At the end of your freshman year, if you haven’t gone Greek and are ready for the commitment, you should begin looking for off-campus living in April or May. Then, sign a lease before school is out for the semester. The Daily Mississippian constantly runs ads for apartment complexes, and many have Web sites. Pick up a free Apartment Finder guide in the Union; it lists many properties, their amenities and restrictions. It’s a lot more fun to live in your own place, but there are things to remember. When choosing roommates to share a place with, don’t just commit to living with your best friend or a sorority sister. Take a step back and look at your personalities. There are a lot of people who just jump into living with someone because they’re friends without ever considering that one is a night owl and the other is an early bird, or that one smokes or drinks and the other doesn’t. Look at every aspect of living styles. Realize that when you say you will live with someone, a year can be a very long time if you don’t agree on major issues.
When you sign a lease, be warned that you are signing more than just a rental agreement. You will also have to pay phone, electric, water, cable, and sometimes gas bills. There will be some months that are more expensive than others, but bills usually run about $200 a month. There are some apartment complexes that include some utilities in the rent, so be sure to ask if anything is included when calling around and visiting properties. If you have a dog, cat, or some other pet, check on the pet policy. Some apartments and houses don’t allow them at all, some have weight limits on dogs, some require a monthly fee for pets, and some require a one-time pet deposit that’s refundable when you move out—as long as nothing has been destroyed.