Tag Archives: apartments

Apartment Life

May 22, 2013 – 6:16 pm

The dorm experience was one of my favorite parts of freshman year, but eventually bruins feel the need to spread their wings and venture into the intimidating world of apartments. UCLA freshman are guaranteed three years of on campus housing, but many chose to move after their second or third year to apartments off campus. While leaving the community and convenience of “the hill” (what bruins call the area where student housing is located) seems overwhelming, the fact is apartment life is equally exciting.

First off, the vast majority of people living in the apartments right off campus are UCLA students. This makes the sense of bruin community strong and keeps friends close to friends. Another great component is being able to learn extremely valuable life skills (budgeting, paying bills, cooking, cleaning).  It gives students the chance to transition into more “real world” living but still surrounded with the support of roommates and other UCLA students.

The most exciting part of moving to the apartments is definitely finding the place and figuring out your living situation. Unlike the dorms, which offer singles, doubles, or triples, apartments offer an endless amount of options. You can live in a studio space by yourself, a multiple room apartment, or even rent a house with a lot of friends. I have loved living off campus because it’s given me the chance to explore more of Westwood and become more self-reliant. Living in an apartment for the first time is definitely an independence landmark for many college students. The key to apartment shopping is start looking early (mid-winter quarter), know your budget, and pick reliable friends to live with. Once you find the perfect place you have the freedom to decorate and design your place. Let’s be honest the best part is definitely being able to have more than just a bedroom where you live!

By Rebecca Winkle | Posted in Life off campus, Life on campus | Also tagged | Comments (0)

Princeton Ly – Apartment Hunting Part II

May 8, 2012 – 8:53 am

I know what a daunting thing it is to start looking for off-campus housing. As I mentioned in a previous post, the earlier you look for apartments, the easier it will be for you.

There are many, many factors to consider. How much can I afford? Who will I live with? How far away is this from class? How far away is this from a grocery store, now that I actually need to cook for myself?

My friend recently introduced me to a really neat tool called PadMapper that could really help in finding an apartment amidst all those questions.

After searching UCLA, Westwood in the address bar, I was transported to a map of Westwood with a variety of rental listings. I could filter listings by price, number of bedrooms, and even see a place’s proximity to grocery stores and nightlife. It was also really helpful to compare the apartment listing’s price to the median price of the neighborhood, just to make sure I wasn’t getting ripped off. I could share saved listings with my future apartment mates, and more importantly, could see how close I was going to be to my friends and to my classes on campus. The user-interface made it easy for me to navigate, and I found myself wishing that I had known about this tool when I was looking for apartments.

While I definitely recommend that new first-years or third-year-transfers live on campus to truly experience UCLA’s community, I also know that there are students out there who might be seeking an alternative. Moving to a foreign place can be daunting, so I would definitely encourage that newbies to the area utilize tools like PadMapper. Scouting out the terrain beforehand to make sure your new home is nicely located will be well worth it in the long run. I was lucky enough to have found a great apartment with the help of older friends; I’ve definitely heard horror stories of other students who have been trapped in leases with rent almost twice as much as mine. Ouch.

In short, when you decide that it is time to move off-campus, take a look at tools like PadMapper that make the whole process easier.

Happy hunting.

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*PadMapper is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the University of California Los Angeles.


By Princeton Ly | Posted in Life off campus | Also tagged , , | Comments Off

Apartment Hunting in Westwood

February 29, 2012 – 8:20 am

As much as I love living in the dorms, I think it is time for a change. That is why my friends and I decided that we are going to move to an apartment next year. I have loved living in the dorms the last two years and I know I will miss it, but I am really excited about taking advantage of the housing that’s offered in Westwood. I am going to miss the close community of the dorms, and the delicious dining hall food, but I am excited to get a space upgrade and be right where all the action is in Westwood.

