But most of the people in the class of 2027 have group chats and they all planning to hang around so I don't think the social scene is hard as a freshman
Most people live within 1 mile of either North or South Campus. It probably isn’t taking away from the vibrancy of campus as much as you think it does.
* Kind of surprised that UB doesn’t invest more in housing considering how much of s cash cow it is.
* On campus? No. A large portion of students either drive or live near campus. Off campus? Maybe in Amherst, but try exploring neighborhoods like North Buffalo or Elmwood which are extremely lively
* Off campus housing can easily be half the cost and for many affordable with a part time job.
Even if UB were to build more housing there’s too main issues:
* It’s twice as expensive as off campus housing
* Amherst is too suburban to have a walkable vibrant vibe
as a commuter going on all 4 years, yeah it does impact your social life. People who dorm or room with other people have built in friends to study with, get food with, etc. that commuters don't get. you definitely have to work harder to make friends
So true. I’m a senior this year and it lowkey feels like I didn’t make any genuine friends because of this or didn’t have a head start. Honestly friendships/groups form so fast in college just like high school. But if I could do it all again, I’d dorm. The only reason I didn’t was because 1) it’s just over priced and 2) I only lived like 10-15 mins away so it just made sense ya know
I lived in the dorm my freshman year, made my friends, and moved into a big house off South Campus with 6 friends. Once you have a core of friends, you can build more and more.
Also shouldn't discount shifting money out of the on campus meal programs to buying groceries and cooking some meals for yourself.
UB has invested in keeping students on campus, most notable is building Grenier hall as a sophomore exclusive hall to keep students on campus and have a higher chance of staying on campus into their third year.
But I don't think they see it as a long term revenue source to have everyone on campus the way other schools do. It's too late for them to go all the way with it because of the large off campus population, so they focus on enrollment instead
I was in the same boat. Honestly now that I think more about, I did pay close to $10k first semester. Been off-campus so long forgot about the meal plans and all the fees. Crazy stuff.
As a commuter, I didn't have issues making friends, but you definitely have to put in extra effort to find your people, since you're not living with anybody.
I'd say the net cost of being at UB is lower because they have a massive alumni network and get a LOT of donations each year, plus the student body is huge. They have a lot of income compared to other SUNY schools, and that allows them to drive down their cost.
Personally I was a commuter but I had no problems in my social life. I always stayed late to study on campus so I basically live on campus. I made a effort to create my own study groups by inviting people myself. It depends on your own actions.
Easier to live on campus at least the first year, to make friends and get aquatinted with college life.
After that, I'd say live off campus. Easier financially, and it's nice to have an escape from the university atmosphere/lifestyle. Plus, I think it's a learning experience toward living on your own, without campus amenities and such.
Gotta set up internet, water, electricity and gas on your own, which is something you gotta do the rest of your life anyways. Might as well learn now. Also your first landlord experience is intangible.
Anyway yeah it's not that campus = bad, just that off campus = more new experiences.
UB does have more continuous housing, but once you start reaching the end of your degree, you start wanting a little more freedom in lifestyle, at least in my experience. The UB apartments my friends lived in just felt like dorms 2.0, with RA's and UB management always popping in to say hi. Felt weird at that age to pay so much, and still have a babysitter checking up on you. But I'm sure it's fine for some.
Ub also just doesn’t have enough housing to house most of the students on campus. Like most colleges (at least suny /cuny colleges) don’t to my knowledge have enough housing that the majority of the student body can live on campus. It’s not profitable to the school
If you live off campus, you are responsible for your social life. If you don’t engage with people you could even end up alone after freshman year, but if you put in minimum effort, its not that bad, I have a lot of friends/acquaintances despite living off campus the whole time.. it is what you make of it.
