Category Archives: college housing

college housing, Sponsored posts

Understanding a student housing lease

 

student housingWhile every property renter should be aware of the possibility of scams when it comes time to sign the lease, college students should be particularly careful when signing a student housing lease. It is often the case that students are new to living on their own: searching for a decent, well-priced apartment is hard enough on its own, but students often don’t anticipate how difficult signing the lease can be. Pages of dense writing, legalese, and sometimes confusing clauses, all with the manager standing at your side, keys in hand, can be too much to take in immediately.

Signing the Lease

College students should resist the urge to smile and sign, although it may seem like a good idea at the time. You may feel as though you are offending your landlord by taking a step back and reading the entire lease in detail. You may even feel as though your landlord can be trusted 100%.

But the thing is, signing a legally binding document is serious, and can have significant repercussions on your life and finances. While lease terms vary depending on where you are living, many of them can be binding for up to a year. That means that, legally speaking, you are beholden to any clause within the contract as long as it is legal. With that in mind, take your time reviewing your lease. It is often the case that mistakes, if you do not catch them, will be to your disadvantage. Even if your landlord has made an error or is otherwise in the wrong, the amount of time, energy, and money you might end up spending securing your rights is not worth this ounce of prevention.

Different Types of Leases

As there is no such thing as a template for a lease, or a standard lease, landlords have a lot of leeway in the ones that write. Many lease forms can have huge legal or ethical problems. But it is not uncommon for future tenants, including college students, to be unaware of them before it is too late.

The risk that you would be running by signing your lease without question is possible to circumvent, but the responsibility is on your shoulders as the tenant. Read your lease carefully – do not skim it – before signing it. It is acceptable to ask for a copy to review overnight, although be aware that for some landlords, signs of hesitance in a tight market may make them just dump you in favor of another candidate.

Watch Out for Red Flags

While you can never know before you read the lease, there are some signs that may indicate that your landlord may be untrustworthy. If he or she does not give you a copy of the lease, however, that is your first red flag. Another is them trying to rush you to sign it, right there on the spot. Do not let them push you into doing anything you are unsure of. If the landlord tries to minimize a clause that you ask about by saying that they do not enforce it, or it is just a formality, be firm: ask the landlord to remove the clause if it is so unimportant or unenforced. You are allowed, to some extent, to negotiate the contents of your contract. Even if the landlord will not negotiate with you, it does not hurt to ask.

Another red flag is the landlord’s insistent on an oral agreement that they will not add to the contract. Unfortunately, you cannot take a handshake or someone’s word to a court of law.

One of the most important things a tenant can remember is that “standard contracts” do not exist. If your potential landlord tries to brush of your concerns with this platitude, they may be trying to pull one over on you.

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Author Bio

Joshua Turner is a writer who creates informative articles in relation to business. In this article, he offers tips to students faced with signing a house lease and aims to encourage further study with a Real Estate College Degree.

college housing, dorm life

Off to college? Tips for getting along with roommates

 

college roommatesWe’ve all seen movies about the college experience, ripe with parties, drinking and new experiences. The reality of it is, living with roommates isn’t always one big love-fest. How you get along with your roommates impacts your entire college experience, so follow these tips designed to help you coexist peacefully.

Create a System

When more than one person shares a small space, it tends to become a matter of who left the thermostat up, why there’s a pile of dishes in the sink, and whose turn it is to clean the bathroom. Head off trouble by creating a chore list that clearly outlines who has each duty on any given day. Work together to come up with a fair list, so no one carries an unfair load.

Continue reading Off to college? Tips for getting along with roommates →

admissions, college apps, college costs, college guidance, college housing, college majors, college planning, college visits, dorm life, financial aid, parenting, scholarships, student loans, test prep, tutoring, Uncategorized, websites

Comprehensive List of College Info Websites

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college planning

Here’s a current comprehensive list of my picks for college info websites. Do you have any additional suggestions?

COLLEGE BLOGS

ParentingforCollege.com–You will find the MOST information ere olege news. Come here first to find the latest and bhest tools to hn our blog: college guidance, college planning, college coaching, and colelp you navigate the college maze.

TheCollegeSolutionBlog.com–An excellent resource for college-bound teens and their parents: admissions, testing, and financial aid.

UniversityLanguage.com/blog–Great blog articles about everything related to college admissions geared toward students.

GreatCollegeAdvice.com/blog–An excellent resource about the college admissions process providing expert advice helping students map their college journey.

USNews.com/Education–The education channel of U.S. News and World Reports providing the latest news and information related to college.

CollegeBasics.com–An excellent resource for information about college essays, college applications and high school resumes.

