How to Balance Waitlists with Apartment Hunting?

[RainerMaria]

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I'm on two waitlists that both said could let me in a day before classes (mid august). I think getting into either is slim (~10%). Another school I got into starts late August. Boy's gotta live somewhere. So do I:

a) Sign an August lease, and plan to break a lease if WL turns into accept (and ruin credit rating)
b) Look for a month-to-month apartment
c) Stay at a holiday inn for a week and find a September apartment
d) Live in a garbage can

Much obliged.

 

[silverlining1]

So, I was in a similar situation, but I decided that my limit was July 31 - if I didn't get off a waitlist by then, I was just going to withdraw. I had no idea what to do about housing either, but when I withdrew from my waitlists and decided where I was going, I had a few weeks before orientation began, so I used that time to find a roommate and settle housing.

Oddly, though, our place was being remodeled so we couldn't move in immediately; we stayed in an extended-stay hotel for a month, and that rate ended up being about the same as my monthly rent is now. However, it was much crappier than my digs now... shared a room with my roommate, tiny stove and minifridge, that whole deal. But yeah, the extended-stay hotel may be a good option if you do opt to wait as long as possible. The downside to that is you may not be able to get a classmate for a roommate.

 

[RainerMaria]

I don't mind living with classmates as much as with quiet professionals / college grads. The september/hotel option might be best but not sure where I am going to put all my furniture for that month

 

[URHere]

I actually ended up moving THREE TIMES last year because of waitlist drama. Personally, I decided to put my belongings in storage and moved into a furnished week-to-week rental. It worked out well, and it was easy enough to pick up and move when I got off of my first waitlist. I kept my things in storage and did the same thing in another city (I had my belongings shipped to the storage location in my new city). Then, when I got off of the waitlist at my current school, I looked for an actual place to live and got settled.

It was amazingly nerve-wracking, but it was worth it in the end!

 

[RainerMaria]

I actually ended up moving THREE TIMES last year because of waitlist drama. Personally, I decided to put my belongings in storage and moved into a furnished week-to-week rental. It worked out well, and it was easy enough to pick up and move when I got off of my first waitlist. I kept my things in storage and did the same thing in another city (I had my belongings shipped to the storage location in my new city). Then, when I got off of the waitlist at my current school, I looked for an actual place to live and got settled.

It was amazingly nerve-wracking, but it was worth it in the end!

And you had no problem finding a September 1 lease & roommates who were halfway decent?

 

[DrYoda]

And you had no problem finding a September 1 lease & roommates who were halfway decent?

Living by yourself solves half of that dilema.

 

[virusgirl]

I don't have anything to add, other than that I expect to be in this same position myself soon, so I figured I'd give this thread a bump and see if anyone had any additional advice.

URHere, thanks for the tips! The idea of short-term housing hadn't even crossed my mind. That would definitely be better than moving my cat and all my crap from Boston down to New Orleans and then (possibly) back up to Massachusetts.

 

[qmcat]

I'm in the same position. I'm planning to live by myself though, and apparently I have to sign my lease by the first week of August. I'm just hoping that I'll get off the waitlist for my #1 before then.

Short term housing is a great idea. The only thing is my #1 is in a rural location, and I'm not sure if they will still have vacant living spaces if I find out too late. I might end up having to use craigslist to find a place and living in a basement with a 250 lb muscular guy with tattoos all over his body.

 

[efitzpat]

I'm taking silverling's approach and setting a deadline for myself. I just don't have the funds to move multiple times and storage. My current lease is up at the end of July so August 1 I want to move into a place for good! So end of June is my cut off date.

 

[Siverhideo1985]

Didn't read the full thread (sorry) but you could offer a current student some cash in return for a spot on their couch for the first (half) month. That way you are in the city and can go to school and find an apartment.

I also like the garbage can option