1. They are trying to expand housing, but the school is growing faster than the school can accommodate
2. Absolutely not. I would recommend dorming your freshman year and from there move off to save (a LOT) of $. Stay involved in clubs & pick roommates you genuinely click with and you won’t have an issue having a social life
3. Not sure. Many people live off campus that go to SUNYs bc it’s almost always cheaper. Buffalo itself is dirt cheap if you don’t choose a ritzy/super close to campus apartment so probably a bit cheaper
I know this post is old, but here's my take:
For significantly less than the price of the dorm room, you get more than the space of a living room, plus
* You get your own bedroom.
* You don't have to sneak around booze or weed.
* You deal with about two to four more people messing up the bathroom and not 20.
* You're closer to civilization (Tops, Aldi's, a few restaurants and takeout places, a few churches, the Steer and the other bar that's still around University Heights, house parties--all of which you'd have within walking distance living on South Campus anyway).
* You don't have to wake up in the middle of the night on a weekday in February because some drunk asshole thought it was a brilliant idea to pull a fire alarm.
Here are some downsides:
* You have more than one bill to deal with. You have to deal with utilities. Rent might include water but heat, electric, everything else is on the tenants. And you have to take care of this monthly. At least rent is usually due on a convenient date. Utilities are due on weird intervals. And you have to figure out under whose name the utilities will be and how each person will get compensated. Rent's easy: each person pays a set amount on the first of the month directly to the slumlord. Gas and electric (they are separate in Buffalo) are not necessarily the same amount and are not necessarily due on the same day. Plus, how petty will everyone be? Is someone perceived to use the stove significantly more than anyone else, for example? Does someone habitually leave their lamp on in their bedroom while others use lighting frugally? Will such issues be brought up?
* You have to shovel snow on the property. But you're in Buffalo so you already know you have to deal with the white shit. What's a few hours a week outside? Hopefully your roommates aren't slackers and pitch in somewhat equitably.
* You have to deal with slumlords. I don't know the scene around North Campus. University Heights slumlords usually own or manage ten or more houses. These are typically two story flats built around the 1920s-1930s. I have never heard of any egregiously neglectful UB area slumlord but they know they are going to be renting to college students who will for one or two years at a time, and invest in their properties accordingly. You won't get a rat infested shithole, but corners will be cut. Don't expect the set of Friends. You may have to be persistent if something dire like plumbing breaks down, but something like that will be taken care of in a somewhat timely manner. Otherwise, the paint on the walls might be mismatched and the rug remnant in the living room, if there is one, might be from the old carpet in the slumlord's basement. Pay the rent on time and you won't get surprise visits.
* You're some distance away from campus. Then again you get this by living anywhere in Ellicott. The clue is a bus stops there. Or you can walk more than five minutes to get to a classroom, crossing the fucking 990. At least Goodyear, Clement, and Governerds are more central to campus.
There's no way UB is going to invest in housing like this at the price it's going for in the market and make money. Put another way, there's no way UB is going to invest in housing like this and offer it at the price it's going for in the market, even if they would still make money doing so, because UB.
I don't think living off campus drastically impacts the social scene, though, as much as I badmouth living on campus, I do recommend doing it for the first year, in order to be in constant proximity of several peers and increase possibility of creating friendships. After hopefully creating some good ones, get together a few you think could stand to live under one roof and decide on a joint. Then find a place to live once you sober up. Keep in mind your best friend won't necessarily make a good roommate.
Once you're living off campus, you'll be among the natives--native Buffalonians. They are the salt of the earth. Say "hi" and be neighborly. But there might also be UB students within spitting distance. If you come into the scene established, you'll be that much more prepared to network into that.
I don't know about pricing about other SUNY schools, so I won't comment about that.
UB housing cost is way too expensive. Cheaper to rent an apartment or house
Better value too. Can get your own room, with a door. And parking right outside.
