It’s that time of year when students are becoming increasingly distracted. With spring break behind us and finals just around the corner, students are sidetracked by many things. Many worry about finding jobs for the summer and others are beginning to consider where they want to live next school year.
Several SMU students choose to live off-campus following their freshman year. In fact, according to SMU’s official website, 52 percent of undergraduates live off-campus or commute. Although 92 percent of freshmen live on-campus in SMU housing, the number significantly drops to 48 percent following freshman year.
Although these numbers may seem drastic, a large metropolis like Dallas has a lot of housing options to offer students in various price ranges. Some students prefer the convenience of walking to class, while others opt to commute in exchange for a cheaper monthly rent. Many other students just love the freedom of not being in a dorm, regardless of where they live or the distance of their drive to class.
Despite the abundance of places to live, or maybe because of it, the process of finding housing can become confusing, stressful and frustrating. There are many different factors for students to consider. First, students must decide who they would like to room with, if anyone. After deciding the number of bedrooms needed, roommates must make decisions like, if anyone will share a bathroom. After considering these seemingly minor details, the real hunt beings. Students must decide if they would like to live within walking distance of class or if they are willing to drive and endure parking on campus. While most students are unsure of exactly what they would like in a home, there are various appropriate methods for finding a place to live.
Sophomore Helena Davis says she found her current town home “by driving around near SMU and looking for ‘For Rent” signs. When I saw a place that looked nice or in a good location, I wrote down the phone number. But, the process of calling each number to find out how many bedrooms and rent prices was tedious.”
Freshman, Lauren Mutch, found herself overwhelmed by the idea of finding a place to live. After talking to several upper classmen in her sorority, Mutch said “The consensus was to find a realtor and tell him exactly what I want and where I want it.” Although, she has not found the perfect apartment yet, she has found her realtor helpful, except she remarks “I am using up all of my cell phone minutes talking to these people.”
Another excellent resource available to SMU students looking for off-campus housing is Mustang Realty. Flyers and business cards are found around campus in residence halls and Hughes Trigg advertising this helpful service. Many realtors take the first months rent as pay for finding a house. However, Mustang Realty does not take the first month’s rent commission and instead offer up to $500 cash back to students upon signing a lease. This is a large incentive for many students who worry about being able to pay rent, utility bills and furnish an empty apartment.
Rebecca Burnitt, a sophomore who used their services last school year, recalls how helpful and nice they were. “I didn’t have a car and they came and picked me up and drove me all over to look at houses.” Burnitt said.
Students can also search for available housing online, using websites such as www.craigslist.com. Others find apartments of older students who are moving out and get the landlord’s name directly.
Although over half of SMU’s students choose to move off-campus into apartments, town homes, houses or condominiums, there are advantages and disadvantages that must be considered. While many students love the idea of not only being away from home, but having their own house or apartment too, not everyone can afford this luxury. According to SMU’s official website, financial aid only applies to on-campus housing. Many rentals require a 12-month lease, as opposed to paying for housing for just the nine months of the school year. Also, many students in on-campus housing are on meal plans, which is less expensive than grocery shopping or eating out for each meal. According to the SMU website, average room and board for a full school year costs about $7,553. Many students pay more than $8,000 in rent alone. However, there are many advantages to living off-campus as well. Students not only gain freedom, but real world experience. Most students must pay their own utility bills, cook for themselves and learn to look after and clean their own places.
SMU offers some on-campus apartment options for students who like the convenience of an apartment, the privacy they afford and the luxury of their own kitchen. SMU has apartment options for married students and single students. The main advantage of SMU apartments is the reasonable cost and the possibility of receiving financial aid for housing. Additionally, SMU apartments come fully furnished, like all residence halls. This not only makes the apartments more cost-efficient, but also makes moving easier.
However, some students are ready get away from fire safety inspections and residence hall regulations. Many students who are not 21 chose to consume alcohol or have parties at their homes, something that is not permitted in on-campus housing.
Whatever students’ reasons, the high demand for off-campus housing is not unique to SMU. Students at The University of Texas in Austin and at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth flock off-campus in high numbers after freshman year as well. Jennie Wilson, a sophomore at The University of Texas, remarks “Everyone wants to claim their independence in any way possible. Freshman year this could be done by going out on a Tuesday or Wednesday night, but now it takes more drastic measures.”
SMU students are lucky though. Housing demands are much greater at other universities like UT because of the shear number of students and at TCU because of the location of the university in a smaller city. Melissa Lent, a 2002 graduate of UT, recalls her sophomore year, “It was terrible. My roommates and I had to sign a lease September of our freshman year. And of course, my friends changed and my roommates and I didn’t get along by the time we had to live together the next school year.”
While the process of finding a place to live becomes time consuming, Dallas thankfully offers a large selection. Students can decide as late as August where they would like to live for the upcoming semester. So whether one chooses to enter the SMU lottery for on-campus housing or to endure the search for an ideal apartment, the thought of where to live lingers in everyone’s minds.