Starting out trying to find a place was very stressful. For the first time I had to try and find a place to live without my parents help. Luckily UCLA provided many resources that made it easier. They put on an apartment fair that made it easy for students and landlords to get in touch. They also put together a guide to finding an apartment that gives many helpful hints when looking for an apartment. All of that really made it a lot less intimidating to venture out and try to find an apartment to live in. One of the few downsides of living in west L.A. is trying to pay for the housing that is around. The student apartments around UCLA are no exception. Trying to find a place that is both affordable and nice enough for everyone has been a tough and stressful process. It is also hard to get everyone to agree on a place. It is amazingly easy to find little flaws in a place, such as the size of the kitchen, or the type of counter tops.
Hopefully our process seems to be coming to an end. We finally found a place that everyone can agree on and is excited about. It’s been a pretty interesting experience so far but I am glad it is coming to an end. I cannot wait to move in to my new place over the summer!

By Steven Simons | Posted in Life off campus | Also tagged , , | Comments Off

Princeton Ly – Apartment Hunting

December 1, 2011 – 8:18 am

 

Finals aside, one of the things you should be thinking about as a UCLA student is where you’re going to be living next year, and with who.

The dorms are of course a great option, especially if you’re just a first year this year. I’ll tell you right now, having food at the swipe of a card is very underrated. And having people clean your bathrooms? Priceless. One downside is the cost. Hill living is very expensive at times – living in a hall (Sproul Cove!?) or getting a job are some ways to offsetting this. But the convenience of living on the Hill is really unparalleled.

Apartments are of course the other main option. Most people I know seem to live west of campus – along Gayley, Veteran, Kelton, etc. – though some people go south of Wilshire to live. Aside from those poor, bus-riding souls (I kid), it’s usually still walking distance (easier with a bike or longboard), but you have to deal with leases, cooking your own food, cleaning – basically, being an independent, mature adult. It’s harder than you might think, and even if you’re up for it, finding 3-4 other people who are may be difficult.

In any case, I bring up the entire housing issue because if you want to live in an off-campus apartment, the time to start looking is now. Through the advice of friends and your own research, you will want to find (soon!) the potential buildings you’ll spend the next year or two in. My advice? Try to find a newer structure with a kind and understanding manager. Look all your potentials up online, because there are some horror stories out there. And try to live with a bunch of your friends! It’s really the only time you’ll ever to do that – believe me, after graduation, it’s going to be a pain trying to meet up – your friends are going to be working and grad-school-ing across the country.

One additional note – if you’re going to be living in the apartments next year, plan on spending your days on campus – it’s really a pain to walk back and forth from the apartments to school, and a huge waste of time, too, if you do it more than once.

Good luck!

-Princeton

By Princeton Ly | Posted in Life off campus, Life on campus | Also tagged , , | Comments Off

To the Estate! (sale…..)

November 7, 2011 – 11:18 am

If you don’t remember a certain post I posted a long time ago, I shall refresh your memory as to what it entailed. “Gypsy Living”, told the wonderful tale of a college student’s quest for buying apartment essentials at a reasonable cost. For most college students, moving into a new home seems like the day you break the bank, but not for me. I look at it as a challenge to find and create the most frugal and first-rate home furnishings one can find, and to that challenge, I say challenge accepted.

So, it might not come as a surprise to everyone that I am quite the expert at thrift store shopping, garage sales, and even estate sale shopping. This past weekend I decided to turn a wonderful and commitment free Saturday into a day of treasure hunting. One of my closest friends, a Miss Ashley Bourdon, was visiting, and I knew she would make a perfect first mate. So we set sail aboard the SSR20 (or my really cool 1998 Nissan maxima. Heyyy oooooo), and looked forward to the day ahead.

Before our quest began we searched the web to see what had been posted, mapped out a journey of 8 different sales, and packed our adventure sacks for the morning. With every stop we made we met new people, with new stories, who had new treasures for us to explore. Everything from furniture to record players, tv stands to music boxes. We were selective in our pickings but made out with what I believe was the best $15 dollars I’ve spent in a long time, and a wonderful day filled with giggles and fun.

I have attached a photo of the wonders that are my new treasures:

$5 shirt, free music box, $.50 two yellow cups, $0.50 two oil lamps, $5 canon film camera, $2 vintage polaroid camera, $1 bottle, $1 two books. Gypsy living? I think yes!