InsideHigherEd.com/blogs–Several different blogs related to higher education.

CollegeAdmissionsPartners.com/blog–An expert blog dedicated to helping students find the right college.

CollegeFocus.com/colleges–A virtual clearinghouse of blogs related to college life, parenting, college searches, etc.

Road2College.com–You can find just about any topic related to college prep at this site: financial aid, college planning, student loans, test prep, and more.

PARENT SITES

UniversityParent.com–A site where parents can ask questions, gather information, and download and view college guides and campus newsletters.

CollegeParentCentral.com–A blog created to give parents useful information about college and the college admissions process.

YourCollegeKid.com–A site with parent forums and other college prep tools.

CollegiateParent.com-A site dedicated to providing parents with information for their college students.

FINANCIAL AID

Fafsa.ed.gov–The official government website for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.

SallieMae.com/plan–A FREE education investment planner that will help determine college costs, compare college costs, and provides information about student loan repayments.

SavingForCollege.com–Everything you need to know about financing a college education.

FinAid.org–An excellent resource for the answers to all your questions regarding college financial aid.

CollegeFinancialAidAdvisors.com–Help with the college financial aid process.

SCHOLARSHIPS

Fastweb.com–An extensive scholarship search website with a massive database of scholarships, along with articles and helps designed specifically for parents.

Chegg.com–A free service for students and parents where students can showcase themselves, connect with colleges, and search for scholarships.

Cappex.com–The place to go to find merit scholarships and academic scholarships from colleges across the country.

Scholarships.com–An extensive scholarship search engine that helps you search and schedule alerts for deadlines.

How2winscholarships.com–A guide for parents and students on how to effectively apply to and win scholarships.

COLLEGE VISITS

SmartCollegeVisit.com–Created to provide information about college visits, help parents and students plan, and view personal accounts from both parents and students.

CollegeWeekLive.com–A virtual college fair that sponsors free LIVE events with archived presentations, student chats, and college booths.

Youniversitytv.com–Learn about colleges by watching video tours, chat with students on campus forums, post questions and get answers.
CustomCollegeVisits.com–Offer custom tailored to your family’s needs, whether you’re visiting college & university campuses close to home, across the country or from overseas.

COLLEGE PLANNING

Cappex.com–A site created for students to help them simplify their college search, create a profile and search for scholarships.

CommonApp.org–The common application site used by 400 colleges and universities across the country.

PrincetonReview.com–The best value colleges list for public and private institutions across the country.

UPromise.com–UPromise partners return a portion of eligible purchase money back to you. Those earnings accumulate in your Upromise account until you decide to use it to invest in a 529 plan, help pay down eligible student loans or assist with college expenses—all tax-free!

CollegeBoard.com–It’s here you’ll find the CSS Profile application (required by many private colleges), register for the SAT, and read articles about planning for college.

CollegeXpress.com–A search site that groups colleges in categories and provides college “hot” lists (i.e. top college for late bloomers, colleges for students needing a second chance)

VolunteerMatch.org–Find local volunteer opportunities for your college-bound teen and teach them about the importance of giving back to their community with the added bonus of adding that service to their high school resume.

KnowHow2Go.com–A college planning site for college-bound students providing helps and aids from middle school to senior year: interactive and fun!

 BigFuture.collegeboard.org–A planning tool to help parents and students get ready for college.

TEST PREP / TUTORING

TutorsForTestPrep.com–An SAT expert and coach offering tips to help your college-bound teen improve their SAT/ACT scores.

FairTest.org–The site for the National Center for fair and open testing providing information about colleges who do not use the SAT/ACT for admissions decisions.

QuincyTutoring.com–A resource to find a tutor and schedule a tutoring session.

LaunchpadEducation.com–Tutoring to help students with learning disabilities and ADHD.

TEXTBOOKS

ECampus.com—Find textbooks, sell textbooks, search for college supplies and college apparel all on this one site.

Chegg.com–A hub for students to compare textbook prices, study for exams, and choose the right courses.

RECRUITING

NCSASports.org–The college recruiting site for athletes.

BeRecruited.com–If you have a teen that’s a student athlete, they can create an online profile here and help colleges and coaches find them and be recruited.

college housing, college visits, dorm life

5 Tips for taking campus tours

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campus toursCampus visits are an important part of the college selection process for any student. Higher education is a significant investment of both time and money, and you and your teen should both be proactive about finding the perfect school. When you visit colleges for campus tours, don’t simply follow along silently. Remember these important tips for making the most out of every one of your campus tours.

