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8 Tips For Choosing Housing Options For Women In College

Written by CB Community

Aside from picking the right degree, the accommodation you’ll choose can also make or break your entire college experience.

It’ll be very challenging for you to study well and excel in your classes if you’re stuck in a cramped or noisy accommodation. 

Choosing among many housing options is one of the most important tasks you’ll have as a college student.

There are plenty of accommodations available and making hasty decisions can adversely affect your ability to study, pass your classes, and graduate with flying colors. 

What Are The Most Common Housing Options In College?

As mentioned, you’ll be able to choose from many different housing options in college.

When you’re in Rexburg, Idaho, for example, you can consider The Colonial House or choose from many other different options.

The same remains true if you’re planning to pursue a degree in major cities, countries or states. 

To give you an idea on what your options are, here are some of the most common housing options in college:

Dorms

Dorms are probably the most common housing option you’ll encounter when you’re in college. In fact, dorms have been showcased in countless movies and even horror stories. 

There are many types of dorms today—you can choose to live in one room with two or three roommates, or pay for the entire space so you can stay alone. Some dorms even offer luxury living and come with private bathrooms, pools, and entertainment rooms. 

A lot of college students choose to stay in dorms because they love the hustle and bustle that comes with this living arrangement.

Since staying in dorms will require you to live with other students in one roof, this housing option is a great way to expand your social circle, especially when you’re starting college. 

Off-Campus Housing

As the name suggests, off-campus housing are accommodations situated outside of the college or university.

College students who are in their junior or senior years usually choose to stay in off-campus housing as this gives them a breather from spending too much time in university premises. 

Off-campus housing can be a great option for freshmen as well, especially if you don’t want to deal with a lot of people or noise all the time. Off-campus housing is usually more private than dorms, making it easier for you to reduce your stress and have enough space for you to lay out your things. 

University Housing

If you don’t want to spend a lot of time traveling to and from your accommodation just to get to your classes, consider living in university housing.

These accommodations are situated within university premises, which means that you can walk to your classes. 

Since these types of accommodations are still owned by the university, expect that you’ll have to follow certain rules when you live here.

For starters, you might not be allowed to bring pets, and you must follow curfew.

On the brighter side, living within university housing can also mean less stress in the long run as you don’t have to individually pay for your cable and utility bills since these expenses are already added to your monthly bill. 

8 Tips For Choosing Housing Options For Women In College

Hostel dormitory beds arranged in room

College may be a fun time for students, but as with anything, safety is still a primary concern.

According to studies, women are more likely to be victims of domestic homicides and sex-related homicides than men, which is why choosing the right housing option is paramount in order for female students to enjoy their stay in college while also keeping themselves safe.  

To help you out, listed below are tips to help you choose an accommodation in college:

1. Do Your Research

Being a college student is an exciting time but this excitement shouldn’t get the best of you and become the reason why you’ll end up choosing poor accommodations.

For one, the housing you’ll pick in college shouldn’t be influenced by peer pressure. 

One important tip to follow when selecting a housing option in college is to make sure that you spend a lot of time researching.

Aside from knowing what the most common types of housing options are in college, you should also visit on-campus accommodation, show up to rental inspections, and speak with your university’s housing advisers.

The information you can gain as you accomplish these tasks will allow you to determine whether a specific housing option is safe and suitable for women. 

Moreover, as you’re visiting different housing options, it’s best if you create a rough list of the things you’re looking for (bedroom sizes, proximity to the university, parking space, etc.) and then tick these off as you personally visit your options. 

2. Prioritize Security

As mentioned, security is a top priority when choosing housing options, and this is especially true for women as they may be more vulnerable to victimization, especially when they live alone.

Therefore, choosing between college housing options with ample security measures is a must so you won’t have to be worried about your safety and can focus on your studies and other university-related activities. 

When reviewing which accommodations are the safest, check if the facility has cameras, locks, and security guards.

If possible, choose to stay in a college accommodation that has a concierge so anyone who enters or leaves your apartment or dorm is identified. The more secure the accommodation is, the better.

Choosing to live in a secure accommodation will also give you the peace of mind knowing that your valuables, such as your clothes, laptop, and other gadgets are safe whenever you leave to attend your classes. 

3. Consider Your Budget

According to statistics, you’ll have to spend at least $35,087 and $21,184 for tuition when you enroll in private and public universities, respectively.

These numbers still don’t include the cost of your room and board, books and supplies, and daily transportation.

Depending on the degree you’re planning to pursue, you might even have to pay for laboratory fees and other materials to supplement your learning. 

