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Environment
Students who live off campus may often have non-student neighbors. This experience
provides students the opportunity to interact with many different types of people, such as
working professionals, couples and families. It can also be helpful to talk about what may
happen 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 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 stay 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
student the importance of asking about 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 a different size
and 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 should consider how they plan to travel to and from campus. We encourage students
to check the availability of public transportation, 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.
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Safety
Encourage students to examine the safety features of their new environment. How is access into
the area controlled? Is the area well lit? How far will they have to walk from public transit or
where they park to their apartment? What policies are in place that encourage safety?