I’m in my freshman year astronomy class. I’m paying very close attention, of course.
My type-A, color-coded and diagrammed notes are being written carefully and my third (or is it the fourth?) cup of coffee is keeping me awake through something about speed or matter or stars. Then, during a quick pause from the professor, my seat partner tells me that the apartment complex my friends and I were looking into had only a couple rooms left. After a quick call to my best friends (and frantic calls to parents), I was on the road with three girls to sign for an apartment on impulse, in the middle of class, for my sophomore year…in November.
Via: themetapicture.com
Sounds crazy right? Almost a year ahead of time, out of fear for losing our spot, we felt compelled to sign together. There wasn’t even a guarantee they could put us in the same apartment.
Every year the hunt for the apartment complex catches people off guard. If I told you to start looking now, you’d think I’m crazy. I changed my mind after I missed half a class of “Discovering the Universe.”
There is an easy and pretty foolproof timeline you should look into when searching of your apartment and it starts in September. September is all about room size and roommates. Know your price range. If you are looking for the cheapest way to go, you need to check out the four bed, two bath or four bed, four bath options. You also need to know your personality. If you can’t fathom sharing with someone else, maybe having your own bathroom space is better for you. If you don’t have very many friends (or you hate the idea of random assignments) look into three by two’s or even your own space.
Look for the amount of people you want to share this space with now that you’ve narrowed down the size options. Don’t pick that girl that you sort of, kind of get along with. You’ll probably sort of, kind of hate her later. You also don’t need to be with your best friend. This is why you need the whole month. It’s not an easy process.
Via: apartmenthunterhq.com
October is hunting time. Go everywhere. Check out the places close to campus and the ones just at the edge of your comfort. The only thing you shouldn’t do is go to the places beyond your price limit. It’s like trying on that 300 dollar pair of shoes you can’t afford. You’ll fall in love, you’ll hate yourself, you’ll hate your bank account and everything feels like settling after that.
Use all of your resources: friends, Facebook, forums and your feet. Tour the places that you narrow down from your online search. Don’t be nervous to even tour a place you’re not sure about. Sometimes there are even perks like gift cards or entries into drawings just for touring.
And in November, we sign. November is the best time to sign. That is when you start seeing the signs outside complexes or emails from the places you toured and gave your information that there are only a few spaces left. By this point you should know where you want to be, so if you are in astronomy, you can run out confident that you are making the right choice with the right people.
However, if you are not ready by November, don’t fret, especially if you’re signing alone. When they tell you that there are only two spots left, in many cases you can call bull for groups of 3 and 4, it’s best to sign early so you can be put together. For singles or doubles, sign whenever you’re ready. Don’t let the propaganda bring you down.
Featured photo courtesy of: plus.google.com
