Navigating University Apartments: A Comprehensive Guide

Choosing the right housing is a crucial decision for university students. This guide aims to provide a comprehensive overview of university apartments, covering topics ranging from application processes and eligibility to off-campus alternatives and resources. Whether you're a graduate student seeking on-campus accommodation or an undergraduate exploring off-campus options, this guide offers valuable insights to help you make informed choices.

On-Campus Graduate Housing: A Detailed Look

For graduate students, university apartments often present a convenient and community-oriented housing solution. The following sections detail the specifics of graduate room draw, renewal processes, and waitlist options, using Princeton University's Graduate Room Draw as a primary example.

Graduate Room Draw: An Overview

Graduate Room Draw is an annual process that assigns rooms to students for the upcoming academic year. This process typically occurs in the fall and allows students to apply for both apartments and dormitory rooms within the Graduate College or Annexes.

During Room Draw, students will:

Complete a room draw application prior to the application deadline, specifying their room preferences.
Be assigned a lottery number.
Become successful for a room type (apartments) OR participate in a room selection process (dormitories).

Eligibility for Room Draw

To be eligible for Room Draw, students must meet certain criteria:

Be currently enrolled and returning the next academic year.
Be on a leave of absence or in absentia and returning the next academic year (these students should not be listed as roommates as it may disqualify an application).

Renewals: Staying in Your Current Apartment

Renewing a current housing contract can be a straightforward process, but it's important to understand the specific requirements and deadlines.

Automatic Renewal Offers:

Some students receive automatic renewal offers, simplifying the process. These typically include:

Current G1s, G2s, and G3s in studio or 1-bedroom apartments.
Current G1s, G2s, and G3s with spouses or domestic partners in 2-bedroom apartments.
Families with children in any size apartment. Families whose apartment no longer matches their family size, in accordance with University policy, will be extended a Pre-Draw offer for an appropriate unit. Location and unit type cannot be guaranteed.

Renewal Forms:

Other students need to submit a renewal form by a specific deadline. These include:

Current G1s, G2s, and G3s with eligible roommates in shared apartments (2, 3, or 4 bedroom apartments). Students can only renew fully occupied apartments. Vacancies can be filled by naming any G1, G2, or G3 on the renewal form.
Current G1s, G2s, and G3s in the GC or Annexes, regardless of room type (students in singles in the GC or annexes must submit a Renewal form to receive a renewal offer).

Renewal Process Steps:

Fill out a Renewal Form by the specified deadline.
Specify any students to pull in to fill any vacancies (current G1s, G2s, and G3s only).

Applications are reviewed, and contracts are sent out for student signatures. Once a contract is signed, the dates cannot be changed, and the student is responsible for rent from the start date reflected on the contract.

All apartment renewal contracts must begin on July 1. All new residents filling vacancies in a renewal unit will most likely start July 17 or later, unless the apartment is ready for a July 1 start date. Every effort will be made to keep pulled-in occupants in their current residence until they can move in to their future unit.

All eligible students participating in renewal must log in to the Princeton Housing Portal to accept their contract offer by the specified deadline. Offers not accepted by the deadline will be canceled, and students will have to go through the Room Draw process to secure on-campus housing.

Graduate College and Annex Renewals:

If a Graduate College or Annex student renews their space, they commit to remaining in the unit with no break in their contract or billing between academic years. This means responsibility for both (a) the current housing assignment through the end of the fiscal year on June 30, and (b) a new contract beginning July 1 through June 30 of the following year.

Due to access limitations at the GC and Annex, it is not possible to accommodate temporary change of summer residents (e.g., another grad student using the space), as is possible in the apartments.

Alternatively, Graduate College and Annex students may opt out of renewal and participate in Room Draw. If their current room is available at their draw time, they can select it for the next academic year without committing to a continuous contract. This would allow them to (a) move out at the end of the current academic year; (b) move back into the same room at the start of the next academic year (if room is available and selected at time of Draw), while the room would likely be contracted to another student during the summer period; and (c) potentially apply and pay for a partial summer contract if needed.

To renew a GC/Annex space, a student must submit a Renewal Form to the Housing Office by the specified deadline.

Read also: History of the Block 'M'

Waitlist Options

If a student applies to Room Draw and is not successful, they are automatically waitlisted. Students who did not apply for Room Draw may apply to the waitlist via the Princeton Housing Portal, beginning on a specified date. Students who are not already on the waitlist are strongly encouraged to search for off-campus housing.

