UF Advice

Many transfer students from across the nation are beginning to submit their applications for Fall 2008 at the University Of Florida. This year, UF will cut acceptance rates for incoming transfer students by 30%, due to budget problems. As a result, the incoming transfer students are more worried than normal about signing up for housing prior to officially receiving their acceptances (which will begin posting on April 15th, 2008). Most of the transfer students will be incoming juniors and seniors who want more than the typical UF on-campus dorm, where they share a double or triple dorm suite with a few randomly assigned roommates-- and share a bathroom with 35 or 40 other dorm residents.


HOUSING & DORM Info for UF TRANSFER STUDENTS:


DORMS FOR UF TRANSFER STUDENTS:
Many transfer students like the idea of dorm housing-- but they want something nicer than the average freshmen dorm where you share a bathroom with 40 other people and wear flip flops in the shower because of sanitation issues. If you are one of the many incoming transfer students who would prefer not to hassle with finding an off-campus apartment, paying a deposit, setting up utilities, finding roommates, and moving in during the August heat, then an a-typcal luxury dorm might be the right fit for you. Though most on-campus dorms are reserved for members of the incoming freshmen class, there are a few luxury dorms that are perfect for transfer students. Check out these luxury dorms for UF students. They offer guaranteed placement into Single Dorm Suites with Attached Private Bathrooms, several sizes of Double Suites, on-site gym, assigned parking and even maid service. Best of all for incoming transfers, they are not reserved solely for incoming freshmen.


Apartments Near UF:
If you've decided against dorm living because you have too much furniture or a dog that you'll be bringing with you to Gainesville, then the next best option is finding an apartment that's walking distance to your UF classes, because parking is a HUGE problem on campus. For undergraduates who live off-campus, the only decal parking available is at the Park'N'Ride parking lots, which are so far from your UF classes and libraries that you have to ride a bus from your parking spot, just to get to class. Most transfer students try to live walking distance to classes to cut back on the one-hour daily commute to and from classes, from many of the apartment complexes just a few miles from campus. Check out Gainesville student apartments near UF, where you can search by number of bedrooms, price range, or move-in date. Here are some examples of what's available for Fall 2008:


The Closest Apartments To UF:
If you want to live practically on campus but want a lot of space, check out The Courtyards - UF Student Apartments. They are right across the street from UF, and you can rent a private, furnished 1BR in a larger apartment, and they will find you roommates based on your personality, study habits, major, etc. It's a good way to meet people other UF students, because it's a very social complex -- but it's got concrete walls separating the apartments, so it's quiet enough to study. The pros are definately the location, roommate matching and price. Cons- you'll have a couple roommates. But for the price (less than sharing a double dorm room on campus and sharing a bathroom with 40+ people), you'll be way, way better off. Prices for 2008 start at $479 per month with April specials.


Studio Apartments Walking Distance to UF:
If you don't want to have a roommate, the cheapest student apartments near UF are going to be studios. Because studios are one-room apartments (think of it as a 1 bedroom minus the living room- just a bedroom, bathroom, closet and kitchen) with lower square footage, they have the cheapest rental rates you can find without roommates AND the utilities tend to be cheap, because there's a small space to cool and heat. Most students who rent studios by UF tend to set them up with a futon bed that can double as a couch, and they set up a cafe table instead of a dining room table. You'll pay more for a studio than renting a room within a larger apartment, but you won't have to worry about loud roommates or coming home to a late night party-- and you don't have to worry about finding a roommate, which can be tough for an out-of-town transfer student. Rents start at $615 for studio apartments for UF students. These ones are even pet friendly.


1BR Apartments Walking Distance to UF:
Have a bit more money to spend and want an apartment with living space? Then you'll definately want to check out 1 Bedroom apartments walking distance to UF. Because they are larger than the studios, you'll end up paying a bit more, but you'll get 2 or 3 times the living space. 1 Bedrooms start around $650 and go up to $1200 within a few blocks of the UF campus, depending on square footage and age of the apartment complex. Because of escalating construction costs, brand new 1 bedrooms can be pricey, but you get what you pay for in terms of amenties. Some of the new apartments near UF have granite countertops, gourmet kitchens and balconies the size of a bedroom. For most transfer students, the basics will do just fine.


2BR or 3BR Apartments Walking Distance to UF:
If you know other students who will be attending UF in Fall 2008, there's an easy way to maximize on the space & amenities, while minimizing your out-of-pocket costs for housing: rent a 2 Bedroom apartment or 3 Bedroom apartment and split the cost. Most 2 & 3 bedrooms near UF are going to be joint leased (which means you are jointly responsible for rent & have to find your own roommate). It's also possible to rent an entire 2 or 3 bedroom and then post ads saying you are looking for a roommate, so that you can interview the candidates and choose the one you like best. Some complexes will even post free roommate ads for you. Your half of the rent on a 2 bedroom near UF could be as low as $415 per month-- and you'll get more living space than you would have received in a studio floorplan.



Transfer Students: Consider This Before Choosing Housing!

* What's most important to me: budget, amenities or space?
Remember that the lower your budget, the less amenities and space you can afford. To save money, consider renting a private luxury dorm suite or renting a room in a larger apartment with roommate matching. See the link above for luxury dorm options.

* What can I afford to pay each month, for rent and my bills?
Talk to your parents, advisors or anyone else who will be part of the budgeting process in advance, so that you can narrow down your list to apartments you can afford.

* Will I really attend class, labs, study groups and project meetings if I have to ride the bus more than an hour each day?
If not, be sure to live walking distance to UF classes (which are mostly located in the North-East section of UF campus).

* Am I someone who can live well with roommates? Do I know anyone who will be going to UF in the Fall?
If you would do well with roommates and know other students (or non-students) who will be in Gainesville, consider renting a larger apartment (like a 2 or 3 bedroom) and splitting the rent. If you don't mind having roommates in order to save money but don't know anyone attending UF, consider The Courtyards. It's right across the street from UF, and they provide excellent roommate matching. See the link above.