Options for off-campus living

This fall, students from more than 130 countries will come to IU to study, but during their scholarly pursuits, they have to live somewhere, too. And with moving to Bloomington sometimes already a hassle for students within the United States, traveling from abroad can make it more complicated.

Of course, some students decide to live on campus in a residence hall throughout all of their schooling.

Yet some students come here and decide to live off-campus in either an apartment complex or a house after their first year in Bloomington.

Sandy Britton, director of the Leo R. Dowling International Center, said that a very popular option was the University Apartments for students to be independent but also to be close to an unfamiliar campus.

“And after they live there and get used to Bloomington, then they tend to move more off-campus,” Britton said.

Living off-campus might be preferred for some because it can be cheaper to split up the cost between roommates. Also, you have your own kitchen and more independence.

In addition, while residence halls close during breaks, off-campus housing does not.

To find a place off-campus, one would need to go through all the channels that regular U.S. citizens do: classified ads in the local newspapers, listings online, or conversations with current students or people in the area who could help.

Also, people should look at many options and read everything before any documents are signed.

Former student Lucy Danser came here in September 2008 from London to study in IU’s Department of Theatre and Drama. She and three other friends from the University of Kent at Canterbury decided they would go the off-campus route and rented a house on the south side for the academic year.

She wanted to remind all international students that of all the steps they should take before they move off campus,  they should always check if furniture is provided, or if they’ll need a moving van.

“Also, they should know the bus routes, and how safe the area is they are moving to,” Danser added.

Danser did enjoy living off-campus but admitted there were some challenges that were made easier by having friends she already knew living with her.

“Sometimes it was hard,” Danser said. “I think it’s too hard to make friends off-campus, and it’s really hard to get around in the winter. We were lucky that there was a big group of us.”