Absentia and Housing Priority

Students who spent the entire previous academic year In Absentia and who did not have an active housing contract for that academic year are eligible to have their housing priority adjusted by one year, if requested. For example, a current G3 In Absentia would have the same housing priority as a current G2 who spent no time In Absentia. The goal of program is to provide better access to housing for students whose program requires travel, internships, and/or field work. Only students who were In Absentia are eligible for this program, provided they remain enrolled and otherwise eligible for graduate housing; for this reason, an ET/DCC student, for example, would not be eligible.

Off-Campus Housing: Exploring Alternatives

While on-campus housing offers convenience, many students, both graduate and undergraduate, opt for off-campus living. This section explores resources and considerations for finding off-campus apartments.

Finding Apartments Near Your College

Online resources such as ForRentUniversity can be valuable tools for finding off-campus housing. These platforms often provide search tools, virtual tours, and student living resources.

Resources and Tips for Off-Campus Housing

Budgeting: Before starting the search, create a budget that includes rent, utilities, transportation, food, and other expenses.
Roommates: Connect with other students searching for housing or with open spaces in their apartments. Roommate matching services like RoomZoom can be helpful.
Leases: Understand the different types of leases, such as individual leases, which allow roommates to pay separate rents.
Guides: Utilize guides on topics like off-campus living, dealing with roommates, and subleasing.

Off-Campus Housing Providers

Some universities partner with off-campus housing providers to offer students alternative housing options. For example, New School students are encouraged to book with FOUND Study, which offers dorm-style and apartment-style accommodations with amenities like private rooms, community kitchens, gyms, and community events. Educational Housing Services (EHS) is another option, hosting students and interns from various colleges and countries in New York City.

Location Considerations

When choosing off-campus housing, consider the location's accessibility to campus, transportation options, and local amenities.

Washington, D.C.: The School of Continuing Studies in Chinatown offers excellent transit access. Neighborhoods like Adams Morgan, Pentagon City, and Crystal City are popular among students and young professionals.
Newark, DE: There are many apartment complexes within the Newark community.

Essential Steps for Securing Off-Campus Housing

Create a Budget: Determine how much you can afford to spend on rent and associated expenses.
Explore Apartment Complexes: Research different apartment complexes, noting the benefits and drawbacks of each.
Inventory Condition: Complete an inventory of the apartment's condition with the landlord before moving in.

Additional Resources

Office of Neighborhood Life: Provides helpful resources and tips for finding roommates and housing off-campus.
OCHListings: A platform for beginning your housing search.
WeLive: Georgetown University partners with WeLive to offer fully-furnished apartments in Crystal City, Virginia.
4stay: A platform for searching for rooms and homes around campus.
Student Roomstay: A resource for finding homestay opportunities.
Places4Students.com: A platform for searching for housing, roommates, or tenants.

Utilities and Services

Most apartment complexes will either include certain utilities (electric, water/sewer, trash pickup, gas) in the price of your rent or provide you with information to contract services with the provider in your area. Your utility providers are based on where your apartment is located.

Important Contacts and Locations in Newark

Newark Natural Foods: 209 Newark Shopping Center, 230 E. Main St.
Roohani-Lasani Grocery: 276 E. Main St.
Wang's Oriental Food Store: 110 E. Main St.
UPS Store: 40 E. Delaware Ave.
FedEx: 132 S. College Ave.
CVS: 45 E. Main St.
Walgreens: 124 E. Main St.
Rite Aid Pharmacy: 263 S. Main St.
T-Mobile: 230 E. Main St.
AT&T: 172 E. Main St.
Metro by T-Mobile: 230 E. Main St.
UD Apple Campus Store: (2nd floor of UD Bookstore): 83 E. Main St.
Fix It All: 50 E. Main St.
uBreakiFix: 144 E. Main St.

Renter's Insurance

If you live in an apartment or a rented house, renterâs insurance provides important coverage for both you and your possessions.

Roommate Conflicts

Look inside and outside of your social circle to find a roommate. Community Standards & Conflict Resolution staff are also available to discuss options for resolving roommate conflicts.

University Apartment Communities: A Closer Look

Some universities offer dedicated apartment communities specifically for students. These communities often provide amenities and support services tailored to student needs.

Colorado State University (CSU) Apartments

CSU, for example, has four university apartment communities located around the perimeter of the main campus. Each apartment complex has front desk support services, community centers with kitchens, and complimentary laundry facilities. University apartments are open to graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, visiting scholars, and undergraduate CSU students who have met the first-year live-on requirement. Several apartment communities cater to students with families and offer indoor and outdoor spaces suitable for children.

tags: #university #apartments #guide