How to find living accommodation while studying in the US

Once you arrive in the country of your choice to study at your dream college, you don’t get to stay at your dorm immediately. If you are coming well in advance you need to make arrangements for a temporary stay. Most students make the decision of choosing the accommodation after they have landed, and have seen the room or house personally.

Even then, finding temporary accommodation is not that easy. Renting a hotel or motel room can prove to be very costly. However, there are cheaper alternatives available. Here is a list of the alternative options you can choose from.

Check: How to Find Student Accommodation?

Types of Accommodation for Indian Students in USA

Given below are the types of accommodations that are available for international students in USA. Check the details of each type of accommodation given here. 

Temporary Accommodations

When you first arrive in the new country, you will need a place to temporary live while you look for permanent accommodation. Many schools will provide a temporary place for international students who arrive before the session begins. You will have to ask the housing office or foreign student advisor for temporary housing information.

Most cities abroad have a Council for International Visitors or such similar organizations to help to visit international students. They can arrange for you to stay with a local family for a few days. Such arrangements must be made well in advance. Look for their information in the telephone book or ask at the Traveler's Aid desk when you arrive at the airport. All major airports, bus stations, and train stations have a Traveler's Aid desk.

Many cities have youth hostels as well. Hostels are good places to stay for a few days while you look for a permanent place to live at. They provide dorm-style accommodations, with bunk beds in large rooms. The cost could be anything from $5 to $25 a night. You will be able to stay at the youth hostel at low cost if you are a member of the International Youth Hostel Federation, where a one-year membership is $25.

As a last resort, you can always stay in a hotel or motel. This is the most expensive option out of them all, and you will need to make a reservation with a credit card to book a room. Parking is usually expensive at hotels, and there is often a surcharge on long distance phone calls placed from your room.

Permanent Accommodations

Most university students in the US live on or near the campus. Students who live off-campus generally find a place a couple of miles away. This is convenient for getting to and from campus. The US educational experience is not confined just to the classroom, and you will learn as much from your fellow students as from the faculty.

If the university offers on-campus accommodations for international students, you should consider living on-campus at least for the first year. Since this will probably be your first trip to the US, on-campus housing will help with the transition to life in the US. Once you are more familiar with the neighborhood, you can then consider moving off-campus.

Renting a house is usually the only option if you will be sharing it with other roommates. The cost of renting an apartment varies a lot depending on the area of the country and the local supply and demand. A one bedroom studio apartment in Alabama might cost $400 a month, while the same apartment in Chicago or New York will cost $1,200 or more. The college's financial aid office or housing office can provide you with an estimate of the cost of renting an off-campus apartment.

Read: Student Guide to USA for International Students

Points to Consider While finding Accommodation in US

You need to do a few things before you begin your search for an apartment:

• Talk to the housing office and current students about which neighborhoods are safe.
• Decide if you want to cut costs by sharing an apartment with roommates or not.
• Spend a couple of hours walking around the neighborhood to familiarize yourself with the surrounding area. Note where the grocery stores and restaurants are located since most of your trips will be to the school and to buy food. Also, note the location of bus stops and other modes of public transportation.
• Ask friends and fellow students if they know a good apartment. Maybe they know someone who is moving out or maybe they themselves are moving. Such apartments are rarely advertised because they are rented very quickly.
• The college may have a bulletin board with apartment listings. It will include listings from landlords as well as students looking for someone to sublet their lease.
• The local newspapers also have apartment listings. Buy a copy of the Sunday newspaper as it will have more apartment listings than the mid-week issue.
• The last resort would be to contact a real estate agent. However, you are better off going through the classified advertisements yourself.

How to find Accommodation in USA?

Safety is one of the most important factors when finding accommodation in US. You must not forget to consider various factors related to daily emergencies and essentials in the area where you will be renting your accommodation. Given below are some of the points that you must consider while finding accommodation.

• Distance from the university: The first and foremost thing that you should keep in mind is to see how close your accommodation is to the campus. This is because while you explore a new locality and make new friends, you will be able to enjoy campus life properly and use campus amenities as well.
• Cafes, restaurants, and hangout spots: It is advised to look for an accommodation that is surrounded by cafes, restaurants and shopping areas. These will help in enjoying and maintaining a social life.
• Availability of basic necessities: Look for an accommodation that has the availability of basic necessities available in your area as you might have to run to the grocery store time and again to get the daily essentials.
• Safety: Make sure the area where you will be living is safe and student-friendly. So, it is advised to go for an accommodation that provides secure doors for entry, CCTvs, security guard, etc.
• Distance from the hospital: It is safe to have a hospital located nearby your accommodation. You will get medical facilities on the university’s campus as well, however, it is best to be cautious if you will be living alone off-campus.

Pros of Living On-Campus Accommodation in US

While living on-campus in the U.S., there are some benefits that you will enjoy. These are stated as follows:

• While living on campus, you will be safe as the campuses will be having 24/7 surveillance. Security guards will also be available
• Students who will live on-campus will have access to all the on-campus amenities
• You will be a part of residential community while living on-campus and because of this, you will learn a lot about different cultures
• The rent for on-campus accommodation shall cover the expenses of electricity, food, and other basic amenities
• You will be able to take part in more on-campus events

Pros of Off-Campus Accommodation

Check the advantages of living in off-campus accommodation:

• You will be able to live freely, as per your terms and conditions
• You will learn about how to manage your own expenses efficiently while living off-campus
• You will be able to experience a complete study abroad experience if you share your accommodation with other students