The views and opinions expressed in the Graduate and International Ambassador Blog are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Arkansas.
By Quincy Carpenter
Northwest Arkansas offers plenty of housing options with affordable pricing for college students. Northwest Arkansas is near the top of the list when it comes to affordability according to a ranking published by U.S. News & World Report. Your apartment will be home to you for the next few years, so make your decision about where to live carefully!
We’ve got some tips and advice for U of A graduate and upper-undergraduate students on how to choose the best housing option:
Finding a Home
The University has an official off-campus housing website that is a very useful tool if you’re looking to find roommates and different housing options. When searching for a roommate, the website can help you find a person with whom you are compatible. It’s easy – you simply enter the characteristics that you would like in roommate and see if you get a match. If you already have someone in mind, you can sign up together.
For international students, it’s important to utilize several resources on campus that can connect you with possible roommates, housing options, and even help you find furniture! The International Students Organization (ISO) can help connect you to other international students looking for roommates. Often students will search for roommates, housing, and furniture through the ISO Facebook group. A lot of international students will also find roommates and housing during the International Student Orientation week. Even though moving to another country is very stressful, the U of A will do everything we can to help you find a housing situation that suits you!
I found my off-campus housing by working with Off-Campus Housing directly. In my case, I wanted to be in walking distance of campus in case of emergency and also because I didn’t want to deal with parking on campus, which can get a little hectic.
When looking for off-campus housing, be sure to pay attention to the parking regulations for the apartment complex and be aware of any other rules or regulations that might be in your contract. For example, I live by a parking garage, and I take advantage of the fact that it is free to park after 5 PM and free to park on weekends.
It’s also important to make sure you know what you’re allowed to do in your housing unit, for example–having pets will be allowed in some apartment complexes for an extra fee (known as a “security deposit”), but other housing units may not allow pets at all. You should also ask about what sort of modifications you’re allowed to make to your new home: can you drill holes, paint the walls, or make other adjustments? Usually the landlord will tell you what you can and cannot do, but prepare some questions in advance!
It’s also important to inspect your housing unit carefully and make sure the landlord knows about any preexisting damage to the apartment before you move in. This will help you in the long run in case the landlord asks you about any scrapes, broken bits, or other damage to the apartment once you are moving out. Take pictures when you move in so you have proof of the original condition of your space.
Types of Housing
There are several types of housing options that you will find once you start looking. It’s important to consider what matters most to you when choosing a place to live. Some people might be certain that they want the experience of having a roommate (or several roommates) and living in a townhouse with lots of common area space is the best option for them. Others may know themselves well enough to be sure that they need complete privacy and a home all to themselves so a one-bedroom or studio apartment may be the better option in this case.
Other important things to consider are proximity to campus, whether the housing unit comes with furniture or is unfurnished, and the length of the lease, to mention a few. Here’s some of the different types of housing units you may be interested in:
2-Bedroom/3-Bedroom Apartments and Townhouses
Usually, a lot of international students will choose to live with a roommate or several roommates. There are several reasons for why this happens and there are, of course, exceptions as well. One of the reasons for living with a roommate is the reduced cost of sharing rent and other expenses such as utilities, electricity, and internet. Graduate and upper undergraduate students often have to live frugally, so sharing living expenses with roommates makes a lot of financial sense.
Another advantage of having roommates is being able to socialize and make friends easily. Sharing a living space tends to bring folks together and if you’re an international student who doesn’t know anyone in the area, having roommates can help you develop a network of friends and acquaintances. It’s also a great way to have a support system around you that can boost you up and help you deal with everyday issues.
That being said, it’s important to consider whether this is the right option for you: roommates do not always click and become best friends. Having roommates is definitely a gamble–you need to make sure that you are able to negotiate difficult situations and handle disagreements that can arise when you’re sharing a home with other people. If you love having a very tidy and quiet space, make sure you aren’t picking roommates who don’t prioritize order and love to throw parties every weekend. It’s important to have honest conversations with the people you want to live with, so none of you regret the decision later!
Another perk of having roommates is that you can often join folks who are looking for someone to take over another person’s lease. The advantage of this is that you would usually end up only having to furnish your own bedroom as common spaces would already have everything you need. However, this is something you would also discuss with your roommates before moving in.
Sometimes a 2-bedroom apartment may have only one bathroom to share, but often you will find 2-bedroom apartments with separate bathrooms. It’s important to make note of whether your own bathroom is a priority for you and search for apartments that can accommodate your specific needs.
Studio and 1-Bedroom Apartments
The main difference between a studio and 1-bedroom apartment is that a 1-bedroom features a bedroom area that is separate from the living room and kitchen area. A studio apartment is generally a self-contained space that houses everything in a single room with a separate bathroom.
1-bedroom apartments usually have enough space for one person or a couple living together. The perks of a studio or 1-bedroom apartment is, naturally, the privacy this option offers–you can do whatever you want and set your own rules. This is an ideal option is you value quiet and have specific habits that you think would not mesh well with roommates. However, a 1-bedroom apartment is usually a much pricier option than a studio apartment or living with roommates in a 2-bedroom apartment.
A studio apartment is a cheaper alternative and would suit someone who doesn’t have a lot of stuff and doesn’t require much storage space as a closet space is usually not included. Anyone interested in studio apartments should be aware that there are many things that someone may take for granted that you just won’t find in a studio apartment. A washer and dryer will commonly not be included and there may not be a full-sized refrigerator or an oven. Be sure to discuss these things with your landlord before signing a lease!
