Students have the option to live off-campus during their junior and senior years of college, offering them more independence and bringing them one step closer to adulthood.
While Sacred Heart University owns three properties located within a mile of the main campus, many students prefer to rent homes or apartments privately.
Source: Katelyn Toth, Staff Writer and Photographer
“Students who are looking to rent privately can work with local real estate agents, contact landlords directly, or use any online search tools,” said Emily Grobmyer, Director of Residential Life for Operations.
“We also are partnered with JumpOffCampus.com where landlords in the area can post rentals,” said Grobmyer.
This is a website that serves as a central place for students to find off-campus housing.
Junior Ryan Buchan found his house through upperclassmen friends and lives with four other people.
“I am a few blocks down in Bridgeport, less than two minutes away from campus,” said Buchan.
Junior Kylie Quercia rents a house in Bridgeport.
“Living off campus has given me the opportunity to enjoy more freedom and independence, especially since I get to share the experience with my best friends,” said Quercia.
When asked about her involvement on campus, Quercia said she still feels very involved despite not living in a dorm anymore.
“I am part of the dance program, which brings me back to campus twice a week, and I am also very connected to the nursing community,” said Quercia. “These activities make me feel just as engaged as when I lived on campus.”
“I still feel very involved even while living off campus,” said Buchan. “That was a fear of mine, but it has since subsided and has been no issue.”
Junior Sophia Fromson lives in an off-campus apartment in Bridgeport that is about a five-minute drive from campus. While she enjoys the independence that comes with living in an apartment, she encounters some difficulties too.
“Getting to campus for class by car and parking is something that I now have to worry about,” said Fromson. “I like having the freedom to have a car and drive to class, but I do miss living on campus.”
Despite having his own kitchen, Buchan said he took on a meal plan with both meal swipes and dining dollars because of how often he is on campus.
“The meal plan has been fine so far, but I still find myself buying groceries for weekends and nighttime snacks,” said Buchan.
Finances are a big factor for students to consider when deciding where they want to live. Renting privately comes with “hidden costs,” such as utilities, cable, gas and groceries. Buchan explained that living off campus has made him more mindful of the money he spends.
“We encourage any student who is thinking about renting privately for their junior/senior year to talk with their financial aid counselor regarding how that decision could impact their financial aid package and whether living off campus is affordable for them,” said Grobmyer.
Quercia, Buchan and Fromson all said they searched for private rentals in late September into early October of their sophomore years.
“This helped my friends and I avoid the stress of trying to find housing in the middle of a semester,” said Quercia.
The Office of Residential Life can work with students who may have trouble with their private rentals later in the process as well.
“If a student’s private rental falls through after the housing selection process concludes, we will work with them to try to accommodate them in SHU junior/senior housing; however, we can only do so if housing is available,” said Grobmyer.
Information and resources for living off campus can be found on sacredheart.edu by searching “Off-Campus Housing Resources.”