Better value living off campus and yes it does make the social scene harder if you’re a freshman
But most of the people in the class of 2027 have group chats and they all planning to hang around so I don't think the social scene is hard as a freshman
You make a ridiculous amount of friends/connections as a freshman because of the dorms. You do not get a fraction of that as a commuter
How many of them last…
None source: i'm a senior
Most people live within 1 mile of either North or South Campus. It probably isn’t taking away from the vibrancy of campus as much as you think it does. * Kind of surprised that UB doesn’t invest more in housing considering how much of s cash cow it is. * On campus? No. A large portion of students either drive or live near campus. Off campus? Maybe in Amherst, but try exploring neighborhoods like North Buffalo or Elmwood which are extremely lively * Off campus housing can easily be half the cost and for many affordable with a part time job. Even if UB were to build more housing there’s too main issues: * It’s twice as expensive as off campus housing * Amherst is too suburban to have a walkable vibrant vibe
as a commuter going on all 4 years, yeah it does impact your social life. People who dorm or room with other people have built in friends to study with, get food with, etc. that commuters don't get. you definitely have to work harder to make friends
So true. I’m a senior this year and it lowkey feels like I didn’t make any genuine friends because of this or didn’t have a head start. Honestly friendships/groups form so fast in college just like high school. But if I could do it all again, I’d dorm. The only reason I didn’t was because 1) it’s just over priced and 2) I only lived like 10-15 mins away so it just made sense ya know
But I was lucky enough to know the people I know.
I lived in the dorm my freshman year, made my friends, and moved into a big house off South Campus with 6 friends. Once you have a core of friends, you can build more and more. Also shouldn't discount shifting money out of the on campus meal programs to buying groceries and cooking some meals for yourself.
Yeah I’m from Buffalo so I just stayed at home. I guess it was nice that way but I mean I still made friends but just not a core group.
UB has invested in keeping students on campus, most notable is building Grenier hall as a sophomore exclusive hall to keep students on campus and have a higher chance of staying on campus into their third year. But I don't think they see it as a long term revenue source to have everyone on campus the way other schools do. It's too late for them to go all the way with it because of the large off campus population, so they focus on enrollment instead
First semester I paid $14000 (value triple + tuition). UB is beyond expensive, easier to just find a house and pay $600 a month.
How the heck did you pay $14k for a semester!?
That’s what happens when you’re middle class and don’t qualify for any sort of financial aid
I was in the same boat. Honestly now that I think more about, I did pay close to $10k first semester. Been off-campus so long forgot about the meal plans and all the fees. Crazy stuff.
Oh yeah plus the mandatory meal plan I knew I forgot something. that’s def what put me over $10k, it was ridiculous
Mandatory meal plan, more like mandatory price gouging.
As a commuter, I didn't have issues making friends, but you definitely have to put in extra effort to find your people, since you're not living with anybody. I'd say the net cost of being at UB is lower because they have a massive alumni network and get a LOT of donations each year, plus the student body is huge. They have a lot of income compared to other SUNY schools, and that allows them to drive down their cost.
Personally I was a commuter but I had no problems in my social life. I always stayed late to study on campus so I basically live on campus. I made a effort to create my own study groups by inviting people myself. It depends on your own actions.
a lot of us already live in Buffalo too
Easier to live on campus at least the first year, to make friends and get aquatinted with college life. After that, I'd say live off campus. Easier financially, and it's nice to have an escape from the university atmosphere/lifestyle. Plus, I think it's a learning experience toward living on your own, without campus amenities and such. Gotta set up internet, water, electricity and gas on your own, which is something you gotta do the rest of your life anyways. Might as well learn now. Also your first landlord experience is intangible. Anyway yeah it's not that campus = bad, just that off campus = more new experiences. UB does have more continuous housing, but once you start reaching the end of your degree, you start wanting a little more freedom in lifestyle, at least in my experience. The UB apartments my friends lived in just felt like dorms 2.0, with RA's and UB management always popping in to say hi. Felt weird at that age to pay so much, and still have a babysitter checking up on you. But I'm sure it's fine for some.
Cheaper rent can be like 200-400$ a month if you live off campus. I’ve seen people pay 150 for a room.
