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Environment
Students living off campus may often have
non-student neighbors. This 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 away from the immediate campus
community. 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 nonstudent 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.
Year-Round Housing
If students plan to stay in the Clemson area over the summer for work or class, already having
an apartment can make that process much easier. Remind your student the importance of
asking about lease dates up front to see if they meet up with your student’s plans.
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.
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 they are with on-campus options.
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.
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?