Getting Around
If you don’t drive or don’t want to worry about parking on campus, it’s important to see how close your apartment complex is to a bus stop. Razorback Transit bus routes go all throughout Fayetteville and most large apartment complexes are within a few minute walk to a bus stop. Some apartment complexes that are further away from campus have their own shuttle service that’s free to their residents.
Besides buses and shuttles, students also use bicycles to get to campus, especially if their apartment complex is near one of the nature trails. If you don’t have a bike of your own, the bike-sharing program VeoRide allows students to conveniently rent a bike or an e-bike. The university also now offers e-scooters which are often used by students to get to and around the campus. If you’re in a pinch, there’s always ride sharing services like Uber and Lyft that you can use to get around!
Finding Furniture
International Students can buy/sell furniture on the ISO Facebook page. The Furniture Friends volunteer service also allows international students to borrow used furniture with no cost if they promise to return it afterwards!
There are plenty of affordable furniture and other housing supply options that you can find in stores like Walmart and Target. With Amazon Prime, you can get most of your furniture delivered within a few days time right to your door.
Think about what things you may be willing to compromise on and buy used from other students and what things you may want to purchase new–a bed frame and mattress are some things that you may want to spend more money on but things like lighting fixtures, cookware, or coffee tables and desks can all be bought second hand for very cheap. Many thrift stores in Fayetteville, such as Potter’s House, Goodwill and the Salvation Army, tend to have furniture available before the semester begins.
Student Tips
Vinci, a Master’s degree student in Counseling, suggests talking to the landlord directly when searching for an apartment–you can often find the landlord’s contact information online when you search for the name of the apartment complex you’re interested in. Give the landlord a call and ask questions directly or send them an email! Find out if the apartment complex is near a bus stop, whether there is a washer and dryer in the unit (some will not include these!), whether there is a dishwasher and other amenities included.
Christina, a PhD student in Psychology says, “Because I was searching from a different state, I used online search websites like Apartments.com and Zillow to find apartments that seemed nice. I read a lot a reviews and made a list about features I required most and what my deal breakers were. For example, I knew I wanted a place that was near a Razorback bus station so I didn’t have to ever worry about driving myself to school. I needed a place with workout facilities and I really wanted access to a pool. That made narrowing down the list much easier.” Christina knew that she was on a budget and she set a maximum amount of what she was willing to spend on a place, so when she went to see the apartment options in person, she had a clear idea of what she could afford.
Christina also recommends making your own list of things that are important to you when finding an apartment, “Consider the location, the price (rent and utilities), the age/demographic of the neighborhood (are there lots of families, is it mostly students), parking/guest parking, distance to restaurants/shops, and more. If you’re moving in with other people, keep the lines of communication open. Let them know your preferences and pet peeves ahead of time and make sure you give them the chance to inform you of their deal breakers too. It’s important to feel comfortable in your own home and you won’t have that unless both roommates are giving each other that respect.”
Katherine, a PhD candidate in Space and Planetary Science, says, “Finding off campus housing is not as intimidating as it may sound! The University of Arkansas campus is surrounded by condos, apartments, rental houses. These can range from studio apartments to accommodations with 3+ bedrooms. Googling ‘apartments near University of Arkansas’ or looking at area maps can be a good place to start. If you have a family or need larger housing units, many students will live in or near surrounding areas such as Springdale and Rogers. These locations will have houses to buy that are away from the hustle of a university campus. While you will have a commute time (around 30 min) it can be an affordable option.”
For Katherine, it was important to figure out where you will be spending most of your time on campus, or where you will park during the day. She says, “Once you have this information look for housing locations near that area. For example, my program is housed on a small building on the edge of campus. During my search, I made sure to look at apartments that were within walking distance. You don’t want to end up living on the complete opposite side of campus and having to walk/drive when ever you have to get to a meeting.”
Katherine recommends looking at the potential housing units in person if at all possible before you sign a lease. She says, “Choosing housing around a university can be a risky game sometimes. During your housing tours, look at the location for upkeep and potential problems. If the landlord isn’t maintaining the property, you don’t want to live there and have it fall to you.”
Jade, who majors in Accounting, found her apartment using the U of A Off-Campus Housing website. She says, “I basically scrolled through the available apartment units on the site and I also looked through the roommate requests. I chose my apartment because there were two separate bathrooms and I was going to be living with a roommate so that’s important to me.”
What to Consider When Living with a Roommate
Katherine says, “Living with a roommate comes with a lot of changes. Make sure you talk about chores, bills, and guests (especially significant others) right off the bat. Be upfront and honest about your expectations during these conversations. You don’t always have to be best friends with your roommates, but maintaining a respectful and honest relationship will help any living situation.”
Vinci had a clear set of deal-breakers when it came to figuring out who she could room with–it was important to her that her roommate wasn’t a smoker or that they would at least agree to only smoke outside of the apartment. It’s also important to establish how loud each person expects it to be in the apartment and how much control do they need to have over what goes on in the apartment to feel comfortable.
Jade knew she couldn’t live with “people who are disrespectful and not mature enough to communicate and resolve issues that will most definitely arise.” Knowing what you can’t compromise on is important, so talk to your potential roommate and get to know them before you sign a lease together! Be clear and direct when you discuss what’s most important to you in a roommate and a housing situation. Having a roommate can be a great experience if you set yourself up for success!
