hio State University has one of the largest campuses in the United States, and with that comes many struggles, one of which the biggest struggles of going away to college is finding housing. We all worry our freshman year on who our roommates are going to be, what dorm we are going to be in, and where our dorm is located in concern to where our 8 A.M. classes are. But come out second year, it is a whole different ball game when we start looking for housing for our third year.
It's the middle of sophomore year and you have no idea where you're living next fall! Look no more, here are a few pointers and tips when it comes to looking for off-campus housing on and near The Ohio State University's Columbus campus. These pointers range from basic answers to questions such as how much you should pay for housing, to where and who you should live with.
1. Location, Location, Location
With four different directional campuses to choose from, you want to choose the right place to live for you. Whether you are a business major to anything medical, making sure your walks to class are as short as possible is definitely a necessity when choosing a location. Keep in mind that the farther away you live from campus the cheaper housing rent gets, but the farther the walk becomes. Most of Ohio State students tend to live on North or South campus when they move into off-campus housing. That being said these are the two directional campus's that contain the most resources, food, and night life for students.
2. Whats a good price?
Being from Chicago, paying anywhere near $800-$1200 per month for a small one-bedroom or studio apartment is the norm. But whats a good price for Columbus? In the hunt for my own place for the fall, I have discovered that for a fully furnished, utilities included apartment, you should be paying anywhere between $650-$775 for a two bedroom one bathroom apartment, and about $500 per person for a seven-bedroom-three-bathroom house, unfurnished and utilities not included. Anything cheaper for off-campus housing is a steal, no wonder why college students live off of Ramen.
3. Apartment or House?
So the big question is, apartment or house? Really its all up to you! Depending on the amount of people you are wanting to live with will depend on the type of housing you wish to live in. Personally, I am going to be completely content with living with one other person in a two-bed room, one bath apartment.
4. Any good food around here?
One of the most important questions a college student should ask themselves when looking for housing: Is there any good food around here?
Picking a location to live in with great food and nightlife is essential. High Street is the central hub for this. Whether it be Buffalo Wild Wings on North High Street, or Mark Pi's on South High Street, it's always a good thing to know where you can get decent food when you find an extra ten bucks in your pocket while doing laundry.
5. Don't get scammed! Use student legal services to help read contracts
Student Legal Services is one of those charges that sneaks its way into your tuition every semester. This service provides Ohio State students with legal advice and representation for certain cases. Ever so usefully, Student Legal Services will go over your leasing contract with you and your co-signers. This benefits students by going over the specifics of their contract, making sure that they don't get into a bind that they wont be able to get out of or explain.
6. Freedom from supervised living situations!
The best thing about living off-campus is the unsupervised living. There are no longer any Resident Advisers constantly breathing down your neck, or neighbors complaining about your music during quiet hours! However, keep in mind that you now live in a very public community, so please respect your neighbors!
7. Picking the perfect roommate
While some of us choose to live alone in a studio or one bedroom apartment, many of us choose to live with a roommate or even house mates. Picking the perfect roommate is one of the MOST important decisions you'll make in living off-campus housing. Making sure you live with someone who pays their rent on time, keeps the place tidy, and keeps their presence positive is key to finding the perfect roommate.
8. Can you see yourself living there as you sign your lease?
So after all of this can you see yourself living in the perfect place after you sign your lease? Whether you are living in a high-end apartment like The View on High or some college worn house on Frambes, make sure its the perfect place for you!
Enjoy Adulthood!
