Apartments offer variety
By Matt Holsapple
Summer
Reporter
For some students, the best thing about going to
college is freedom. The way to get the most freedom is to bypass the residence
halls and live in an apartment.
Most students live in a residence hall for their
first year or two; after that, many move into apartments off campus.
Although apartment living does allow students to
live without the rules and restraints of a residence hall, it also includes
responsibilities that students living in residence halls do not have to
worry about.
Some students, however, consider these responsibilities
a perk.
"I wanted to get some experience living on my own.
I think it's important to know how to pay the bills, cook the food and
do all the things that an independent person does," said Jennifer Dobbs,
a recent graduate of the School of Liberal Arts.
Laurie Lundeen, a senior in the School of Education,
agreed. "I got tired of living in the dorms," she said. "I was ready for
a change; for something more grown up."
Dobbs also said there were other reasons for moving
out of the residence hall after two years. These reasons included a desire
for more freedom and the fact that most of her friends were doing the
same.
Whereas most incoming students elect to live in a
residence hall for at least their first year at Purdue, there are some
who move directly into an apartment.
Those students find themselves at a disadvantage
to current students because of timing. Most landlords within walking distance
of campus begin signing leases for the next school year as early as August.
By the time summer rolls around, when many incoming students look for
their apartments, the choices are slim at best.
According to Patti Weida, an employee of Weida Apartments,
Weida Apartments has few apartments left. Of these, most are one- or two-bedroom
units and are farther away from campus.
"Location is the big thing that goes first," said
Weida. "People don't want to have to walk far to get to classes."
Weida said that she starts showing apartments in
December and that by Spring Break, most of the units have been rented.
She said that four-bedroom units go much quicker than any others.
Theresa Hatten of Fleischhauer Rentals said that
her office is similar to Weida's, only she begins leasing for the next
school year in November. She said that most landlords would have only
one-bedroom units left by the time summer starts.
"Right now, (new students) are going to get leftovers,"
Weida said.
For those students who decide to look at these leftovers
for an apartment, there are many things to keep in mind.
"Location is the most important," said Weida. "A
lot of the close places are gone, but if you look hard enough, you can
still find good locations."
Carol Smith, secretary for Off Campus Housing, said
it is important for students to be careful about signing leases.
"Make sure that the apartment is what you want. Don't
sign a lease until you are sure about the place and have read the whole
lease and understand it," Smith said.
She said that the reason that this is so important
is because most landlords will not let students break leases without financial
penalties.
She also said students need to be aware of costs
that they might not be considering before they decide to live off-campus.
These cost include electricity, hook-up fees for cable, telephone, cable
and the cost of food. One thing that many students do not consider, she
said, is the amount of insulation an apartment has.
"That will really affect your heating and cooling
costs," Smith said.
Once in the apartment there are a couple of pieces
of advice that students should keep in mind.
Dobbs warned that in an apartment it is not as easy
to get to know people as it is in a residence hall. "Find a campus organization
to get involved with because it is easier to get to know people in an
organization than your neighbors.
"Also, though, make an effort to meet your neighbors,"
Dobbs said.
Lundeen offered advice of a more practical nature.
"Bring lots of quarters," she said. "You'll need
them for laundry."
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