Each fall, many Brunonians begin their off-campus housing search for the following year. But as they prepare to sign leases, financial aid is a big consideration for some.
Living off-campus does not impact a student’s financial aid offer, according to Dean of Financial Aid Sean Ferns. Those living off campus are not charged for University housing, so students whose aid covers dorm fees can request a refund of that amount, which they can then apply to rent and other fees for their off-campus residences. Requests for these refunds cannot be made a year in advance when students are typically signing their leases.
According to Ferns, universities are unable to disburse federal financial aid more than ten days before the semester in which it is being used begins.
Leases are often signed months before a student actually moves into their house or apartment, meaning that security deposits must be paid in advance as well. But University financial aid policy prevents students from accessing their refunded aid at the time the deposit is needed, leaving some students in a financial predicament.
Kaelyn Haselhorst ’28 has run into this very problem while searching for her senior-year housing. She told The Herald that, as someone on full financial aid, the process of moving off-campus is difficult because of “how you have to deposit so much so long in advance.” She said she does not have the money yet because it will be refunded to her from her scholarship at the beginning of the next school year.
“I have to pay … a security deposit that’s equal to one month’s rent, and I have to pay first and last month’s rent,” Haselhorst explained.
Haselhorst expects that she will have to take out a loan from the University to be able to afford the initial payments, then pay it off once she receives her refund.
Ferns recommended that students meet “with a financial aid counselor as early as possible” if they “have concerns about the availability of funds prior to the start of the semester.”
“Depending on individual circumstances, there are options that a counselor can discuss as well as help with budget planning,” he added.
Kaikea Fenwick ’28 is currently debating whether or not to move off campus next year. She told The Herald that she was surprised by how it was cheaper to live off campus than on campus.
Fenwick thinks it’s “nice” that Brown is “willing to offer reimbursements” to ensure that living off-campus is accessible to everyone, especially since she believes that not having the option could be a social disadvantage for many students. But she added that not being able to use that refunded money until the start of the semester could pose some difficulties.
Will Bigby ’28 transferred from New York University, where he said housing was much more expensive, so Brown’s on-campus housing costs “didn’t raise any red flags” for him. He ultimately found the price of signing a 12-month lease “a little bit more daunting.”
Bigby has decided to remain on campus for his senior year. When he was considering living off campus, he was primarily thinking about how it could be a “nice segue into life outside of school.”
Although moving off campus comes with its complications, Haselhorst said she feels that living independently is an important part of her college experience. “I think that it’s a lot harder to jumpstart yourself into the real world if you don’t have experience living off campus in your undergraduate (years),” Haselhorst said.
Additionally, Haselhorst said there is a social component to living off-campus, and having the opportunity to live with a group of her friends is something that she has been looking forward to. But she knows that many other students in a similar situation may not feel it is worthwhile to consider moving off-campus because of the upfront costs.
“In a way, it is kind of a social inhibitor,” Haselhorst said, noting how in her circles, many of her friends are looking to live in houses or apartments with each other, and it feels like a big milestone for senior year. She told The Herald she thinks it’s sad that “because of the way that the refund system works,” many students on financial aid aren’t able to afford the initial costs of living off-campus and their social opportunities are affected as a result.
“I’m lucky because I’m very open with my friends and they’re very understanding people,” Haselhorst said, but she knows that it may be difficult to have conversations with their friends regarding what they can afford and if they are struggling with the upfront costs of moving off campus.
Ali Schapiro is a senior staff writer for University News, covering admissions and financial aid. She is a sophomore from New York City and plans to concentrate in English. In her free time, she enjoys vintage shopping, playing tennis, and doing New York Times crossword puzzles.
