Southern Methodist University - Off-Campus Housing

Quick Stats

College Prowler Take

Dallas has a vast selection of areas and complexes to live in, as well as a vast selection of price ranges. A large number of students choose to live off campus their sophomore through senior years, and their parents purchase condos or apartments for them. Living off campus has several benefits: freedom from RAs and rules, privacy, a real place to call ‘home,’ and not having to answer to school officials in general. When the time comes to start looking for housing, students do not have to arduously look around Dallas. Most students consistently pick the same complexes every year, and many of them are located here in the Park Cities. There are townhouses, houses, and apartment complexes on every corner and side of the campus, all of which are reasonably priced and comfortable. Once you venture out onto the expressway towards the Downtown, Knox-Henderson, and McKinney areas, the price range skyrockets. Because Dallas is such an urban and chic city, the cost of living is a bit higher, especially around areas of high traffic and business. However, since SMU is located in a college-friendly atmosphere, affordable housing is not difficult to track down.

Many students that live nearby can still walk to class. On the other hand, the farther you go, the earlier you will have to wake up to drive to class and park. Parking is a hassle at this school, so you will have to wake up maybe an hour or so before your class time just to secure a spot on the top level of the garage. If you enjoy rolling out of bed 10 or 15 minutes before class, living off campus is not for you. Another bonus of living off campus is that other SMU students will most likely live around you, too.

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Students Speak Out

Anonymous says:

I really like off-campus housing... I really like off-campus housing because you can still be close to everything. You have your own room and living room. It’s nice because there’s more freedom with the convenience of location. 12345 Off-Campus Housing Report

Anonymous says:

Housing off campus is really... Housing off campus is really expensive in the general vicinity of school, but there are a lot of places that aren’t too far, if you are willing to drive a little more. Your best bet is to find a roommate to split the rent with. 12345 Off-Campus Housing Report

Anonymous says:

I live in the sorority house,... I live in the sorority house, which is technically off campus but very close. I love living there, because I can walk to class. I would enjoy the privacy of living off campus, but I do not have a car. Buying furniture in a place that I do not plan to settle in seems like a waste. 12345 Off-Campus Housing Report

Anonymous says:

I think it’s not worth it, because... I think it’s not worth it, because you lose on the college experience of meeting new people and the ease of rolling out of bed and walking to class. It is not too difficult to find an apartment or town house off campus, and it’s practically the same cost. But the downside is that you have to either walk farther or drive to campus. 12345 Off-Campus Housing Report

Anonymous says:

My sophomore year, I lived in the... My sophomore year, I lived in the sorority house, but for junior year, it was really easy to find an on-campus apartment. I think it is worth it, because it’s really close to campus and you get your own privacy. 12345 Off-Campus Housing Report

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