top of page
Writer's pictureChika Acholonu

Should you get an off-campus apartment as an International Student?

As the new school year starts this Fall semester (August- December), if you are a new student you are probably staying on-campus in your school’s dorms. Honestly, that is a good idea. It would help you get accustomed to school faster, meet students in the same classes as you, be able to explore your city and know where’s a good place to live and where isn’t, all from the comfort of your on-campus housing. In fact, some colleges require all incoming freshmen (first-year college students) to live on campus. If that’s the case for you, this article will give you the 411 on off-campus living, so you’ll be ready to make a decision when the time comes.

However, if you are a continuing student (i.e this isn’t your first semester in college in the US), then you might be interested in experiencing the benefits of off-campus housing. Don’t start celebrating just yet, there are some not so fun parts of living off-campus. It will be my pleasure today, to let you in on the basics you’ll need to know before deciding to rent an apartment off-campus.

So, should you get an apartment? Let’s go through some questions and if you honestly answer the questions, you should have an answer.

  1. Do you want to save money by cutting on some luxuries?

The good thing about living on-campus in most colleges, is that housing comes with everything you need and more. Fully-equipped kitchen, washer & dryer, TV cable, furniture, etc. So, because of the extra luxury that come with the package, the price for on-campus housing is quite pricey. However, if you can do without having a washer and dryer in your apartment or if you can do with less furniture, etc, then you should consider off-campus apartments. Most of them give you the flexibility to choose how much luxury you want in your apartment.


  1. Are you ready to cook for yourself?

Alright guys so I’ve talked about how important a skill like cooking can be for us here, not just to save cost but also for health reasons. A room in on-campus housing usually comes with a requirement of paying for on-campus dining, which is not exactly cheap as well. So, if can cook for yourself or at least find an alternative that is cheaper than the dining option, then you should consider an off-campus apartment.


  1. You don’t have any family here in the states?

So, on-campus housing usually covers you for the duration of when school is in session, so during your semesters. (Note: Some schools use a quarterly system instead of the semester system...insert link here) However, when you have breaks during your semester, it might get a bit tricky to figure out where to stay. I know some schools offer you the option of staying in the on-campus housing buildings for a price when school is not in session. Most other students just drive or fly home, but if you are international and don’t have any family to stay with your options might be limited. Off-campus housing might be a good option for you, since apartments work on month by month leases. So you can get a 12-month lease and rest assured for a year.


So, fam now that we have a better idea of the pros of staying in an off-campus apartment, let’s look at the cons

  • Your apartment might be further away from campus so you might have to find a way to commute to campus.

  • It might be harder for you to make friends if you live far away from school

  • You will be solely responsible for paying your utility (electricity, water, sewer) bills, which are usually separate from your rent

  • You might have to deal with roommates that are not students from your school.


Alrighty! So we have gone through the pros and cons. So what do you think?! Are you still leaning towards getting an apartment of your own? If so, the last thing you need to know is what documents you’ll need as an international student to be able to get an off-campus apartment.


  • Social Security Card: Apartments managers might likely ask for your Social Security Number (SSN). Some may substitute your SSN with your other legal documents. Just so you know, if you get an on-campus job, your school’s international office will give you an authorization letter to apply for your SSN.

  • I-20 & Passport: In my opinion, these 2 documents are very very vital as an international student. An I-20 is the document generated by an international office for a student. It is the US government’s way of certifying that you are legally enrolled in a US college. That’s why you need to take the I-20 to your visa interview. However, when you come to the states, it proves that you are eligible for the benefits that come with being an F1 student (getting a driver’s license, getting a bank account, etc). It is also a way for apartment management to verify that you are in fact an international student.


  • Proof that you make 2x or 3x your rent: Yes, I know that might sound crazy but they are trying to make sure you won’t miss a rent payment. The good thing is that some apartments offer a way out of it, they might require you instead to pay a security deposit (could be 2 month rent payment) or have a co-signer for your apartment lease. A co-signer or guarantor is someone who does not live in your apartment but will be financially responsible for your rent if you default in paying. Your co-signer, however, must make a certain amount of income to qualify.


So, that was a mouthful, but I hope you have a better idea of what it would mean to move off-campus. Please don’t be pressured to do it just because others are doing it. It is a decision that might be different for everyone. So I encourage you to do more research, ask different people about their experiences before you make your decision.

Lastly, if you have been trying to convince your parents or guardians about living off-campus, feel free to share this article with them and other articles. It will give them some clarity with the process



Alright fam, that's all I have for now. Don't be a stranger, comment below or send me a message using the contact form (https://helloyoungerme.wixsite.com/helloyoungerme/contact) in the Contact section to ask questions or suggest what articles you would like to see. My YouTube channel is finally here! https://linktr.ee/Chika_Acholonu See y'all over there.





12 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

Commentaires


bottom of page