Freshmen and living off campus (no parents living nearby)

I would suggest you live on campus. It sounds like you are an international student. Getting off campus housing in the U.S. requires things like security and rental deposits, and sometimes a guarantor (someone who signs your lease guaranteeing the payment). The guarantor is usually a U.S. citizen as the landlord would want to actually be able to collect that rent…and that is difficult to do if the guarantor is overseas. Then there is the issue of finding off campus housing. Depending on the location, there might not be a lot of it, or leases are signed way in advance of enrollment.

I think you need to research colleges in this country carefully. First, make sure you can afford to attend every school you are applying to. Many colleges in this country don’t give any financial aid to international students (if you are not a citizen of the U.S.). Some do, in a limited way. Some don’t.

Living off campus, as others have noted, is not usually an optimal way to integrate into you college campus. Some colleges have many single rooms. And some colleges absolutely do not permit off campus housing for new students. You need to check.

ETA…I forgot to add…many off campus places to live are unfurnished meaning you would need to get furniture, linens, dishes, pots and pans, curtains, rugs if you want them, all food and cleaning supplies, etc.

Adding…I posted this on your other thread as well. This agency might have a location near you. They can help you understand the U.S. application/payment/enrollment process for U.S. colleges.

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