Soon your student will be talking about living arrangements for next year. It’s a Michigan tradition, in the fall college friends (who may have only known each other for a few months) begin planning where they want to live nine months from now. What’s the rush? Well, off-campus apartment and rental property owners are marketing their student housing, and there is a long-held – and misleading – perception that all the good places to live off-campus are signed early.
The fact is, there is no need to rush into a housing decision. Because a student’s living situation can influence his or her academic success, it’s important to study the choices and weigh the benefits carefully, including
- Proximity to campus and classes
- Transportation
- Security
- Meals and nutrition
- Expenses
- Social environment
- Study environment and academic support
- Convenience
Most U-M students live off-campus, enjoying the quiet of single apartments, or sharing a house with a few close friends. Some opt to live in their fraternity or sorority house to be more involved in Greek Life. For others, cooperative housing is an appealing and affordable option. Co-ops are owned and run by the members who live in them--not landlords or the University. More information is available through the Inter-cooperative Council at U-M.
A hasty selection of off-campus lodging can lead to unpleasant discoveries in terms of expenses, inconveniences, responsibilities, and the roommate who seemed like the perfect new friend a year ago. The Off-Campus Housing website contains information to help students assess what kind of place will suit them and to understand their rights and responsibilities as tenants.
The site also includes useful information including safety and security tips, roommate finder and sub-let service, community resources, as well as conflict resolution services for problems with a landlord, neighbor, subtenant or roommate.
University Housing Sign-Up for on-campus living begins in January, giving students time now to consider the options that will suit them -- and more time to decide with whom they want to share a place the following year. Housing Sign-Up information is going out soon to help you and your student consider the options of living on campus.
Housing choices are many and varied – on campus and off – so encourage your student to take the time to carefully review the options and make the right decision. And whether she lives in a residence hall or an off-campus apartment, your student has the full resources of Student Affairs to help them enjoy their living at Michigan.
Please consider making a gift to University Housing.