Housing Situation-Help!

[jmo1012]

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So at SGU, must 1st term students live on campus. I happen to be no exception to this. Most of us live in doubles with 2 beds/desks/closets, a mini kitchen (think little counter with sink fridge, 2 burners, microwave) and a bathroom.

My long time friend was supposed to be in 1st term with me, but after a couple days of being here, she had to leave to go home for emergency surgery and was unable to return for the rest of the semester (she's fine now though 🙂)

We are half way through our 5th week of school. I just received an email from housing stating that if I wish to keep my "single" room, I will need to pay approximately $1300 to make up the difference between the single and double rates. If I opt not to, they will give me a roommate (and after talking to them, it sounds like i really would end up with a roommate).

So my dilemma is pay $1300 or lose my space. I don't know what to do! $1300 is a lot of money (coming from loans) but I REALLY can't imagine living with someone besides my friend (and that was gonna be tough haha) in this little room. My current rate was about $4100 for the semester for anyone curious.

Advice, thoughts, opinions please!! Thanks!

 

[TheBirdNerd]

Myself, I'd go with the roommate. I wouldn't want to add more to an already substantially high debt from Vet School.

And the roommate may be a cool person to meet !

 

[Marsala]

Personally, I'd pay the $1300. I have done the roommate hell thing and have found that sanity is well worth the pricetag.

 

[that redhead]

Did your friend already pay her share of the housing, or did she get a refund due to her situation? If she paid and they kept it, I'd think you're within your right to retain the single. If they refunded her no such luck. While the decision is ultimately yours, I'd put in my vote for living alone. I can't imagine coming home and living with the very same people I'd seen at class/lunch/clubs/social events all day and I don't consider myself the hermit sort. Whether or not that means paying the $1300 or finding another place is up to you.

 

[Coquette22]

I'd pay. If it was separate bedrooms, it'd be different, but no way I'd deal with sharing my space with someone else.

 

[pooter]

Personally, I'd drop the extra dough in hopes of retaining some sanity (if it's financially feasible/possible loanwise). I know it feels apocalyptic right now, while we're all dealing with sticker shock and all the little unexpected expenses, but in the grand scheme of things, borrowing an extra thousand or two will not be The Thing That Keeps Us in Poverty Forever. Of course, I'm not good at financial decisions, so take this with a large grain of salt.

 

[jmo1012]

well i spoke with my parents tonight and they both think its crazy to spend $1300 for 3 months of living alone. i agree, but at the same time i just really dont want to share. more than that, i dont want to live with a stranger who potentially has weird habits, smokes, cooks food that smells (i'm really sensitive) or does things i don't like. i pretty much have 14 hours to make a decision, i just hate the pros and cons to both sides!

 

[Trilt]

Did your friend already pay her share of the housing, or did she get a refund due to her situation? If she paid and they kept it, I'd think you're within your right to retain the single. If they refunded her no such luck. While the decision is ultimately yours, I'd put in my vote for living alone. I can't imagine coming home and living with the very same people I'd seen at class/lunch/clubs/social events all day and I don't consider myself the hermit sort. Whether or not that means paying the $1300 or finding another place is up to you.

^ I'd ask her this, also, actually... if they have her still paying the full amount, try and call them out on it and see if you can get the single for free or heavily reduced.

My personal opinion is that I value money way too much to spend an $1300 extra dollars for just a couple months of solitude. But I'm also a really easy-going person and don't mind sharing space with others (live in an apartment of five right now...) so it really will boil down to your personal preferences.

 

[nohika]

well i spoke with my parents tonight and they both think its crazy to spend $1300 for 3 months of living alone. i agree, but at the same time i just really dont want to share. more than that, i dont want to live with a stranger who potentially has weird habits, smokes, cooks food that smells (i'm really sensitive) or does things i don't like. i pretty much have 14 hours to make a decision, i just hate the pros and cons to both sides!

I think you'd potentially regret the roommate more than you would regret paying the 1300. It all depends on who they put you with, but if you were hesitant about rooming with a good friend, I think a stranger would be terrifying.

