Being a foreign student is a life-changing experience that comes with plenty of outstanding opportunities and memories. Yet, it’s not free of challenges as well. The majority of exchange students have to deal with such common issues as homesickness, language barrier, cultural shock, academic pressure, and many others. Among all these issues, there is one that isn’t talked about as much but which can have a destructive effect on your experience of studying abroad – we are talking about accommodation problems.
Probably the most straightforward way to have your accommodation needs covered during your studies abroad is to stay in a dorm. However, what if your school’s dorm is full? What if you arrive earlier, whereas dorms typically open a few days before the start of studies? Or what if you don’t want to or can’t stay in a dorm for other reasons? In each of these cases, chances are that you will have to look for suitable and affordable housing on your own, and you must be prepared for the challenges that might be there.
Top 3 Housing Challenges Facing Exchange Students
Lack of Research and Planning
When it comes to rentals, in-depth research is the key. Good rental opportunities pop up all the time, but you need to be empowered with enough information to pick housing that suits you perfectly. Namely, you need to be well aware of suitable neighborhoods, local infrastructure, local laws, etc. You have to check available opportunities regularly so that you don’t miss a perfect option.
Unfortunately, as a student, you might not have much time to spend on research and planning. We bet that your academic load and preparation for the upcoming studies abroad take nearly 100% of your time. Nevertheless, you can always hire a professional essay writers online to delegate your assignments, admission essays, and other tasks to save enough time for preparation and find your ideal housing.
Restricted Budget
Just like the majority of other students, exchange students are on a budget. Yet, their expenses while studying abroad often exceed the total spending of local students. That’s why they often are even more conscious about how they spend their money and what they get.
For example, according to the latest figures, the average rent cost in the US is $1,372. This is significantly more expensive than staying in a dorm. So, a restricted budget is another common challenge.
Lack of Support
Foreigners can face challenges like prejudice, language barriers, loneliness, financial pressure, and others. Needless to say, all these issues can make you feel down, and that’s when some additional support would never harm.
It can be hard emotionally to deal with being alone in a different country. Unfortunately, exchange students often lack extended support that could help them pull through everything they are facing. Although it doesn’t directly impact the housing matter, struggling with these typical problems can hold you back from having a positive attitude or finding enough motivation to continue your housing search.
Expert Housing Tips for Exchange Students
Start Your Search in Advance
The housing search is often quite unpredictable. It can take a few days if you are lucky, or several months to find a perfect apartment. If you want to reduce stress and have a suitable place to stay when you arrive to start your studies, you want to start searching well in advance.
Research and Determine Your Needs
When you start your search, you need to begin with a thorough study of your destination. Study the school’s location and research nearby areas and infrastructure. You need to determine the perfect neighborhood with everything you need within a short reach and from which you can get to and from school every day comfortably.
Also, during this stage of your search, it would be great if you determined and noted down all your needs and requirements for future housing. This will help you guide your search and filter out options that won’t work.
Extend Your Search
Today, there are plenty of resources to find rental listings, so don’t make a big mistake by limiting your search to a single platform or app. Instead, use multiple sites to enhance your chances of finding a perfect house quickly. Namely, some trusted platforms you can try are:
- Avail;
- Rentometer;
- Hotspad;
- Zillow Rental;
- Apartments.com;
- Craigslist.
Find Roommates
Of course, renting your own apartment feels terrific. However, given the high cost of rentals, it’s always nice to have some people to share your expenses with. Living with roommates can be much cheaper and more convenient than living on your own. And it can be pretty fun, too! So don’t hesitate to join your school’s network or hop on sites like Flatmate Finders to find roommates.
Define Your Budget
After defining your basic needs, you should also figure out your budget to know which housing opportunities you can afford. To do this correctly, you need to calculate your general costs of living and studying abroad. Be sure to calculate your tuition, food, personal expenses, bills, transportation, additional expenses like using the best paper writing service or hiring a tutor, and other costs that you will have to deal with. Based on that sum, determine how much more you can spend on rental and stick to this budget in your search.
The Bottom Line
Finding suitable and affordable housing as an exchange student can be somewhat tricky. Yet, it will be much less stressful and time-consuming if you know how to approach this process wisely.
After reading this article, you are prepared for the potential challenges and have a few actionable tips that should help you overcome all the hurdles. Use these recommendations to find your perfect accommodation and make the most of your time abroad!
