ADMITTED ROSS CLASS 2012

Hi All - I'm an MBA2 at Ross so if you have any questions ask away. As far as housing goes many people live alone, but plenty of people also live with roommates either in apartments or houses. It really just depends on what you want.

Hope to see all of you at GBR!
Sarah

Finally paid my deposit today! Now it's time to start eating gruel.

So I'm about 90% set on Woodbury Gardens and have made an appointment on Friday. I have a couple of other appointments a bit closer to school (that I found off Craigslist) but the washer/dryer/dishwasher/disposal convenience + 20 month lease + 50% rent during the first summer have more or less sold me. I know from experience that subletting over the summer is pretty difficult, so I'd rather take the 50% discount and just call it a day. Also, I figure the proximity to school is undercut by the lack of conveniences at home. The downside is that I will be cutting it very, very close to the Room and Board budget in my financial aid.

How's everyone's house hunt going?

I haven't had a chance to do any househunting or set up appointments, either. Luckily I'm in Chicago so I can go back pretty easily, but if anyone has any great tips that haven't been mentioned on the Google group, I'd love to hear them.

I'm a SY here so I can provide insights/tips if you let me know what you are looking for. For what it's worth I love my building. Its about a 5 min walk to Ross with mostly MBAs and the landlord is great. Two best features: covered parking and free laundry

So from what you've said it seems that ideally you would live in an apt/house close to Ross and its what I'd recommend without a car. Anywhere else is kind of a pain carless (in my opinion).

1. Few places have hardwood floors most have carpets
2. The closer to central campus you are the higher the rent (generally speaking). Most 1 bedrooms close to campus are probably in the 800-1000 range depending on size. It is much cheaper if you are willing to live in a house with other people.
3. If you want a converted house split into apts check out the housing fair and talk to companies there. Note: you want to talk to the student housing companies NOT places like Woodbury that have apt complexes farther away.
4. Most places should have laundry in the building and may or may not have parking. If they do you could rent the space to someone.

***There are some good apartments very close to Ross, but as in any university town the quality of housing varies greatly. So I strongly recommend against renting anything sight unseen.... There are some nice apartments and some really terrible ones.

I'll also add that you don't need to find housing at GBR. You may feel overwhelmed and an urge to sign a lease or housing will all disappear. That's not true. You can find housing well into the summer and there's going to be a lot of activity on the google group with people looking for roommates.

If you're absolutely unable to come back to find housing, then you might want to sign a lease at GBR, and probably with an apartment complex since that's the easiest option. But if you're not in a rush, then take your time. There's plenty that you will come up in the next couple months and through the summer. Also, you don't need to come back if someone else has done the legwork and looking for a roommate. You may have to trust someone else's judgement, but that will save you a trip out to AA.

For those who attended GBR, how did you like it? Did you meet any other GMAT Clubbers?