Students extol virtues of off-campus housing

While these students spend a lot of their time around campus during the day, after class, they retreat to various living spaces that are often very different from a typical college dorm.

According to University Spokesperson Martin Mbugua, “about 2 percent of undergraduate juniors and seniors choose to live off campus” in housing that is not affiliated with the University. However, Mbugua noted that their ties to the Princeton campus remain strong.

“They are full members of the University community, and they participate in every aspect of University life,” Mbugua said. “That is their housing preference.”

The 2 percent of students who live off campus include eating club officers who reside in their club.

According to the University’s off-campus housing website, the Housing Department is willing to assist students who are considering renting a local living space but notes that it “cannot act or function as a real estate agent.” Students can access a list of available local housing through this site.

Students who live off-campus cite a variety of motivations for their decision, but one of the most alluring aspects to moving off-campus is the reduced cost of living.

Juan Farfan ’12, who is currently subletting a room in Princeton Junction, said that the “biggest perk” of living off campus was the cost. He said that he pays approximately $500 in rent per month, compared with $6,950 annually for a dorm on campus.

Shafiq Kashmiri ’12, who lives in an apartment on Nassau Street, explained that, while the cost is comparable to that which he paid for dorm expenses, it is higher quality housing for a similar price.

He lives in a “real home,” he said — with a private kitchen, bathroom and living space — that is larger than any dorm he had lived in while on campus.

Meanwhile, former Terrace vice president Patrick Wasserman ’12 said a big plus to living in his eating club is the fact that his room is completely free.

However, cost is just one of the many appeals for these students.

Kelly Reilly ’12, who lives in an apartment on Bank Street with five other roommates, started a nonprofit organization in Trenton and finds it easier to make frequent car trips to Trenton from her off-campus living arrangement.

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“We have a close community of friends in our house who really wanted to live together,” Reilly said, noting that it was also easier to move off campus than “to have to deal with gender-neutral housing.”

Other students noted that it is easier to focus in a place devoid of the constant activity of campus life.

“My room is a place to get away to,” Farfan said. “On campus, you’re constantly surrounded by people. It’s nice to get away to a place without distractions.”

Kashmiri also saw the benefits of fewer distractions, noting that moving off campus might have contributed to the increase in his GPA.

“Most of the people in my building are post-docs or Princeton-affiliated in some other way,” he said. “I like how it has an academic feel.”

Connor Carreras ’13, who is subletting a professor’s apartment near College Road this year, noted that in addition to choosing her living arrangement for its “quiet and peaceful” atmosphere, she decided to live off campus because she found it difficult to make room draw arrangements while studying abroad her sophomore year.

Now that she is back in Princeton, she said she intends to participate in room draw this year.

Meanwhile, John Crews ’12 left Princeton in 2009 and has returned to complete his degree. He currently lives in an apartment outside of Philadelphia, closer to where many of his friends now live.

“After working for some time, I had gotten used to living on my own,” Crews said. “If I were to live in a dorm, my roommates wouldn’t understand my lifestyle.”

Eating club officers note that living off campus in their respective clubs is the easiest way for them to complete all of their responsibilities.

“My eating club has all of the facilities I need,” Charter officer Chris Troein ’12 said. “I spent all my time at my eating club before I actually lived there, and I didn’t use many residential college facilities. There is nothing for me on certain parts of the campus.”

Troein is also a senior columnist for The Daily Princetonian.

“Living in a club is a nice change of pace from the campus and adds to the feel of the eating club academically, socially and personally,” Colonial officer Lucas Zavala ’13 said.

Being independent of University housing policies also has its perks, Wasserman said.

“The arrangement provides a nice transition period for after graduation,” Wasserman said. “I don’t need to deal with University policy, and so I can paint my own room, never get locked out and I can ship things right to my door.”

However, many eating club officers noted that the benefits of off-campus housing were not the primary incentives for running for officer positions.

“If you only run to be an officer so that you can live off campus, you will be a terrible officer and will never have any fun,” Quad vice president William Burton ’12 said.

Despite the many benefits of living off campus, some of these students said they miss aspects of campus life and are still adjusting to the new arrangement.

“I miss walking into the dining hall and just randomly seeing friends,” Kashmiri said. “Now you have to plan in advance if you want to make the walk all the way to the dining hall.”

“I’m not really on campus ever because my classes are on the other side of Washington [Road],” Zavala said. “So sometimes it doesn’t feel as if I’m in the University environment. I don’t see as many people, and I’m separated from the college feel.”

Colonial officer Matthew Landry ’13 noted that while “random interactions are much more limited,” he makes the effort to see students in other clubs through classes, meal exchanges and other informal settings.

While some students have to drive to campus, Farfan said that it does not necessarily mean a long commute.

“This keeps me on a more regular schedule,” Farfan said. There’s no more rolling out of bed right before class. Having your own place prepares you for later on in life.”

At the same time, many off-campus students who live within walking distance of the University said they do not feel secluded from campus life.

Kashmiri, an engineer, noted that he is in fact closer to his classes than he was when living in Mathey.

“It doesn’t make a difference. I’m still part of the community,” he said.

Carreras also explained that since the University is a relatively small school, many off-campus living arrangements are no farther away from academic buildings than on-campus dorms might be at a larger university.

Still, Reilly noted that finding off-campus housing takes a lot of planning.

“It was difficult and challenging looking at the many configurations,” she said. “It’s really hard to organize, so I would get on it fast.”

Shafiq explained many local landlords are very willing to lease apartment spaces to undergraduates and that there will be enough options for anyone who wants them.

“It’s a good decision for some people, especially for upperclassmen,” Farfan said. “It’s nice having your own place. An apartment is different from a dorm.”