid, for example the Alumni award requires people to apply every year

feuerwerke · 07-14-2008, 04:25 AM

20legend,

there has never been an instance when i have ever been able to use the word "all" when talking about college life (in this case, housing) and drugs. there is just simply no way that ALL the ppl living in a certain co-op(s) can have drug problems. at berkeley. or at stanford. or in any space where ppl live together. there is only one (one) place like that, that i can think of. and it's called rehab.