guthria wrote:How do internationals usually arrange for housing and stuff?
Most universities have some on-campus grad housing, but often they say its limited and you might not get it even if you apply.
Since I've never lived in the US, I am not even sure what kind of things to look for in looking for an apartment / house that I could rent with other people.
Is it normal practice to come to the University first, and stay with a senior or someone for a week or so, while looking for your own place? Hotels would be too expensive for me, and most internationals, I would imagine.
Anyone who applied last year, and had to deal with this, have any helpful tips?
Thanks!
To be honest, I think this is the most difficult part in the whole graduate school process. Of course, for someone who has moved multiple times it may not be. However, regardless if one is an international or domestic student, there is a pretty good chance they will have barely seen the area they are moving to. There are a few things I would suggest:
1. On-campus housing is generally more expensive than signing a lease on an apartment, but there are some incentives of living in this housing. You are closer to campus and typically the "lease" terms are more generous than an apartment complex. They are usually not a year long, but instead run with the school schedule, meaning that by next summer you'll be able to move out into an apartment that will probably be cheaper. Also, breaking lease on campus housing is usually cheaper than on an apartment complex (although make sure you check on each school). If this is so, it may be best just to set up on-campus housing for the fall semester until you can find a cheaper apartment for the spring semester. At some places, even with the lease penalty, this may be the better option. However, the problem with on-campus housing is that it fills up fast. So if you've already decided on the school you want to go to, or have limited it down to a few schools, I highly suggest you get in contact with housing RIGHT NOW.
2. Another good option is to contact the department you will be attending and asking if any other incoming students or current graduate students are looking for roommates. You could ask them to email your inquiry to the graduate students in hope that one will have an open bedroom, or possibly be searching for a new apartment themselves. Of course, you'll end up with roommate/s that you don't know very well, but you'll probably be stuck in that situation regardless, and at least these ones will be interested in the same stuff you are!
3. If these two options fail, you're stuck searching for an apartment by yourself. Generally, I do not think it is typical that a senior or another student will let you stay with them for a week while looking for an apartment. Of course, again you could contact the department about this, but I doubt it's general practice at most schools to do this. If you can not stay with another student, it is best for you to stay in a hotel for a night or two to give you time to look at your options for apartments. Trust me, as much as a hotel will cost for a night or two, it won't cost as much as making a bad decision on an apartment where you sign a lease for a year or more.
4. If you're accepted as a research assistant, you can always sleep in the lab.
-Riley