A lot of transfer students struggle with where they are going to live once they make the transition to College Park. There are many options available for housing in the area, so it's really a preference. As a student affairs professional, I believe that everybody should have some kind of on-campus housing experience but, because of high demand, it is not always a viable option (though with a new hall being built on North Campus, it might be a reality soon enough). If you are thinking about living on-campus or want to learn more about living on-campus, visit the Resident Life website at www.resnet.umd.edu.
You can learn all about the housing policies and options and make sure to put yourself on the waitlist.
Popular off-campus options are The Towers, University View, both strictly student housing, boarding in a fraternity house, rooms in local homes and a variety of other independently operated apartment complexes. If you need a place to start, you can find all your off-campus housing information at the Off-Campus Housing Services website at www.och.umd.edu. This is an amazing resource where you can search a database of local housing, use the roommate finder to find a suitable match and get great advice on legal matters (i.e. leases), transportation and more!
What have been your experiences with housing? Where are the best places to live?
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Hello, my name is Emily Bogart and I am currently a sophomore at the University of Maryland. In addition, this upcoming summer I will be working on the orientation staff. I have spent each semester living in the on-campus residence halls and it has been a great experience. Each semester I have ended up switching halls, for random reasons, but I have enjoyed each residence hall I have lived in and my roommates thus far have been great! They’re definitely perks to on-campus living, especially for students new to the University.
ReplyDeleteFirst semester freshman year I lived in Wicomico, a small residence hall on north hill (by the business school). It was the Honors Humanities residence hall and it was a great dorm for people who wanted a quiet place to live. There was a large study room in the basement that had computers, which was really nice, especially when my laptop broke! Also, it is very close to the Hillel, so many Jewish students request to live there if they are on the separate meal plan. However, as a science major this residence hall was inconvenient for class and I wanted to experience living on North Campus where the majority of freshmen live. So second semester I requested a room transfer and moved into Elkton, which was probably my favorite dorm so far! I loved the atmosphere of all of the freshman students, and I made a lot of new friends! Also it was really close to my classes, the diner, and the gym. In addition, it was very close to the CSPAC library, so I was still able to find a quiet atmosphere for studying! For incoming freshmen looking into housing I would suggest living on North Campus.
When it came to reapply for housing sophomore year, I decided I wanted to remain on north campus because of my science courses. I ended up getting into Hagerstown, which is right next to the diner and close to the football stadium. Again the perks of Elkton were there, except for the fact that most students on my floor were sophomores. Finally, for this semester I am living in LaPlata, which is across from Hagerstown, and the additional benefit is that it is air-conditioned.
Even though I have moved a lot I have had great experiences in each residence hall and I enjoyed meeting people and feeling part of a community. I definitely would advise students to move on-campus if possible in order to maximize your college experiences.
As a freshmen, I am required on live on campus, and I feel it really has made my college experience for the better. This academic year I lived in Centreville Hall, on North Campus in the Cambridge Community. I live in my residents hall because I am a part of the College Park Scholars, which is a living and learning program. And I have to say, it is really awesome. Living in a dorm allows to have a relate-able experience to other students. For example, when I moved in at the end of August in 2009, there was no air conditioning, my roommate, myself and other residents of Centreville, we were able to relate to each other and share stories of sleeping in the heat.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I had a good friend of mine who lived in the View for the first semester of her freshmen year. and She really didn't like it because she felt so disconnected from everyone else who was a freshmen. So I think living on campus is awesome.
Hello! My name is Catherine Gomeringer. I am a sophomore Government and Politics major, in the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences (BSOS). I am lucky enough to be working for the University of Maryland as an Orientation Advisor this summer. I lived on-campus for my freshman year, and the first semester of my sophomore year. I moved into my sorority house this semester. Overall, I have had a great living experience at Maryland. However, transfer students face certain challenges that I did not had to overcome.
ReplyDeleteFor students that transfer second semester of their freshman year, I would highly recommend living on-campus. I lived on campus my freshman year in Elkton Hall on North Campus, and it was a great experience. Living on-campus is a great way to meet people and make friends that live within a close proximity to you. The earlier transfer students confirm their attendance at UMD, the better their chances of getting on-campus housing.