  1. Give Yourselves Plenty of Time
    Rushing yourselves through a campus tour will defeat the entire purpose of visiting at all. You won’t be able to see everything, and you’ll be so frazzled by the stress of rushing about that you won’t remember anything either. Plan ahead to give yourself plenty of time to enjoy every campus tour at a leisurely pace. Set aside a whole day for excursions to local colleges, and consider planning an entire weekend around your trips out of town.
  2. Explore the Whole Town
    If you’re visiting a college campus in an unfamiliar area, take some time after the tour to explore the whole town outside of campus. Surrounding areas can play a major role in the college selection process. Some schools are tucked away in rural areas with little city life to speak of, while others are situated in the middle of dense, exciting metropolitan neighborhoods. Take your campus tour beyond the campus itself, and explore the surrounding areas to get a sense of where you are and where your teen will be living.
  3. Ask Lots of Questions
    The campus tour is your greatest opportunity to have your burning questions answered. Veteran students and faculty members typically conduct these tours, and they can give you the insider information that can’t be found in web pages and pamphlets. Ask lots of questions during campus tours, and encourage your teen to do so as well. Inquire about anything that springs to mind; computer centers, extra-curricular activities, academic advising or whatever piques your interest. You won’t get another opportunity like this, so let the questions fly.
  4. Request to See Dorm Rooms
    Your campus tour may or may not feature a tour of dormitories and student living spaces or it may be a “model room”. Some colleges encourage prospective students and parents to explore these spaces, while others do not. Whatever the situation may be at your campus tour, request to make a visit to the dorms. If your teen is going to be living on campus, rather than attending an online university, the dormitory accommodations will be a very important deciding factor in the college selection process. A college may have several different options for dorm living, so try to see as much as you can during your visit.
  5. Bring Home Lots of Literature
    Start a catalog of college literature from your campus visits, and bring home as much as you can from each school. Obtain pamphlets and brochures on everything from major programs to financial aid, from international study to career placement. School literature will help you and your teen to remember the details of every campus you visit, making each tour educational and worthwhile in the college selection process.

 

campus security, college housing, parenting

5 College safety tips for women

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college safety for womenCollege can be an adventurous, validating and exiting time in a young woman’s life. Unfortunately, there are predators out there that put many of these young women’s innocence and lives in danger. According to statistics, college women are most in danger of being sexually assaulted or raped – up to 20% more likely. The numbers are staggering and college women are far more susceptible than other women in our society. While this is a sad and heartbreaking truth, there are a number of ways that women can stay safe and protect themselves. One of the best ways to do this is to be less vulnerable as possible and to be completely aware at all times. Here are 5 college safety tips for women.

  1. Always be prepared. It might be smart to take classes in self-defense. In many communities there are basic combat training programs that can teach a young woman what to do in the frightening instance that someone is trying to attack them. They will learn how to preform chokeholds, assault prevention tactics, and even learn how to use certain common items, like car keys as weapons. It might also be smart for young women to carry pepper stray in their purses.
  2. Always travel with one or two other people. If you are at a party, make sure to walk home with a friend or two. Or ask someone that you can trust to take you home, either by walking or by car. Most incidents of attacks and sexual assaults happen to women who are walking home at night, alone.
  3. Always be alert. If you are walking home alone and it is getting dark, be extremely aware of your surroundings. If you hear a sound or if you think someone is following you, immediately call the police or have your phone ready to dial 911. If you do get attacked, at least the police will be on the way to protect you and apprehend the suspect.
  4. Always keep an eye on your drink if you are out at a party or a bar. There are too many instances where a young college woman will be at a party, goes to the restroom and leaves her drink unattended. This can make you highly susceptible to a date rape scenario, because there are people just waiting to drug your drink in order to render you incapacitated. It can be extremely frightening for a young woman to wake up in completely unfamiliar surroundings and not know how she got there or if she has been taken advantage of. Go to a hospital immediately if this happens so that you don’t destroy evidence that can be used against your attacker and be sure to mention you have Florida health insurance or health insurance from any other state and you believe you have been attacked,
  5. Lastly, don’t ever be afraid to call the campus police to escort you back to your apartment or dorm room. It is always better to be completely safe, than sorry in the instance that you are out late and need to walk home in the dark. You’ll thank yourself when you are safe and sound in your room.
college housing, dorm life

How your college student can live rent free

Room and board

 

If there’s something that nearly everyone can agree on, it’s the fact that the cost of a college education is pretty expensive. Just the price of tuition alone can easily run you into the thousands and then when you add on fees like room and board or the cost of rent, it’s no wonder why the title of this article caught your attention.

