May 1, 2018
Caleb Bolin
It’s that time of the year. Final exams, forgotten projects and long work shifts fuse together to create an enormous amount of stress.
On top of all of these responsibilities, many students face another pressing item on their to-do list: finding housing for the fall.
But there’s one way to alleviate some of that stress: start looking for housing now.
Every spring, there is a sizeable group of students, including myself, who put off finding a place to live until it is too late.
Square One Management reports that nationally there are over six million Americans attending college every year. In Colorado Springs, students may find themselves in the middle of the ongoing housing crisis; according to a February 2018 article by The Gazette, there will be a shortage of 26,000 housing units by 2019.
If you don’t look for housing now, you could end up living in an unsafe environment with random roommates who can be a nightmare to deal with or in a house or apartment that may not fit your lifestyle.
Some people argue that it is practically impossible to start looking for housing early because there aren’t many options listed or open early in the season to make an offer on.
However, they need to remember that looking at housing, finding what you want and selecting your future roommates early means that you’re responsible – not that you’re ready to sign a lease.
So skip the stress: here are three ways to alleviate your housing search process.
One: prepare in advance. This can seem useless in the moment, but it’s important to remember that most of the accessible housing spots on or near campus have limited space and fill up quickly.
Two: find people you truly want to live with. Start by asking friends, co-workers or anyone you feel comfortable around. If that doesn’t work some housing options provide roommate forms that can help match you with people who have similar interests and personalities.
Three: find a place to stay that will be suitable for your lifestyle. This can be a daunting task, since there are a wide variety of options to choose from.
A good, easy-to-use website to check out is Uccshousing.com. It that has a simple to use “Where should I live?” tab that compares stats and specs on many housing options for students. The website also has a few helpful tools to help you think through important factors for your final decision.
Many of the housing facilities that you will be searching for have deadlines for applications, which should only provide an incentive for beginning the housing process early. These options also use exciting motivations such as money, discounts and prize giveaways when you register early with them.
Starting your search early gives you time to explore your options, instead of being forced to make a decision last second about a living situation that you will be stuck with for an entire school year, or possibly longer.
Finding a place to live for the upcoming school year is a necessary process that does not have to be stressful and intimidating if you have some solid tools to guide you.
Don’t miss out on valuable opportunities to make completing this task convenient and effective for what you personally need.