I would also highly recommend for second, third, and fourth year transfer students, to research on www.och.umd.edu for off-campus housing. My friend transfered to Maryland from Syracuse University, and ended up living in an apartment complex about 5 miles from campus. She feels very out-of-touch and regrets living closer to campus. The Orientation Advisors at UMD are very helpful, and can provide information to students about their housing options at Orientation.
Hi! My name is Evan and I am a sophomore History major, French minor in the College of Arts and Humanities. I will be an Orientation Advisor (OA) for Summer 2010.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Catherine, to check out och.umd.edu for off campus housing if you want to do that. I know that there was a new communal housing arrangement trying to be set up, so if that is something that you are interested, check it out.
I was in a Denton, one of the freshman highrises. I enjoyed it but transferred into a community service/public leadership living learning program called CIVICUS.
TRANSFERS: a great tid bit! If you like community service/public leadership and are entering your spring semester as a freshman, apply to CIVICUS. It's a great dorm located behind McKeldin Library and it's great because it's near all of my liberal arts classes, most of which are located right off of the mall. (Oh year, and there is air conditioning) Sue Briggs, the leader of CIVICUS and is a great resource. CIVICUS is a great way to instantly make friends too.
Hi. My name is James Cowan and I am currently enrolled in letters and sciences. I too will be an OA this upcoming summer.
ReplyDeleteWhat I want to make clear to everyone is the amount of available housing off-campus. When I first learned that housing may be difficult to obtain for my later years of college, I was scared at first. However, now as a sophomore I have already waived my on campus housing and am living off campus.
Even though I techinically live "off campus", my apartment is less than a 1 minute walk onto the actual campus, and I am closer to my classes this year as a sophomore then I was last semester living in the Residence Halls on North Campus. I would encourage anyone looking for housing to look at Knox towers and Hartwick towers. Both buildings are less than a minute walk from campus, and are affordable nice apartments.
As mentioned previously och.umd.edu is a great resource for off campus housing. The bottom line is don't be afraid to look of campus, I still feel very connected to the University and can still access all the shops and gyms such as commons shop with ease. The only real setback is providing your own internet and cable, but with roommates that becomes very affordable as well.
Good luck!
Hey Everyone! My name is Haneen Sakakini, I am a sophomore Elementary Education major from Connecticut. This summer I have been blessed with the opportunity to be an orientation advisor :)!
ReplyDeleteAlright so let us talk about being a college student and deciding where you are going to live..
My experience here at the University of Maryland has comprised of only living on campus, so I can not give my personal input on what it is like to be an off campus Terp. My freshman year I lived in Elkton Hall on North Campus and loved it. Last semester I lived in Caroline Hall on South Campus and this semester I am an RA (Residents Assistant) in the Apartments here on campus. My experience living on campus has been nothing short of amazing! If you have the opportunity to live on campus I would definitely recommend it, however I know a lot of you might not have that opportunity.
Our Off Campus Housing office does a great job assisting students find housing off campus. I know a lot of people have talking about och.umd.edu, I cannot explain to you how amazing this website is, when used to its fullest potential. However on top of that, on almost every bulletin board around campus students put up adds looking for roommates, as well as landlords posting listings of rooms up for rent. Also in our school’s newspaper, The Diamond Back, there is a whole section under the classifieds for places up for rent.
Overall our University has a lot of resources for students to find housing located off campus, it is just left up to the student to utilize them. If I were you I would utilize the Off Campus Housing Office to your advantage!
As a side note I forgot to discuss the two apartment complexes that are affiliated with the University of Maryland. Those are the View and the Towers, I would also recommend looking them up, as well as go on a free tour of each building if you are interested.
Good Luck with everything! I hope all of ya’ll the best of luck with house hunting and in your years here at the University of Maryland.
Hey everyone! My name is Hope Wahlbrink and I’m a freshman Business major here at the University of Maryland. I’m also an orientation adviser for this upcoming summer! Housing is sometimes an issue for students in College Park, and although housing is not guaranteed for all four years, the University is doing things to accommodate more students on campus.
ReplyDeleteOakland Hall is opening this coming fall on North Campus! This residence hall with be brand new, with over 650 beds. It will be located close to the Denton Community and the Center for Young Children and just a short walk away is the Eppley Recreation Center and the outdoor pool!