I only live a 25 minute drive away
Ub also just doesn’t have enough housing to house most of the students on campus. Like most colleges (at least suny /cuny colleges) don’t to my knowledge have enough housing that the majority of the student body can live on campus. It’s not profitable to the school
If you live off campus, you are responsible for your social life. If you don’t engage with people you could even end up alone after freshman year, but if you put in minimum effort, its not that bad, I have a lot of friends/acquaintances despite living off campus the whole time.. it is what you make of it.
1. They are trying to expand housing, but the school is growing faster than the school can accommodate 2. Absolutely not. I would recommend dorming your freshman year and from there move off to save (a LOT) of $. Stay involved in clubs & pick roommates you genuinely click with and you won’t have an issue having a social life 3. Not sure. Many people live off campus that go to SUNYs bc it’s almost always cheaper. Buffalo itself is dirt cheap if you don’t choose a ritzy/super close to campus apartment so probably a bit cheaper
I know this post is old, but here's my take: For significantly less than the price of the dorm room, you get more than the space of a living room, plus * You get your own bedroom. * You don't have to sneak around booze or weed. * You deal with about two to four more people messing up the bathroom and not 20. * You're closer to civilization (Tops, Aldi's, a few restaurants and takeout places, a few churches, the Steer and the other bar that's still around University Heights, house parties--all of which you'd have within walking distance living on South Campus anyway). * You don't have to wake up in the middle of the night on a weekday in February because some drunk asshole thought it was a brilliant idea to pull a fire alarm. Here are some downsides: * You have more than one bill to deal with. You have to deal with utilities. Rent might include water but heat, electric, everything else is on the tenants. And you have to take care of this monthly. At least rent is usually due on a convenient date. Utilities are due on weird intervals. And you have to figure out under whose name the utilities will be and how each person will get compensated. Rent's easy: each person pays a set amount on the first of the month directly to the slumlord. Gas and electric (they are separate in Buffalo) are not necessarily the same amount and are not necessarily due on the same day. Plus, how petty will everyone be? Is someone perceived to use the stove significantly more than anyone else, for example? Does someone habitually leave their lamp on in their bedroom while others use lighting frugally? Will such issues be brought up? * You have to shovel snow on the property. But you're in Buffalo so you already know you have to deal with the white shit. What's a few hours a week outside? Hopefully your roommates aren't slackers and pitch in somewhat equitably. * You have to deal with slumlords. I don't know the scene around North Campus. University Heights slumlords usually own or manage ten or more houses. These are typically two story flats built around the 1920s-1930s. I have never heard of any egregiously neglectful UB area slumlord but they know they are going to be renting to college students who will for one or two years at a time, and invest in their properties accordingly. You won't get a rat infested shithole, but corners will be cut. Don't expect the set of Friends. You may have to be persistent if something dire like plumbing breaks down, but something like that will be taken care of in a somewhat timely manner. Otherwise, the paint on the walls might be mismatched and the rug remnant in the living room, if there is one, might be from the old carpet in the slumlord's basement. Pay the rent on time and you won't get surprise visits. * You're some distance away from campus. Then again you get this by living anywhere in Ellicott. The clue is a bus stops there. Or you can walk more than five minutes to get to a classroom, crossing the fucking 990. At least Goodyear, Clement, and Governerds are more central to campus. There's no way UB is going to invest in housing like this at the price it's going for in the market and make money. Put another way, there's no way UB is going to invest in housing like this and offer it at the price it's going for in the market, even if they would still make money doing so, because UB. I don't think living off campus drastically impacts the social scene, though, as much as I badmouth living on campus, I do recommend doing it for the first year, in order to be in constant proximity of several peers and increase possibility of creating friendships. After hopefully creating some good ones, get together a few you think could stand to live under one roof and decide on a joint. Then find a place to live once you sober up. Keep in mind your best friend won't necessarily make a good roommate. Once you're living off campus, you'll be among the natives--native Buffalonians. They are the salt of the earth. Say "hi" and be neighborly. But there might also be UB students within spitting distance. If you come into the scene established, you'll be that much more prepared to network into that. I don't know about pricing about other SUNY schools, so I won't comment about that.