It’s oftentimes assumed that a college student will either pay to live on campus or they will get an apartment of their own, but if the budget is very tight and you’re looking for some alternatives, there are some ways that your college student can actually live rent free. Are you curious to know what they are? If so, keep reading below:

Live with you (or some relatives). One obvious thing that you can do to keep living expenses down is to either have your child live with you or if they are going to school in another city or state, with some family members or friends within the area; at least until you (and your child) can save up some money for them to live on their own.

Apply for some grants. One way to get financial assistance for your child’s living expenses is to encourage them to apply for grants. One thing about grants is that while scholarships often have strict guidelines about how their monies can be used, grants are oftentimes designed to provide financial assistance regardless of someone’s grades or major in school and it can be used in a variety of ways.

Barter for rent. Something that you might not know about is that there are many cities that have what is known as local home-sharing programs. Basically, you can live somewhere rent free in exchange for providing some kind of service to the owner of the home. It might be cleaning up a senior’s house while staying in their converted apartment outback or babysitting a landlord’s child on the weekends while living in a room in their house. Craigslist will allow you to post ads if you are looking for this kind of opportunity.

Housesit. You might be surprised by how many people look for individuals to housesit throughout the year as they travel away on business or if they have a second home in another part of the country or abroad that they stay in for months at a time. House Sitters America is one website that lists homeowners all over the country who are in search of people to housesit and even watch over their pets.

Purchase a home. If you are on a tight budget, then this is probably not something that you can consider at this time, but if you can, it’s worth looking into. Call a real estate agency (like Katy Homes for Sale or a company within your area) and ask them to help you locate a suitable property near campus. As the real estate market is still striving to stabilize itself, this is the time when you can get a lot of properties for a reasonable price. For this reason, there are some parents who actually purchase homes near their children’s campus. That way, their kids have a place to stay while they’re in school and then once they graduate, the home can either be sold or rented out to tenants. It’s a smart way for your children to live rent free while in school and for you to make some extra income once they leave college.

Sign up as an RA. After freshman year, your student can sign up as a resident assistant in charge of a dormitory or just a floor in the dormitory. Most colleges let students have free room and board while they are serving in this capacity. The RA’s help with dorm questions, help resolve conflicts between roommates, and often schedule social time for the residents of the dorms to get to know one another.

college guidance, college housing, college planning, dorm life, parenting

Should your college student live on or off campus?

imagesThe time has finally come for your son or daughter to enter into the next phase of their educational careers. In just a few short months, they will be enrolled into college as they prepare to earn their degree so that they can be successful in the career of their choosing.

Although all of this time they have been living with you, and as we all know, one of the major transitions that come with going to college is that students are able to live on campus (or even in an apartment). If you’ve been trying to figure out if that is an option that is most suitable for your son or daughter, we have a few things for you to consider before making a final decision whether to live on or off campus.

The Pros of Living on Campus

One of the main benefits of living on campus is that it’s convenient for your child to get to their classes. There’s no traffic or weather conditions that could make it challenging for them to either get to class, or to get to class on time. Another bonus is that great memories are made from living among other students who are also learning in a college environment. There are college roommates (and suite mates) who end up being friends for a lifetime. Still, another benefit is that it gives college students a sense of independence. While they may have relied on you to wake them up to class or to help them budget their own money, living on campus helps them to learn how to make many decisions on their own on a daily basis.

The Pros of Living Off Campus

If they live with you, an immediate benefit is that it saves you money on either room and board or assisting with their rent and other living expenses. Plus, you have the peace of mind of them coming home every day. If they live in an apartment, this even further prepares them for “the real world”, plus it provides them with the privacy that they may need in order to study. One thing to consider with this particular option, however, is if they do live in an apartment or even if they are looking into house rentals in order to rent with a few friends, they are going to need some reliable transportation in order to get back and forth to school.

So when it comes to making the ultimate decision on what is best for your college student, there are three main questions that you should ask yourself: “Would my child thrive more living on campus or off?”, “Is my child emotionally mature enough to live outside of the home?” and “What makes the most financial sense?” Once you have taken these various pros into consideration and then answered those questions, undoubtedly, you will come to the resolve that is best for your son or daughter (and for you).

college housing, dorm life

Helping your college student furnish their dorm room

Offers of admission are arriving and your college-bound teen is most likely already looking toward the future. Planning for dorm life now will prevent panic at the end of the summer.

College is such a fascinating time. If a student makes the decision to live on campus, for approximately four years of their life, they are able to live in a space that affords them total independence; at least for all of the months that they are enrolled in school. But while they are living in a dorm, they have to figure out how to furnish it in a way that will make them feel comfortable, while also being what they can afford.

