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Moving to another country isn’t an easy decision. Of course, if you’re about to be an international student at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, you know that. You know there’s a lot of planning involved, and even after you’ve got all your paperwork figured out, bought your plane tickets and registered for classes, you’re still going to need to find apartments near UIUC. Thankfully, Rent College Pads is an expert at all things housing-related, so read on to learn more about the best ways to find off-campus housing at UIUC.
- Start By Knowing You’re Not Alone
We get it: moving halfway across the world is one of the scariest things you’ll ever do, and at times it’s incredibly overwhelming. As an international student, how are you supposed to cope with the daily pressures of living while simultaneously trying to navigate the American apartment search process? The good news is that at UIUC, you’re not alone. If you’re coming from China in 2018, the international Chinese population is five times as large as it was in 2000.
Overall international enrollment nationwide is up by 8.1 percent, which has made campuses much more diverse than they were even a decade ago. If the housing search is daunting to you, just remember that there are many other students experiencing the same issues that you are, and it’s worth connecting with them to share off-campus housing strategies with one another.
- Use International Resources
Beyond your classmates and peers, there are many different resources available to international students at Urbana Champaign that will make the housing process easier. The best place to start is at the International Student & Scholar Services website, where you can make appointments with university staff who will answer your questions and help you solve all kinds of issues.
They can certainly answer questions about apartments and houses for rent near UIUC, but they’re also great resources for other non-housing related questions, too.
- Learn If You’re Eligible
Before you even begin looking for a place off-campus, you’re going to want to make sure UIUC policy allows you to live on your own. There are three different ways to be eligible for off-campus housing: you can come to campus and plan to live with your family, you can have sophomore standing or above, or you can be a graduate or professional student. If none of these apply to you (for instance, if you’re an incoming freshman), you should look for somewhere to live on campus.
- Decide On The Right Neighborhood
There are lots of different neighborhoods that make up the surrounding UIUC area. There’s Downtown and Midtown, which are both large metropolitan areas, as well as the student-focused Campustown, too. If you’re looking for a more residential area in the city, you might want to live a little further from campus near Crystal Lake Park.
If you want to know more about any of these neighborhoods, check out our guide tab at the top of the UIUC map page and scroll through the information available.
- Know Your Budget
Finding the perfect apartment or home for rent near Urbana Champaign is the product of a lot of research, and the most important research you can do is figuring out how much money you’re willing to spend. Apartments in or near the downtown area are going to be more expensive, and the suburbs will be a little bit cheaper. If you’re worried about housing costs, remember that many students choose to live with roommates off-campus to split the cost between them.
It’s a great way to save money and make new friends at the same time! If you’re interested in finding a roommate, check out our Urbana Champaign roommate matching feature.
If you’re here, you probably already know about us. But on the off-chance you don’t, it’s important to get acquainted with our housing search engine. Rent College Pads is different than other housing search engines in that we’re specifically tailored to students’ needs. We help you connect with landlords close to campus, making sure to list deals that work with your budget. We’ve got a specific list of apartments near UIUC , so don’t be afraid to check out what’s available near you.
Ali Bartmer
Chips and salsa aficionado, Ali Bartmer joined the Rent College Pads team in the fall of 2016 as the Operations Assistant and has since become a Content crafter. Cat mom of one, Ali prides herself in being a Bloody Mary connoisseur and with her Masters from Hogwarts there’s nothing Ali can’t do.
Thanks for mentioning how apartments downtown will be more expensive than getting one in the suburbs. I thin kit would be nice to be downtown in order to socialize. However, I can walk from the suburbs if it means I can save money.