Parents’ Corner: Helping Your Student Make the Leap to Apartment Living

It’s a common occurrence in homes every year. Your college student announces at Christmas that he or she is not going to live in the dorms next year. It’s time for an apartment.

While your first thought might be panic: “She’s not ready for an apartment!” “It can’t be as safe as the dorm!” The reality is that most students desire the independence and additional space of off campus living after a few years in a dorm, and if students choose wisely and focus on student-oriented complexes, apartments can be both safe and affordable alternatives to dorm life.

Your best bet as a parent is to accept the inevitable and embrace the idea of apartment living for your son or daughter. Sure, there is a lot they aren’t considering: he can’t cook, she doesn’t have even the most basic furniture, but those are issues that can be resolved with time, before the apartment move-in date occurs.

How to Help
Although your students surely doesn’t want you dictating their choice of apartment or their roommates, if you are footing the bill you certainly have the right to be a part of the process.

However, your student actually has a better handle on the best locations and options for him or her, so this is a good chance to sit back and let him take the lead.

If you will be paying for the apartment, start by letting your student know his or her monthly housing budget. Knowing what they can afford will help narrow the search and focus them in on the best alternatives.

Help your student make a list of the important factors for their new apartment. Usually that includes 1. Location, 2. Amenities (laundry, parking, swimming pool, work out facilities), 3. Access to public transportation or bike routes, and 4. Cost.

Comparing alternative apartments using the criteria above can help students pick the best apartment for their needs.

As a parent, it can be difficult to sit back and let your children handle their own decisions, but by providing guidance and observing quietly from the background, you can ensure that your student makes the right decision while taking ownership for his or her choice.