If you have a college-bound student in your life who needs some help with furnishing their dorm room and you want to do it in a way that is both modern and cost-effective, we have five great tips for you:

Get the right kind of bedding. Dorm rooms already come with beds. Yet unfortunately, they’re not always the most comfortable. Thankfully, there are mattress toppers (even memory foam ones) that you can get for a really reasonable prices at stores like Wal-Mart and K-Mart. Also, make sure to get pillows that will support their head and neck and sheets and comforters that are preferably made from organic cotton or bamboo.

Purchase some really cool light fixtures. The overhead lighting in dorm rooms can tend to feel pretty institutional. One way to fix that is to buy some modern lighting fixtures. You can start by picking up a dimmer for the light switch, but don’t forget that places like Target and Overstock also carry some pretty cool looking light fixtures that don’t cost a ton of money. Then you can get some fluorescent light bulbs in colors like blue and green to add even more personality to their room.

imagesPick up some pictures. Depending on the college, sometimes the administration will allow a college student to paint their walls (so long as they paint them white again at the end of the school year). Whether or not the college student in your life is able to, it can feel so much more like their own space if they have pictures hanging on the walls. You can either have some of their favorite prints professionally framed or help them to build a picture collage over their bed.

Don’t forget about storage. Do dorm rooms ever have enough storage space? Usually not. Stop by your local container store to pick up some storage bins, baskets, totes or trunks? They are great for storing things like clothes, linens or even waterbed sheets. Or, if you want the kind of storage item that is multipurpose, opt to get an ottoman. That way, they can put all kinds of books and electronics inside, close it and then sit down or put their feet on top of it while studying or watching their favorite movie.

Add a refrigerator. Although all campuses have places where students can eat, chances are, there will be all-night study sessions that will require the need for a snack or two. While all of the things that we mentioned are important, an absolute essential item for a college student is a refrigerator. Not only does it store food, but the top of it can be used as a “tabletop” for an alarm clock or indoor plant. Plus, you can usually find a really good one for less than $150. It’s definitely a dorm room gift that any college student will enjoy.

college guidance, college housing, Guest Posts, social networks

Using Facebook to Jumpstart your Collegiate Experience

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As parents, you may not quite completely understand the utility of Facebook. Even when I was in high school, I thought that the friends of mine who were on the earlier social networks like My Space were just plain silly. However, when I matriculated to pursue an undergraduate degree, Facebook was just starting to take off throughout the world, and I cannot begin to describe how using the social network made inserting myself into a vibrant social world so much easier. If your child is on the cusp of going to college for the first time, here are a few useful ways to employ Facebook and make that college transition easier.

  1. Find people who will be living in your dorm. As soon as you get that letter informing you which building and room you will be living in, you can be sure that there has already been a Facebook group created with your dorm’s name on it. Running a search of your dorm building is a great way to find people who may already live there, find the roommate your school selected for you, and it’s also fun to become friends and begin chatting with other matriculating freshmen who are just as excited as you are.
  2. Find housing and furniture if you are no longer living on campus. If you do not intend on living on campus your first year, or if you have completed your first year and want to try moving off-campus, Facebook is a great way to find both new roommates, a new house or apartment for lease, and some cheap used furniture. Facebook Marketplace is helpful, but sometimes just looking through college groups or friends’ and acquaintances status can be just as effective. The way I found my off-campus living and roommates was simple. I scrolled through my news feed, randomly found that an acquaintance had found a 3 bedroom apartment but needed one more housemate. After a few days I was living in a wonderful apartment with two friends. That beats going through a realtor to find off-campus living!
  3. Keep up with events happening on campus. If you join a group that is associated with your school, or if you “like” your university’s official page, then often you will be updated on your news feed if any interesting events happen on campus. This way, you don’t have to rely on fliers or word-of-mouth to attend events where you can have fun, be involved with your campus community, and meet new people.
  4. Join study groups. Once you’ve begun to get in the swing of things academically, it will be likely that someone in a few of your classes will have started a Facebook group for that class. If so, joining it, or starting a group yourself, can reap many benefits. For one, you can organize study groups more easily, you can discuss class material in a forum format, and you can borrow notes or books if you happen to miss class.

These are just a handful of ways that you can use Facebook to enhance your first few weeks and months in college. Remember, Facebook was founded by college students for college students. If you use Facebook for anything, use it to become more acquainted with your college and fellow students.

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This guest post is contributed by Barbara Jolie, who writes for online classes.  She welcomes your comments at her email Id: barbara.jolie876@gmail.com.