Students must move after Freshman year?

Colorado_mom
Wed, 15 Jun 2011 19:45:11 +0000

Housing availability varies a great deal from college to college. This advise comes too late for OP, but this factor should be on a family’s college comparison matrix. You would not necessarily rule out a college that only has room for freshman, but it’s good to know the scoop.

For us campus housing availabilty was a big factor. DS was hoping to go OOS, and most colleges that interested him were an airline flight away. I just didn’t see how it would be practical to arrange apartment living from long distance. Also I liked the idea of a campus where the majority of students live on campus.

For every college of interest, I checked % on campus (easily available on Peterson website). Some colleges, especially state school, have only 25-30% on campus residents. I also checked the policies… some colleges guarantee dorm/apartment availability on campus. Others have lotteries etc.

OP - Although I never wanted DS to do the apartment thing, there can be advantages. Often they are cheaper (even with full year lease) than dorm. And food would certainly be cheaper. Also, there is possibility that the “dorm mountain” junk will never need to come home again.