My apologizes if this is in the wrong forum, but I could use some adult advice.
I’m an OOS first year student. As part of a program on campus, I’m a lab assistant. My boss today offered to keep me in the lab over the summer. The lab would cover housing costs (I’d be on my own with regards to food and transportation) and I’d work around 6 hours a day; I’m leaning towards accepting the offer. I have to research housing options, and that’s where I need some help.
Can I, as an 18 year old, rent an apartment? Like, I’ve heard of needing a cosigner on a lease. Is that a thing?
Are there websites in particular that I should be looking at to find apartments or is it more of an area-specific thing?
School ends in early-mid May. So I/my lab would be looking to pay for four months- May through the mid-end of August, when I move back into dorm housing?
Answers to any of these questions or any other advice would be most appreciated.
It depends on where you are. Your best bet would be to sublet an apartment from a student. At my kid’s school, a lot of students live off campus. They have to sign a 12 month lease even though they only need to be there from Aug to May, so they try to sublet their apartments very cheaply in the summer (if they are lucky). Check out Craiglist or your school’s housing website. If you are subletting, you most likely won’t need a cosigner. I would also check out your school’s dorm option. Colleges will often rent out their dorms for students doing internship on campus.
Check with your housing department to see if they offer Summer housing. I’d imagine most do. If they don’t, check to see if any upperclassmen that live in apartments need a sublet. Most leases outside of university housing are 12 months, so if they aren’t there for Summer they may want to recoup the cost. Lastly, some fraternities rent out their housing during the summer, it’s usually very low cost, but you have to live in a frat house.
Off campus housing is usually MUCH cheaper than on campus housing for the summer. You can look at Craigslist for your location, or key in xyx off campus housing into your browser, and you should find some links. Your school’s resident life department probably has advice and resources also. Good luck and congrats.
“The lab would cover housing costs” - At some schools the summer researchers get free dorm housing. Check if yours does that or provides a housing stipend.