There comes a time every year where Penn State students are scrambling to figure out their living arrangements for the following academic year and unfortunately, that time is now.
If you’re planning on living off-campus next year, it’s good to note that apartments and houses fill up fast, so getting one step ahead can be key in getting the rental you want.
There are so many options to weigh when determining your living options, for instance, who you want to live with, where you want to live and most importantly, how much you or your parents are willing to pay for rent.
Figuring out exactly what you want out of your off-campus living experience is the first step in finding housing at Penn State.
Here’s VALLEY’s tell-all-guide on apartment hunting in State College.
Roommates
For most, deciding who you want to live with next year is the first step in finding your ideal living situation. Finding roommates for next year can be especially difficult if you’re a freshman and are still finding your friend group, but social media can become super helpful in this scenario.
Around this time, the “Penn State Class of – insert your graduating year –,” Facebook page becomes overloaded with people looking for an extra roomie or two. Usually, these posts include a few pictures of the person or group and a little blurb about their interests as well.
You’ll obviously want to live with someone who you connect with and that have similar living styles. If you’re super clean and organized and your roomie isn’t, this could become an issue and no one wants that stress.
The pandemic makes it a bit more inconvenient to meet a possible roommate match, but a socially-distanced coffee date or a Zoom call could be all you need to find your people.
East, West or Neither
Another step in figuring out your situation is deciding where exactly you want to live. Are you more of an east side or west side kind of person? Maybe you’re looking to have a pool and a gym in your building, or maybe you’re just trying to have a dishwasher?
If you’re looking to live closer to campus, note that the apartments and houses will generally be higher in price than areas where you might have to take a bus ride or drive.
Whatever your deciding factors are, State College definitely provides options.
Let’s Talk Rentals
State College rental agencies offer students an abundance of different apartment complexes or houses with different locations and price ranges.
If you’re looking for an apartment that offers amenities like study lounges and fitness centers, ARPM rents out buildings like The Edge and Pugh Centre, which reside more toward the middle of Beaver Ave.
The more popular east side buildings like Beaver Hill and Alexander Court are rented out by The Canyon and also offer similar amenities as well.
The Metropolitan, RISE and HERE are known for their additional luxury apartments with amenities that include coffee bars, outdoor decks and lounges, outdoor pools and spas within their facilities. Although these rentals offer many amenities, they are much more expensive in price and may not be within everyone’s budget.
Continental Real Estate offers many options on the more affordable side like Beaver Plaza near the Downtown Target and Hetzel Plaza near McLanahan’s which offer fully furnished apartments.
If you’re looking to get away from the Downtown State College area or just want to get more for you money, apartments like The Retreat, The Valley, The View and The Station might be right up your alley. These have similar amenities to those of the luxury apartments in Downtown State College but for half the price.
Apartment hunting can be unquestionably stressful but finally getting out of a dorm makes it especially worth it.
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