By Maddy Grubman | Posted in Life off campus | Also tagged , | Comments Off

Moving into Westwood Village North

September 14, 2011 – 8:15 am

This past weekend, I moved into Westwood Village North, where a cluster of apartments have been in the area for some time now, to serve UCLA students who typically move out of the dorms after their second or third undergraduate year.  At UCLA, we don’t have to worry about moving off campus right away (some friends at another university had to frantically look for an apartment after their freshman year) because we lead the UCs in guaranteeing housing for three years, and are currently working on guaranteeing four.  That’s something we’re very proud of because it gives students ample time to accustom themselves to the neighborhood around school and  gain “street” knowledge of the real estate market in Westwood.

I myself moved out of the dorms a year earlier than necessary because I wanted a taste of apartment life and having my own living room.  However, I already miss many things about the dorms. Where else can you walk to see all your friends within 5 minutes?  Where else do you have easy access to half a dozen residential restaurants, half of which have takeout options, one of which has gelato, and another a coffee shop?  And if I wanted a living room, choosing a suite in Hitch or Saxon would have given me exactly that.  Although it is nice to have your own furniture and kitchen, I’m so glad to have gone through the dorming experience, where I didn’t have to worry about cooking and had the opportunity to meet 10,000 other residents living on the Hill.

10 Things on Your Hill Bucket List

  1. Study in Covel Commons computer lab or study rooms.
  2. Try gelato at Cafe 1919.
  3. Eat in all of the residential restaurants at least once.
  4. Study in your house/floor study lounge.  Great place to meet people in your house/floor!
  5. Study in another house/floor’s study lounge.  Great way to meet others in your residential community!
  6. Play basketball or volleyball on the courts near the Suites.
  7. Work out or hang out at Sunset Canyon Recreation Center.
  8. Order De Neve Late Night pizza to share with roommates and floormates.
  9. Line up at Bruin Cafe for coffee during the rush right before it closes at 2 a.m.
  10. Watch TV or play pool/ping pong in the huge lounge in Hedrick Summit.
By Eleanor Fang | Posted in Life off campus, Life on campus | Also tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off

For Freshmen: Getting to Know your Roommates AFTER Move In

September 6, 2011 – 8:24 am

I recently wrote a blog about getting to know your roommates BEFORE you actually live with them. Now, ladies and gentlemen, it’s time to get into the topics you deal with AFTER you move in and start living with your roommates. There is a saying that goes “You don’t really know a person until you live with them” and I truly believe in this statement. You share your space, comfort zone, and privacy with whomever you live with. Here are some of my hints on what I suggest on doing after you move-in, in hopes to get to know your roommate(s) even more:

–Be accommodating/try to work things out. You will all have your own preferences and will have to coordinate on how to agree on your differences. That is why it is important to be open to different ideas and agree on a happy medium. This is crucial for a successful year of living together with one or two other individuals. :) .

-Be approachable. Be open to ideas and what your roommate has to say. Remember, you are sharing a room so you have to be as cooperative as possible. By doing so, your roommate will find it easy to approach you about any issues that may arise.

-Discuss options- sleeping time, studying hours, LIGHTS, sleep overs? All of this is crucial!

- Clean up after yourself. Do you like to leave a mess? If so, then leave it in your own area. Your roommate may not like having a mess so you want to keep it on your side. In contrast, you might be very tidy but your roommate might not be, so just make sure to discuss cleanliness with him/her.

-Be respectful. Simple– do not try to lay all the rules on your own because this will come off as bossy or uncooperative. Be ready to discuss EVERYTHING! It will save you guys a lot of trouble in the long run.

-Over night guests? Be sure to let your roommate know well in advance if you plan to have people sleep over. This will give you guys leeway to coordinate anything that might interfere with the sleep over. Quite simply, just because you think or assume that your roommate might not mind you having people sleep over,  do not wait until the day before, to let your roommate know that you are having an overnight guest.

