University of Mississippi - Off-Campus Housing

Quick Stats

College Prowler Take

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.

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Students Speak Out

Anonymous says:

Living off campus is a totally... Living off campus is a totally different experience. It’s great fun, and it’s a good way to break into what living will be like once school is over. 12345 Off-Campus Housing Report

Anonymous says:

Housing is very convenient, and I... Housing is very convenient, and I would recommend it as an alternative to the dorms. A lot of places are fairly new and cheap, and it’s a completely different college experience to have your own place to hang out in. 12345 Off-Campus Housing Report

Anonymous says:

Don’t move. Parking off campus is... Don’t move. Parking off campus is a nightmare. 12345 Off-Campus Housing Report

Anonymous says:

Housing off campus is great—I did... Housing off campus is great—I did it for three years. The cost is not that much more than living on campus, especially if you have roommates. There are some great little houses around Oxford for rent. But, be aware of the older ones that aren’t taken care of. They have bugs, and your utility bills will be much higher. 12345 Off-Campus Housing Report

Anonymous says:

There are too many apartments, so... There are too many apartments, so if you want one, go get it. They’re a little pricey, but not too bad. There aren’t enough dorms on campus for the upperclassmen. 12345 Off-Campus Housing Report

Most Recent Contributing Author

Name: Janna Jones
Hometown: Booneville, Miss.
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Janna graduated high school with exactly 50 people?and that was a BIG class for New Site High!

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