Student Housing Search Leads to Remembering Past Experiences

Snowmen that residents of Junction, an on-campus apartment, created with the new snowfall. Photo by Ruby Curtis

As the fall semester draws to a close with finals and spring semester around the corner, what else could students have to worry about? Oh, of course! Where are they going to live next year?

UMD freshman Emma Nelson and sophomore Eva Michelutti’s plans for their housing next year are influenced by their past experiences, from living with a roommate in a tiny dorm to discovering how to adapt to living on their own. 

Nelson said that for the upcoming school year, she is looking for an off-campus apartment, prioritizing her privacy.

“I think this year, living with someone has been an adjustment,” Nelson said. “So, next year, I think it’s really important for me to have my own space. I didn’t realize how important that was to me until I did live with someone.”

“There's a few girls in the friend group I hang out with and they're looking for roommates and an off-campus apartment,” Nelson said. 

Nelson and her friends drove over to Campus Park Townhomes and Villas, where they got to ask questions and do a virtual tour. She says that they are leaning towards that option. 

Michelutti said that she met her current roommates during her freshman year because they all lived on the same floor and got along well. 

“We all wanted to still live on campus because it was a good transition from dorms to apartments,” Michelutti said. 

Michelutti, who lived in Griggs Hall her freshman year and is currently living in the Goldfine Apartments, is also searching for an off-campus apartment with her roommates for the upcoming school year.

“I think we’re looking at Boulder Ridge Apartments. It’s cheaper than living on campus, we did the math and [at UMD] it is about $800 a month, while off-campus is probably $200 cheaper.”

Nelson, this year being her first at UMD, is using the experiences she has gained from living in an on-campus residence hall to make decisions about her future living arrangements. 

“It kinda shows how much I value my independence,” Nelson said. “Living at school shows you can kinda do whatever you want whenever you want, which is important for when people are out of college. It’s a stepping stone on what the future might be like when you’re completely living on your own.” 

Michelutti has completed nearly two years of school while living at UMD and is adding onto her experiences with roommates and friends to create her ideal living environment.

“You have a moment where you’re not thinking about school or priorities. It’s just a time to just hang out and be silly and goofy with your friends,” she said.

Nelson and Michelutti both offered advice on how to succeed when searching for an ideal living situation. Nelson focused on what tactics she used to find a compatible roommate and Michelutti focused on how to find the best on-campus apartment for her needs.

“Finding a good roommate has to do with asking a lot of questions and getting to know someone,” Nelson said. “If you're thinking there are certain things you want to know, but you’re afraid to ask, it’s almost good to ask those questions. The more information you have, the better the outcome might be.”

“If you want to live in an on-campus apartment, look at the layouts because some are different than the others,” Michelutti said. “If you want an apartment, get on it as soon as you can to put in a spot, because you want to get in fast.”

Students typically find off-campus housing at Boulder Ridge, Campus Park, Bluestone or through Zillow. Companies who typically lease to students include Shiprock Property Management, Duluth Property Management and Heirloom Property Management.