-Get to know your roommate. Despite your differences, there is a beauty known as friendship that can build out of this random pairing. If you chose who your roommate was for the year, then great! If you didn’t, this provides you the opportunity to get to know someone new and make a new friend! Invite your roommate out, either to hang out or to go to floor socials. A simple invitation will go a long way. Even if your roommate always says no, he/she will know that you care.

These are  my pieces of advice for getting to know your roommate after you move in. Hopefully, these tips will allow you guys to have an amazing year of living together. Take it from someone who lived with complete strangers during his two years of living in the fabulous housing of UCLA. From here on out, it’s up to you guys to do your own part in having a fabulous year of living as roommates. Good luck and GO BRUINS!

By Manny Macias | Posted in Life on campus | Also tagged , , | Comments Off

For Freshmen: Getting to Know your Roommates before Move In

August 23, 2011 – 10:44 am

As incoming Freshmen, the one thing that most intrigues us about going away for college is the living ‘in’ college part. Before moving into UCLA, I loved filling out my housing application and inputting my living preferences, etc.  I submitted my application, paid the fee, and waited patiently to receive my housing offer letter. The letter notified me of where I would be living and who my roommates were along with their contact information. Soon afterward, I contacted one of my roommates through phone and the other online. Both of my roommates seemed very nice and approachable from what I had researched (yes, I looked through their Facebook pages to try to get to know them better :P ). We had conversations to get to know one another and made arrangements about dorm stuff and other accommodations. Then we moved in and everything worked out! We hung out, had group dinners, and everything went amazing for an entire year. No complaints here! The same happened the following year before and after I moved into my dorm :) . Now, here are some tips I hope will serve you well in trying to get to know your roommate a little bit better BEFORE you move in! After all, it’s the person you are going to be sharing your personal space with for an ENTIRE YEAR. Here they are…

– Contact your roommate(s) by phone or online once you find out who they are! The sooner you do this the better. By doing so, you are showing your roommate that you are interested in getting to know them better and are making an effort.

–Try starting a conversation! Not just about arrangement situations, but about their interests and your interests; just genuinely show that you care. Ask how their summer is going, if they are excited to move in, if they are going to Bruin Bash, etc.! By doing so, you might find out new and interesting things about your roommate! You will become more comfortable knowing instead of guessing and you will have loads of stuff to talk about by the time you actually move in! :D

–Be accommodating/try to work things out. What I mean by this is that if your roommate mentions something while you guys are chatting or having a conversation that makes you a bit uncomfortable, let him/her know nicely. Do not start making orders or GIVE OFF A TONE THAT WILL BE INTERPRETED BY YOUR ROOMMATE AS RUDE (btw, typing in CAPS can give off either a really good tone or a bad one…depending on what you are talking about…it is also translated as shouting, hehe). Be nice and soon you’ll realize that everything will work out. You just have to remember that this is an agreement between all the people living in the room, not only one person.

–Be approachable. This can also be tied in with my previous suggestion, but just in case you did not get the point, I had to say this. :P Tell your roommate to let you know if they have any questions or suggestions! You will be surprised by how shy some people can be; they might be too afraid to ask questions! If anything, your roommate might be a little overwhelmed by all of your questions but by that time you will probably be overwhelmed by the amount of questions and answers you are receiving, haha! Remember, it is better to know than assume.

–Be yourself. One of the most important things that I always recommend and suggest is to be who you are. Embrace your personality traits and how you are as an individual. If you start off lying to your roommate about who you are, then it is going to be harder for you to tell the truth later on down the road. I’m not saying to just lay everything out during the first conversation or let your heart out, but just be comfortable with yourself. Your roommate(s) is the person(s) who you are going to be sharing your personal space with and are going to be going to sleep in the same room in for a year so you want to make sure that you are comfortable. You’ll soon realize how everything works out perfectly when your roommate knows you for who you really are as a person. In the end, you want to make sure that you are happy, comfortable, and safe in your own room so starting off on the right foot by showing who you truly are as a person makes everything better at the end of the day. If it worked for me, it’ll work for you regardless of the circumstances.

