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being away from the “immediate” campus community and what that
can mean. While living next to non-student residents can be beneficial,
students must remember that these neighbors may be less tolerant of
some college student behaviors. Students will need to be mindful of
who they live near. Though the privacy of an apartment may be nice,
students need to consider how isolated they may begin to feel without a
community of students surrounding them. These students may have to
work harder to say engaged on campus and with friends once they move
off campus. Being off campus sometimes allows for a different atmosphere
than being on campus. Students may end up somewhere quiet with non-
student neighbors, or they could find they are somewhere with a majority of
students, and it can be distracting. It is helpful to think through each area
and who the general occupants are to get a gauge on the area.
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Year-Round Housing
If students plan to stay in the Clemson area over the summer to work
or take classes, already having an apartment can make that process
much easier. It may be helpful to remind your students the importance
of asking about the lease dates up front to see if they meet up with
your student’s plans.
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Space
In some apartment complexes space can look very different. Each room
may be different sizes, and that may make rent a different amount for
each roommate. Thinking through the different spaces and what types of
furniture will be necessary are things to help your student think through
before making the decision to live on or off campus.
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Cost
There is the possibility that the cost of living off campus could be equal
to, or higher than, the cost of living on campus. Students need to consider
their portion of the rent, initial deposit, first and last month’s rent, cost of
food, utilities, cable, Internet, furniture and appliances, laundry costs and
transportation to and from campus. Many of these expenses may not be
in one bundle as on-campus options.
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Parking and Transportation
Students will need to consider how they plan to travel to and from campus.
They need to check the availability of public transportation to and from
the University, purchase a commuter parking pass if parking on campus,
determine shuttle and bus routes and/or determine if their apartment is
in reasonable walking distance from the University. They also need to take
into consideration the time of day they will be making their commute.
How You Can Support
We can guess that this may be the first time your student signs a lease
for an apartment, or you may be signing a lease on behalf of your student.
Either way, take the time to review the lease together. This is a great
learning opportunity for your student to gain some “real world” experience.
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