Oakland Hall is the first new residence hall on the College Park campus since New Leonardtown opened in 1982. The layout of this residence hall will primarily consist of two double-occupancy rooms connected by a bathroom to share. Each floor with also have two student lounges, two study rooms and a laundry room.
This is an awesome opportunity for more students to get the chance to live on campus and shows that the University of Maryland is striving to satisfy more student needs.
Hello , I am Wendell Alston , a freshman LTSC major here at the University of Maryland and after living in Wicomico, one of the campuses most oldest residence halls where to live is a main concern of mine. My current location has the smallest rooms on campus and the only real advantage is that it is on south campus and close to The main library on Campus and the Mall where most Academic buildings are. If On Campus is not an option then off campus is not a bad idea either.
ReplyDeleteStarting in Fall of 2011 the newest off campus building called "THE VARSITY" next to the View mentioned earlier. Its going to be brand spankin new and very popular lol. But in all seriousness the price is going to be heavier than the other places and closer to that of mazza, a fancier apartment community higher up on route one.
If a new and clean off campus housing interest you then visit http://www.varsitycollegepark.com/?gclid=CJaflYPS0qcCFcbb4AodbiuMRw
DJ - Orientation Advisor Summer 2011
Hi,
ReplyDeleteMy name is Kelsey Welsch, I am a rising Junior Agriculture and Science Technology major. I am an RA on campus as well as an OA in training. I feel that I have been rather lucky when it comes to roommate horror stories.
My first semester at UMD I lived in LaPlata 9, an all girls floor on North Campus. LaPlata is mostly dominated by sophomores, including my roommate. I was all excited about finding who my roommate was a getting to become best friends with her. She sent me that awkward facebook message, trying to get to know me before we moved in together. But as soon as she discovered I was a freshman, all bets were off. She never even gave me a chance. She was upset that she was not living with her friends and luckily for the both of us she moved out at the first opportunity.
Then comes CC! Best roommate ever! CC came from freshman connection and was really excited to get to know me and experience the college life. We did so many things together and it was great getting to know her. We are still friends to this day. Even though LaPlata started as a drag, it was worth sticking it out and having the experience of a great roommate.
This year as a sophomore I am an RA in Cambridge (North Campus). I have 60 freshman business scholars that come to me with their questions, and I just love it!! I love living with them because everyone is so friendly and willing to meet others. Maybe Cambridge doesn’t have air conditioning and maybe it only has four floors, and maybe the elevator is on the other end of the hallway but it is a great place to live.
As the RA I share a double with me myself and I. Since not everyone can experience this luxury, I share the wealth by using my room as movie night, hangout session and girl talk room. This is the great thing about college, getting to meet people that are different from you and learning something from them.
There is no “best place to live.” There are so many different experiences to have everywhere on campus or off campus. Take advantage of programs put on by RAs or other school organizations, say hi to a stranger every day, and be open minded. This is the best advice I can give. Then no matter what, you will love where you live.
Good luck wherever you end up!!
Kelsey
hey guys it's very interesting to read about your amazing experiences and thanks for the posts. i have faced many such challenges recently. But quite a few sites do offer solutions to off campus housing especially to exchange students.
ReplyDeletecheck out. International Student in US
Visit Mazza GrandMarc for luxury, off-campus housing just minutes away from the University of Maryland campus! We offer one, two, three and four bedroom fully-furnished apartments! Relax in our 24-Hour Internet Cafe, study in one of 3 private study rooms, lounge by our resort-style pool and cabanas or tan and work out in the Fitness Center! Mazza is now leasing for the Fall 2013. Check out our website for pricing and layouts at www.mazzagrandmarc.com or give us a call at (301)474-0244 and schedule a tour.
ReplyDeletewhy are you people leaving responses about how great living on campus is when this is supposed to be a blog to help students trying to live off campus?! To anyone seriously looking to find affordable housing within walking distance to campus without having to pay an arm and a leg...good luck. If you choose something simple such as the knox boxes (which are scheduled to be torn down summer of 2015) you can reasonably afford to live walking distance to class. However, I hope you're fine with living with bugs, ceiling leaks, and squirrels occasionally running through your apartment. Knox and Hartwick towers used to be a great option until they realized what a hot commodity they were built a new doorway and raised rent $500. Also, if you don't have any friends that you know to live with you, you're equally screwed. You might as well move into a bedroom in a families house.
ReplyDelete