It’s hard enough to plan the living arrangements for one child going to college, but Student Housing at UC Davis plans for more than 4,000. What happens, then, when the staff learns that 10 percent of their anticipated residents might not come?

This was the case last spring when shortfalls in state funding led UC Davis to admit fewer freshmen. Since empty dorm rooms translate into higher room rates for everyone, Student Housing made an unusual offer to its current residents. Last February they e-mailed every one of them—4,300 freshmen—offering them the opportunity to remain a second year in campus housing.

Many parents would regard this as a dream come true.

In a recent survey of parents of UC Davis students, for example, many wrote comments such as “Please provide more housing” and “I would like to see more opportunity for sophomores to stay in the dorms.” It seemed there was an unquenched hunger for rooms provided by Student Housing.

If so, it’s the parents who are hungry, not the students.

To the 4,300 invitations to remain in the residence halls, Student Housing received only 150 affirmative responses by the deadline of April 30. After the deadline, half of those students changed their mind, even though it meant forfeiting a $450 deposit. In the end, only 77 sophomores returned to the halls.

Is there something wrong with living on campus?

No. Most UC Davis students agree that residence hall living is the “good life” for freshmen. Although some gripe about the food, they never have to worry about cooking the next meal. Internet connectivity and cable TV access are excellent. Live programs abound, in the form of lectures, workshops and social events, and academic advising is available on site. Perhaps most important, residence halls (not classes) are generally the place where freshmen meet their future friends.

However, by the time freshman year is ending, UC Davis students feel a call to move out.

This is not the case on other campuses around the country. Many colleges, especially private ones, require or invite their students to live in the residence halls for more than one year. Among the UC campuses, several accommodate part of the sophomore class, and UC Santa Cruz and UC San Diego guarantee space for all sophomores who apply by the deadline.

At UC Davis, a different culture prevails.

The 18-year-old freshman who comes to campus hungering for connection and security in the residence halls soon learns that everybody older lives out on their own. Apartment-living becomes something to aspire to, a rite of passage, part of growing up. Your friends are doing it. You want to do it, too.

Not only that, but it’s cheaper. Even staff at Student Housing, who feel that $9,000 a year for room, board and extensive programming is a great bargain, recognize that once the student has made friends and participated in programs, he or she may no longer want to pay a little extra to live in the dorms.

In fact, one recent trend is for students to live not only outside the dorms but also outside of Davis. Places like West Sacramento, Natomas and Woodland may be cheaper, even after students factor in the cost of driving and parking.

So, let’s say that you, the parent, have accepted the fact that your student wants to move out of the residence halls. How can you be helpful in this situation?

• Encourage your student to look early. Although it can be difficult to choose next year’s roommate in February, housing is easier to find during the winter months. There are more options in Davis now than in previous years, but the market is still tight, with a 1.7 percent apartment vacancy rate recorded in fall 2003.

• If you’re paying for housing, tell your student what you’re willing to spend. An unfurnished two-bedroom apartment in Davis averages about $1,000 a month; rent for a room in a house ranges from $350 to $500.

In general, the further the student lives from campus, the cheaper the rent, but the more time spent commuting by bike, bus or car. The latter involves parking, an important concern because a permit costs $70 (remote lot) or $121 per quarter. And even with a permit, students say it can be challenging to find parking on campus after 9 a.m.

• Tell your student if you’ll be passing down bedroom furniture or living room items. This will help your student decide whether or not to get a furnished place.

• Encourage your student to take advantage of housing information on campus. Residence Hall staff conduct workshops during winter quarter. These well-attended sessions offer information on the local rental scene, provide search tips and address topics such as roommates, leases, food shopping and budget.

The Associated Students of UC Davis (ASUCD) sponsors “Housing Day,” usually in February. Students meet with representatives from local apartment complexes to learn about cost, availability and location.

• Anticipate the roommate factor. Students have different criteria for selecting accommodations—one person wants a pool, another a bus line, a third a supermarket. Even if your student agrees with you on what to look for, he or she may have to compromise.

• An apartment rather than a house may be the best choice for sophomore year. This advice comes from upperclassmen, who say that houses in Davis can be old and in need of repair. You need good communication skills to handle house-living because no two situations are alike.

With so many factors to consider, freshmen frequently become tense about housing. They want to move out, but the decisions come too fast, after they’ve barely adjusted to college. A parent can be a steadying influence, answering questions, anticipating difficulties, offering financial support and, if invited, even helping with the search.

Please share with your student the wisdom of a recent graduate, Mike Lee, who says, “Not to panic. Everyone gets an apartment somewhere. You will have a roof over your head in Davis.”

HINTS FROM THE EXPERTS

Many Davis students move every year, and they learn to look for things that new renters might not think about. Here are a few examples:

1. Water pressure. One young woman declares that she’s going to walk into every bathroom and turn on the shower. “It will be a little embarrassing, but I’m totally going to do it,” she says. “A weak shower is bad.”

2. Garbage disposal. If you’re used to having one at home, you’ll miss it in an apartment. Make sure the other appliances work, too.

3. Counter space. Apartment designers cut corners here, but when several people prepare meals at once, they need room.

4. Noise. Who lives next door?

5. Connectivity. How easy will it be to connect your computer to the Internet?

6. Landlord. “You don’t want one who shows up often and complains about minor noise at 10 p.m.,” says one student. The perfect landlord is “someone who is not involved, except when it comes to repairing things quickly.”

7. Safety. Are hallways and the parking area well lit? Do you see smoke detectors? Do sliding doors lock?

Marion Franck is a Davis writer and regular contributor to campus publications for parents.