Rooms in MSU residence halls are mostly taken, university officials say, and prime apartments off campus are few and far in-between as well.
For students who want to return to the dorms for the next year, they are advised to fill out an application in January and February. If they wait until June and July, they will probably be out of luck, associate director of University Housing Fred Kayne said.
Kayne said the 37 residence halls on campus house about 15,200 students, many of whom take a semester off and live in an apartment, and then decide to come back to the dorms.
"We get a fair amount of students who move off campus and come back," Kayne said. "They miss the convenience of the residence halls, so it's fairly typical to see some students move off-campus their sophomore year and then come back for their junior year."
Many students, such as social relations junior Julia Craig, say they have enjoyed living in the dorms for the past two years.
"It's easier for me because I don't have to worry about making food," Craig said. "I also like that it's close to campus."
Kayne agreed and said he thinks the dorms have many benefits to students.
"The benefits basically are the convenience of living on campus, the support you get when living with peers, the security of living in the residences hall and the food services," Kayne said.
Many, however, say they like the privacy of living in an apartment and having their own space.
"I like that it's really quiet and I can cook for myself," chemistry graduate student and Spartan Village resident Ruth Lafuente said.
Lafuente, who came to MSU for graduate school from New York, said she claimed her apartment in June two years ago and likes living there.
"It's fun to have your own place to collect your thoughts and rest," Lafuente said. "I also like that it's so close to campus."
Abbott Pointe leasing agent Miranda Perkins said she believes apartments are good for students because there is a more relaxed atmosphere.
"You don't have mentors or (resident assistants) watching over you," Perkins said.
"You can come and go as you want."
Perkins also said that living in an apartment can make students more responsible.
"It's a transition point of becoming an adult because you're taking care of your own bills and housing," Perkins said.
Students interested in apartments need to apply earlier to get housing located close to campus, complex managers say.
"There are still apartments out there," said Colin Cronin, area director for student properties for the DTN Management Company. "The ones closest to campus, there are not many opportunities left."
DTN owns 55-60 student apartment complexes that house 9,000 Spartans a year.
Cronin said there are several apartments still open at most of their sites. Capitol Villa has three units left, while Dover's Crossing has 10-15 spaces, but people who want the residence of their choice should start looking the year before.
"If it's a really desirable location, walking distance from campus, you should start looking in mid-October," Cronin said. "The more desirable places are full by the end of November."
Others in the apartment business agree: Students should begin their housing search as soon as they can.
"Start early," Woodland Lakes apartments leasing agent Brian Steimer said. They currently have several apartments available. "No matter what the apartment complex is, start no later than spring."
Others say to try to get an apartment contract signed early, but leasing agents can help students out if they're having trouble finding a room.
"If we didn't have something for them, we could find something at another location," Perkins said.
Most leasing agents agreed, however, that this year, like every year for them, by the time summer comes along, their apartments are almost all full.
"We are normally full within the first four months of the fall term," River Park property manager Tina Campbell said, adding River Park is full for the coming fall. "The best apartments are gone by Thanksgiving."