 

[bunnity]

I'm super cheap but no way would I share a room with someone that I'm not in a relationship with. Sanity is precious in vet school and if having a roommate is going to affect yours then don't risk it.

 

[RadRadTerp]

Edit: didn't realize it was two beds in one room.

 

[lareinesoleil]

Everyone is different, but if you're sharing a bedroom, I would not risk that. I did it in undergrad and it was fine, but Vet School is a whole different ballgame. Pay the money, keep your sanity, get good grades, and maybe find a friend for next semester or suck up the $$$ until you can move off campus and possibly get a roommate (with your own bedroom). Just my $0.02.

 

[flyhi]

So at SGU, must 1st term students live on campus. I happen to be no exception to this. Most of us live in doubles with 2 beds/desks/closets, a mini kitchen (think little counter with sink fridge, 2 burners, microwave) and a bathroom.

Advice, thoughts, opinions please!! Thanks!

Adopt a pothound... if you have a pet, you can live off campus first term

 

[PppermintTwist]

If you are married do you still have to live on campus?

 

[sunshinevet]

Pay the $1300. Compared to your overall debt, its a drop in the ocean, and probably has far lesser consequences than hating sharing a room.

(To be honest, i CANNOT imagine sharing a room!!! I can barely get by sharing a unit!)

 

[CurrySpice]

You could rent an entire room for 3 months in many cities for $1300. That amount of money is never a "drop in the bucket" and that attitude is what has students graduating with way more loans than they actually need. I would ask housing if you can meet with the potential roommate if they have one in mind. Just having lunch or a cup of coffee should let you know if you can live together.

I shared a 12x12 room for 3 years in undergrad & hated it. It was school policy that we all lived in dorms, and singles were only given to seniors. BUT I would do it again if that were the price differential. I didn't spend much time in my room - basically just crashing to sleep and change clothes. So, if you like to study in the library and hang out in town then sharing a room shouldn't be a huge deal.

$4100 +$1300 = $5400
$5400/3 = $1800/month ... that's NUTS!

Am I calculating that correctly? Handing them that check would make me puke. Especially if you're paying for it with loans and thus have to calculate interest into that. I guess that's just part of living on the island?

 

[Chinola]

$4100 +$1300 = $5400
$5400/3 = $1800/month ... that's NUTS!

Am I calculating that correctly? Handing them that check would make me puke. Especially if you're paying for it with loans and thus have to calculate interest into that. I guess that's just part of living on the island?

I'm assuming it's divided over 4 months instead of 3 (that's how long our semesters are). So $1350/month instead of $1800. Still a lot but at least less than you were thinking!

 

[Willowhand]

Some places allow you to petition for exceptions in the instance of a circumstance beyond your control. If I were you, I would write a letter to the person in charge of housing decisions and see if you can get permission to live off campus.

Otherwise, if I were in your situation, I'd strongly consider paying the extra to keep my own space. Sharing a room with someone, especially a stranger, will probably add more stress to your life and could make it harder to succeed. Consider it an investment: no potentially crazy roommate=less stress/more sleep=better grades, which could help you land a better job when you graduate 🙂

 

[jmo1012]

So I really wanted to update on this situation when it was happening, but I was terribly afraid of jinxing it for the rest of the semester!

Thank you for all of the advice!! I ended up not paying the $1300-I just couldn't justify such a large amount of money. If it had been anything under $800 I likely would have just done. My parents and friends told me I would have to be out of my mind to pay the extra :-/ (I was really glad at least some people here were able to see the flip side!)

However, the university was bluffing and I never did get a roommate 😀 One of our veterinary staff in the dean's office told me she would be very surprised if they carried through and gave me a roommate. Yay for keeping my money AND my sanity!

Thanks again! I'm actually kinda sad to give up my single room for a suite next semester (I really like the 2 beds/desks to myself and the kitchen/bathroom to myself hehe) but it's a forced move so oh well-at least i get my own room!