When choosing a housing option, don’t forget to consider your budget. Regardless if you’re going to work part-time or solely depend on your parents to pay your rent, it’s important to know how much you can spend for your college accommodation before choosing. 

Aside from the rent itself, make sure to look at the bigger picture and think about any possible expenses you might have in college. Don’t forget to allot money for your emergency funds as well. 

Following all of these tips will make it easier for you to find a college accommodation that suits your needs while keeping financial stress at bay as you start living in it. 

4. Check The Location

The location of your accommodation is one of the most important factors to consider when choosing.

Living in a cheap apartment outside of the university will likely cost you more money in the long run as you’ll have to pay for your daily transportation.

Living too far from your university will also cause stress as you’ll have to wake up extra early to get to your classes on time. 

Therefore, it’s always important to check the location of your prospective accommodation.

Ideally, you should pick one that’s near your university in order to keep away stress, as well as save time and money. Choosing an accommodation near your university will also make study materials more accessible in between classes. 

Aside from the proximity of the accommodation to your university, you should also consider whether the accommodation is near pharmacies and supermarkets.

As a college student, expect that you’ll have to regularly buy items from these establishments, which is why it’s best to pick a place that’s near them. 

5. Availability Of Internet Connection

Having a stable internet connection is a need for all college students today.

Regardless of the degree you want to pursue, it’ll be challenging for you to do your research, complete assignments, and acquire knowledge if you don’t have a stable internet connection in your accommodation.

You’ll also need to have internet to regularly communicate with your friends and family back home.

When choosing housing options in college, spend time to check if it has a strong internet connection. Depending on where you’re eyeing to stay, you can get this information by researching about the student housing online, asking previous tenants, or directly speaking to the management or administrators.

Having access to a strong internet connection can significantly affect your performance as a student, which is why you should never forget checking this amenity in the facility.

This cannot be more emphasized nowadays as many classes are slowly evolving from the traditional classroom setting to one that accommodates both online and in-person learning. 

6. Choose One That Feels Like Home

If you’ve been living at home with your family all of your life, living on your own when you’re in college requires a lot of adjustments.

In fact, this transition can cause a lot of stress that can take a toll on your studies, and may even eventually lead to depression and anxiety. 

If you’re looking for ways to transition smoothly to your new living arrangement, choose one that feels like home.

If you’ve been staying in your bedroom alone back home, it might be best if you choose an accommodation in college that allows you to have the entire space to yourself. If you’re used to sharing the room with your siblings, pick an accommodation that encourages you to have roommates.

Choosing a housing option that offers the same level of comfort as your home will make it easier for you to adapt to your new environment and prevent stress from overwhelming you. 

7. Consider The Availability Of Communal Facilities

Your performance as a college student can have a significant impact on your future, especially in the kind of employment opportunities that could open up for you.

However, your academic performance isn’t the end-all and be-all of what makes you an effective and well-rounded student. You also need to have fun and de-stress once in a while. 

That said, another tip to follow when choosing housing options is to pick one that offers communal facilities to students.

As much as possible, pick an accommodation that has a cinema room, game room, or gym. All of these facilities can help you relax and make new friends in college. 

Choosing an accommodation that offers communal areas will make it easier for you to relieve stress when you’re in college and improve your social circle.

Through these communal facilities, you may even find like-minded individuals or fellow women with whom you can share advocacies or hobbies. 

8. Assess The Friendliness Of The Staff

As mentioned, going to college will require a lot of you. Aside from making sure that the accommodation you choose resembles home, the friendliness of the staff in that accommodation can also help make your stay more pleasant. 

When choosing housing options in college, don’t forget to assess how the staff treats you once you enter the facility.

Do they treat you with respect and professionalism? Are they ready to offer services with a smile? Do they make you feel welcome?

The accommodation you choose should be friendly and ready to answer all of your questions so your transition can be easier. 

Some college accommodations also have staff that arrange weekly events and icebreakers for their tenants, so you might want to consider adding them to your shortlist. 

Knowledge Is Power

The housing option you’ll choose will become your home for at least four years when you’re in college.

Aside from the classroom, this is also where you’ll be spending most of your time as a college student, which is why you should choose carefully.

You want your accommodation to make your life easy as a student—not the complete opposite. 

If you see yourself overwhelmed with too many options, use this article as your guide when choosing housing options in college.

The more you know, the easier it’ll be for you to narrow down your options and end up staying in the best accommodation! 

About the author

CB Community

Passionate members of the College Basics community that include students, essay writers, consultants and beyond. Please note, while community content has passed our editorial guidelines, we do not endorse any product or service contained in these articles which may also include links for which College Basics is compensated.