Living on-campus or off-campus is an important decision students make as they embark on the next year of their collegiate journey. To help students make this decision, Housing and Residence Life is partnering with College Pads to host their bi-annual Student Housing Fair on October 17 from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. at Tech Green. 

At this fair, students will have the opportunity to meet with property representatives looking to lease to Georgia Tech students. In addition to this, students attending the fair will be able to connect with the Housing and Residence Life team for information and guidance on the application process for next year’s on-campus beds. Property representatives will also provide valuable information, such as discounted leasing rates and room availability, plus the chance to receive free swag and gifts. 

Housing and Residence Life’s Student Housing Fair is designed to help students explore housing options for next year. According to Emily Zhou, a fourth-year student, “Last year’s housing fair was a great resource for me to find an apartment off-campus with my close friends. As we get older, we want to feel more independent to be on our own but also live somewhere close to campus for convenience.” 

Whether or not students make it to the fair, they should note that Housing and Residence Life has collaborated with College Pads to create an easy-to-use off-campus housing marketplace website. This website serves as a one-stop shop where students can search for roommates and available apartments. It also provides helpful renter education modules, equipping students with essential knowledge about leasing and tenancy.  

Claire Lin, a fourth-year student who currently resides off-campus, found this website instrumental in initiating her apartment search. 

“I lived in the residence halls for a couple of years and wanted a change for my last year at Tech. I’ve done most of my apartment hunting on the College Pads website, and of course, asked around about the best apartment complex, and I was able to find the right one for me,” Lin said. 

Students who have transitioned from campus living to off campus arrangements have found the experience to be both meaningful and humbling. 

As Zhou emphasizes, “The ability to have my own space and freedom, to have a room bigger than my former residence hall room, and having my own private bathroom is something that I’m grateful for.” 

The Student Housing Fair promises to be a useful event, helping students make informed decisions about their housing choices and feel prepared for their move into next year. For more information about housing options, be sure to check out the CollegePads Off-Campus Marketplace website and Housing and Residence Life housing application page.