<p>My son is graduating with a Masters in Aerospace Engineering from UIUC in May, and has been living off campus for three of his last four years. This last year, we have him in University-supplied graduate housing. Essentially a large “furnished” (sparse to say the least) studio apartment with a full bathroom and kitchen. After a little gripe he had about renting an apartment from “the man” (the university), I basically told him that was what he was going to do, because I was fed up with the big business of apartment management firms that exist to take advantage of the students who are trying to save money over the higher prices that the university charges for its housing options. While it’s true that money can be saved, there are many pitfalls that you have to watch out for. You mention one big one. They want annual leases for the most part, but after freshman year, where you have to live in campus housing anyway (unless your home is very close to UC), you are only at UC on alternating terms, unless your Co-Op is local. The issue is solvable, but hard to set up. Each class year in DAAP, at least for Interior Design majors, is on the alternating schedule, so they’re at UC, when your on Co-Op, and vice-versa. So, ideally, getting into an arrangement where you and your “same class” roommate(s) share a lease with DAAPers from a class either one year ahead, or one year behind would partially resolve the off campus issue.</p>
<p>The problem is that if anyone in that arrangement gets a local Co-Op, the arrangement falls apart. In addition, is what to do about furnishings. While you could theoretically buy in to someone’s existing furnishings, there are still some furnishings that you’ll want to own. You’ll at least need your own mattress pad, for example. There really is no ideal solution. The the off-campus apartment rental business does save money for students over what they would pay for on campus housing, but what they get for what they pay is the issue. How quickly issues are fixed when broken, poor internet service, room size and condition of the room, the fact that you have to buy and then store/move your furnishings etc make the whole thing a muddle.</p>
<p>Your daughter’s situation is very difficult, but it isn’t the housing that is the issue, it’s the roommates. While I’m looking around for my daughter and the girlfriend that she want’s to rent a two bedroom with next fall, I’ve yet to come to a satisfactory resolution on what to do with the off terms, and off campus housing in general. I’m considering Morgan Hall at this point. After all, in real estate, it’s location, location, and location that are the top three concerns, and those late nights at the studio followed by an off campus bus ride home (or the purchase of a car to avoid that) are not very appealing, or money-saving in the long run.</p>
<p>Just my two cents, and I’m grappling with the problem myself. My instinct tells me that the best strategy for my daughter is to stay nimble and not get weighed down with a bunch of “stuff” that needs to be attended to before you move, and move you will, and frequently over the next 4 years.</p>