How to find student housing in the US?

After landing at the airport, not reaching the perfect place to stay is the last thing you should be worrying about. This process should have essentially begun three months prior to your arrival in USA. Entering a new country to study in your dream university can be massively exciting, but it can be equally intimidating. In the heat of the moment, there are various mistakes you can make, like signing a lease contract of 12 months or choosing an apartment that does not fit the bill. 

To save you from all such troubles, we have listed down everything you wish you knew before selecting your accommodation in the states. Keep reading!

Step 1:  Signing Up on YMGrad.com

Add decisions to your profile to find users who are admitted to the same university. We will connect you with your university mates to share your accommodation with. You can also join Facebook and WhatsApp groups of your university and look for housing groups where you can find roommates.

Tip: Don't rush the process; you can get affordable housing even at the end of July for the fall session. Choose wisely!

Step 2: Finding Comfortable Housing

Run a simple google search to find the houses near your university. At this point, you will come across terms like 2B2B and 1B1B, where the former indicates the number of bedrooms, and the other B stands for the bathrooms. 

It would be best if you also invest your time in finding compatible roommates while selecting your accommodation. Also, the property owner specifies the number of people who can stay in a particular apartment and adding more people incurs higher rent.

Step 3: Checking the rates

a) The application fee charged in applying for an apartment ranges from $30-$50

b) You need to pay for one month's rent in advance.

c) Housing rates vary from place to place. The prices are highest in New York and Los Angeles, where it is $600/person, whereas it is $400-$500/person in other areas.

Quick Fact: In Los Angeles, a 1B1B apartment is generally leased for $1850, which is split between two people; $100 is charged for adding every new person to the apartment. 

Step 4: Choosing between off-campus & on-campus housing

We strongly recommend that you go for on-campus housing for the following reasons: 

a) It is more safe and secure as officers are allocated to provide patroling services to the areas on-campus.

b) Staying near the college has plenty of benefits; most importantly, it is time-saving and allows you to concentrate more on your studies. 

c) The best part is you get rooms that are fully furnished along with amenities like laundry machine and air conditioner. On top of that, on-campus housing is not only inclusive of these facilities, but it is also way cheaper!

d) The lease contract is for nine months in on-campus housing, which is a huge plus point for students. This is because you get an internship at the end of this period, which is rarely near the college. On the contrary, off-campus housing renders a lease contract of 12 months. This compels you to pay for both your new accommodation near your internship office and also the house off-campus. 

Other things to look out for:

a) Safety: This is a fundamental aspect that you should never overlook while venturing into a place that is little-known to you. Staying in a protected environment should be on the top of your priority list. 

Quick Fact: If you are admitted to the University of Southern California, staying in the DPS Patrol Area is the best option because here, you can get the patrol services of Service Patrol Officers and Public Safety Officers round the clock and stay secured. 

b) Don't Overpay: Make sure you don't have to pay additional charges for basic amenities like water and trash. 

c) Proximity: Your school should not be more than thirty minutes away from your place of stay. You must also check if the grocery stores are nearby. This will save you time and allow you to focus more on your studies. 

Watch this video until the end to eliminate even the slightest piece of confusion that is lingering in your mind for finding the perfect student housing.