Key Considerations For Finding Best Place To Live At College

BY JAMES RIDDLE

Fighting for a place at a prestigious university is hard enough. But it is no secret that the process of entering a foreign university is very complicated as well. Entrance exams, language training, recommendations of the embassy – the applicant of a prestigious international university should be perfect in everything. Add the hassle of applying for visas to the country to this list, and you have a perfect storm.

But it doesn’t end there. You need to find lodging as well. It is hard enough in your own country, and if you’re going to study abroad, it’s even more complicated. You need to navigate a foreign real estate market and make a decision that would last with you for years. So how do you choose where to live when studying? Here are your two main options.

University dormitories

There are two types of universities: private and ordinary.  Private universities do not always have their own dormitories, because the policy of modern universities is such that the university provides and guarantees an excellent educational process and quality education, and the student must take care of everything else. In such cases, exceptional students can live in dormitories of state universities, private dormitories, or in apartments.

The division into rooms in dormitories is usually of the “corridor” type or of the “block” type. In the first case, the kitchen and sanitary area are shared by the entire floor. In the second case, students live in smaller units and each such unit has its own bathroom, but the kitchen is also one on the entire floor.In general, the rooms are designed for 2-3 people. They have everything you need, from a bed and basic furniture (a table, chairs, a wardrobe, shelves) to Internet access, cantine, and laundry.

Most dorm placements offer you a huge advantage, you get to live within the walking distance of the campus. This means you save a ton of money on transportation. It’s also cheaper than renting a flat or a room. On top of that, you will probably get access to the relatively cheap canteen that will allow you to save time on cooking and eat better than instant ramen.

 

This seems like the perfect option. Why would you choose to live elsewhere? Well, dorms are different. Not all universities offer lodgings near the campus, and not all have every feature that we love in dormitories sorted out. Besides, you rarely get to choose a roommate. You’re assigned one, and you have to put up with them unless they’re dangerous, not just intolerable.

The worst part is, not all people get to live in the dorm. Sadly, many prestigious universities have more students than they have vacant rooms. Whether the university is distributing dorm places based on students’ financial situations or on the basis of first come first served system, not all students get a place.

Rooms and apartments

If you’re not that type of person who wants to share rooms with strangers, or you for some reason didn’t get a room in the dorm, it is possible to rent an apartment. But in this case, be prepared to pay not only rent but also utilities, which are quite expensive. Various factors affect the price: the location of the housing, the number of rooms in it, conditions, and so on.

The worst part about it is the price. In big cities like LA or London, the price of living can be too high for a student.  Of course, the closer the apartment is to the central part of the city, the more expensive it is. You can always choose to live in the suburbs, but that would require you to own a car.

However, the gas money may be a good payoff since you can share the rent more comfortably and live in separate rooms. This is probably the best part of renting a flat. You can choose any place you want and choose your roommates as well. You can live with your best buds who respect your personal space, so your college years will be spent much better than most people expect.

Here’s a pro-tip for the students who’re renting a flat. Always check its technical state. Don’t just look at how well does it look but also at the state of plumbing, electric sockets, and appliances. If you’re choosing a home in the suburbs, check the apartment for foundation repair issues, leaking pipes, and other nuances. They’re typically less looked after than the city residences.

Wrap up

Probably, most students at least once thought about education abroad. But, unfortunately, the same majority dwelt only on thoughts. There are many reasons for this, but generally accepted stereotypes are often the basis – to study abroad, you need to be either very rich or very smart. You don’t need to be a genius, you just have to be smart about it.

By line:  James Riddle is a multi-topic writer at WhenIPost.com passionate about new technologies, marketing trends and branding strategies. He is always seeking to discover new ways for personal and professional growth and is convinced that it’s always important to broaden horizons. That`s why James develops and improves his skills throughout the writing process to help and inspire people.