These are some pieces of advice that I have for you guys before you move into your dorm/apartment/housing with your roommate(s). I hope this was helpful! If you have any other suggestions that you think will be helpful do not hesitate to comment! :D Tune in next week for suggestions on getting to know your Roommates AFTER move in :) .

By Manny Macias | Posted in Life on campus | Also tagged , , | Comments (3)

Gypsy Living

August 17, 2011 – 4:12 pm

 

Now there comes a point in each of our lives when we are labeled something by others. Sometimes it can be good, sometimes it can be bad, and sometimes it can be just plain true. All three of those elements have been smashed into one marvelous label that I take with a grain of salt, boast about with my head held high, and relish in all its glory. After 3 years of blood, sweat, tears (NOT AN EXAGGERATION! ok maybe just a little…), I have been labeled by my fellow peers, a gypsy. (insert Borat quote here)

Perhaps it is because of my dark coloring and affinity for large hoop earrings and bangles. Or, perhaps it is because I planned penny pinching travels while abroad. But most likely, it is because I have proven time and time again that a dollar can go much further than one would think.

Now I know what you’re all thinking, now now Maddy, we don’t want a lecture on economics and frugality. And I promise, that is not what I will be dealing out today. No. Today I want to teach you all a little secret about how to make the most of our college pocketbooks (are pocketbooks just wallets but for olden times?)

I am not the type of person that puts money above my entertainment and nonsensical pleasures, but when it came to furnishing an entire apartment for the upcoming year, I have to be honest, numbers were not my friend. So I turned to the mothership for gypsies like myself, Craigslist. One man’s trash truly is another man’s treasure. Between the fruitful searches on craigslist and the kindness and passing down from older graduates, I was able to furnish my corner of the room with a bed, side table, oak dresser, and an Ansel Adams print from the 1970′s for only $25. Gypsy much? I think so. You see! You can create a home out of a humble man’s earnings. Designing a new home does not have to be the bank breaker everyone makes it out to be.

I one day hope to start my own blog of penny pinching tricks (just ask anyone about the 5 dollar boots I bought out of someone’s trunk), but for now, this is my forum and I hope it suits you well. Do not hesitate to enquire if you do seek advice about future frugality and gypsy antics. Oh, and always remember, Gypsies have magic tears ;)

By Maddy Grubman | Posted in Life off campus, Life on campus | Comments Off

From dorms to apartments

June 17, 2011 – 9:07 am

The week between the end of spring quarter and the beginning of Summer Session A is always busy with students moving off campus to go home for the summer, or getting ready for other plans such as study abroad or internships (in LA and elsewhere).  I am blogging from Vancouver where my family currently resides as my sister attends high school, and am taking a break from the busyness of Los Angeles up here in Canada.

Before taking a trip up north, my past week has been spent moving from the dorms to the apartments.  It has been quite a journey even though it is a short trip from my dorm room to the apartment; the stress was more emotional than physical, and I was (and still am) very reluctant to leave the Hill because of all the wonderful times I have had there.  It’s great to be near so many fellow students in one centralized location, because it’s quick and easy to visit a friend any time of day no matter where they live in the dorms.  With so many amenities on the Hill, I have never had to trek further than Covel Commons (literally next door to where I lived) to print a packet of reading or homework, or past the Hilltop Store for late night snacks and other necessities.  As an international student, my parents were especially worried whether I would be eating properly and that my surroundings were safe; I have always been proud to tell them that not only is our dorm food among the best in the nation’s colleges, but that we also have the safest campus.  The Hill is extremely well lit and always bustling with life, sometimes to quite late hours in the night.  It is this accessibility that I appreciate and cherished during my two years as an on-campus housing resident.

One of my favorite memories of OCHC events was Casino Night, during which I volunteered as a blackjack dealer and had training with someone who worked as a professional dealer in Las Vegas for more than 20 years.  I will really miss these great opportunities and fun activities always available to us on the Hill!  Thankfully, these events are open to students not living on the Hill with an additional entrance fee.  The Hill will definitely see me back again soon next year!

By Eleanor Fang | Posted in Life off campus, Life on campus | Also tagged , , , , , | Comments Off
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