HaveUHeard that when a student moves into an off-campus apartment they generally sign a lease for twelve months? (it is actually a 10-month lease that apartments prorated so it gets paid over 12 months).  So how to sublease? A sublet is a legally binding contract between you and the subtenant which allows them to live in your apartment for a specific period of time. Of course, they are responsible for paying rent for that period of time.

In order to sublet you must first check local laws. The right to sublet could be written in the lease or perhaps in the state law depending on where you are located. So, for Florida, the lease must say somewhere that you are prohibited to sublease. If there is nothing that states that, you are able to sublet your apartment according to Florida state law.

Before doing a sublease, you should request landlord approval. Provide as much detail as possible.  You obviously want to make sure the subtenant is reliable. You remain liable for payments so you want to make sure this person will be able to pay the rent. You must have a legal agreement with your subtenant in order to make the sublet final. This way you are able to protect yourself in case of any future disagreements. Obtain and hold a security deposit just in case there are any damages made to the apartment. Lastly, you want to set up rent payments with your subtenant. Don’t forget to take photos beforehand in case any damage is done from the subtenant!

Now, how to find someone to sublet. There are some Facebook pages that FAU students can use to find potential sublessors:

FAU Class of 20XX (insert years) – official group

Florida Atlantic University (FAU) Housing, Sublets & Roommates

FAU Off-Campus Housing

If your student is a member of a sorority or fraternity or involved in a club, getting the word out early, as well as potentially subletting to someone they know, is generally better. The truth is, there are far more apartments available to sublet every summer than there are students looking to sublet, so if you can make an arrangement with someone you trust early; take it. If you are looking for someone to take over for the fall semester, try looking at the summer before. Many people sign a lease and find options that better suit them last minute.

Looking for a spring sublease may be a bit tough since most people have already signed year leases. Definitely start posting in the fall semester (around October/November). There are students who are tied to a year’s lease that may have decided to do a semester abroad or take a semester off; so, sublets are out there. As opposed to summer; it is more difficult to find a desirable apartment with roommates that you will be happy to live with than it is to find someone to rent your place. Most people tend to give up their summer leases, so finding someone to take over your lease in the summer can be tricky. However, it is possible. Chances are you will not get your full rent covered. Something is better than nothing though.

Some apartment complexes charge a sublet fee. Most all require signed forms with complete information on your sublessor. It is to your advantage to play by the rules and be sure all forms and fees are taken care of because, without them, you (the original renter) are responsible for any damage that may occur in your absence…and it happens. As a matter of fact, all the renters/roommates may be responsible, if they cannot be sure who caused the damage. My daughter was recently charged for a broken washing machine when she wasn’t even in the country. There was no way to identify who caused the damage and since her name is still on the lease.

It seems like a lot to sublet, however, it might be worth the trouble! I am usually away during the summers. If I had known more about this, it might have been a good option so I wasn’t wasting money. I definitely think it is a good option for students and parents to look into if they will be renting an apartment while attending college. I even found websites such as ULoop that had listings for bedrooms and apartments near FAU that were subletting. Each had a description where some listed the application fee, security deposit, first-month rent or prorated rent, and extra things such as pet fees.

Madeline Gilligan, FAU Intern

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Just a few months after getting your students settled into their dorm, they will start to bring up where they want to live next year. By December, they are ready to sign a lease. It is hard to imagine making a decision so early, however; the demand for living in certain areas is driving the need to sign early. You will hear them mention specific apartments yet all you want to know is the rent amount, is the area safe, how much it costs to rent an apartment. There will be questions you may not have thought to ask and how to keep it economical.

By far, the most popular and luxurious group of student apartments are found about a mile away from campus. If you or your student needs some help getting started, FAU does provide some assistance. Your student can log in and find information about complexes around campus and even start a roommate search.

Of course, as much as we may not want to deprive our students of luxury living (excuse my sarcasm), there are far more affordable and economical apartment rentals in Boca Raton. Another popular area for students in the apartment search is around Mizner Park. These are close to many of the bars and restaurants as well as the campus.  While you may think affordable living and Boca Raton don’t typically go hand in hand, there are some areas with great options. While it is about a 15-20 minute ride from campus, many of my daughter’s friends have found nice apartments for economical prices in Deerfield Beach. There are also several areas in West Boca and complexes off of Palmetto Park Road and Military Trail where your student can find some more options. The further you are from campus, the less expensive the rental.

Below we break down what questions your student should be asking:

Reserved Parking

Most apartments and houses near campus require you to work with property management companies. Unfortunately, many of the multiple room apartment rentals will only include one or two parking spaces, if any at all. Often, many of these apartments offer the option to purchase more reserved spaces; however, paying for these reserved spaces can be pricey, and sometimes they are not in close proximity to your student’s unit. You’ll want to ask this question when you begin searching for apartments. Some apartment complexes, such as Upark, USquare or UView, give you a special decal that allows you to park in the apartment complex parking lot. You receive a sticker that says UliveBoca and the year. Once you register your car with the office, you can park anywhere in the lot. The lots are right below your building and are well-lit at night.

Utilities

Make sure you find out the overage for utilities for the apartment. We quickly learned that after getting a bill for her first month stating they went over the allotted amount of $120.00 per month. The management company will split the overage between the numbers of tenants. You’ll also want to confirm that utilities are included in the monthly rent. If utilities are not included in the rent, you’ll want to find out what company provides service. Typically, the utility companies will not split the bill among roommates, so the best option is to have the account in one name and have your student split the bill with their roommates themselves.

The Lease

Most apartment leases start after August 1st and go through July 31st of the following year. The leases are based on 12 months but many students are only in Boca Raton for two semesters. This means your student will either have to pay for the summer months or they can sublet. Some students charge for others to use their specific room to store. We recommend limiting that to those they know as you do not want to put yourself in a position of being responsible should something happen to another person’s belongings.

Inspecting the Apartment

Make certain your student (and yourself if you are there) inspect the premises thoroughly. Remember, for many of our kids, this is their first experience with renting an apartment. Take pictures of any damage, no matter how small, as they will be charged if they did not fill out the damage report when they first moved into their apartment. If they hang up pictures or use any nails on the walls, make certain they spackle and repaint. The charges add up fairly quickly. Worth repeating- Take 100 pictures, then take 20 more time-stamped. You could be charged for damages to the apartment. If you have not documented everything, prepare for those charges.

Responsible Party for Payment

When reading through the lease, make certain that your student is only responsible for their individual room and not the entire apartment. While you may believe your student is moving in with their BFFs, if one decides to vacate for any reason, whether to withdraw, study abroad, or the living arrangement did not work out, you do not want to be responsible for that person’s portion of the lease.

Subletting

Make sure you are familiar with the terms of subletting as many students leave for Summer A and B or a combination thereof and may want to sublet their room to a third party.

Room locks

Along those lines, each bedroom should have its own key different than the other bedrooms. This gives your students the ability to lock their bedroom should they decide they do not want anyone having access to their personal belongings.

Insurance

Your homeowner’s insurance policy may not cover them while they are living off-campus (many will cover if they are living in an on-campus residence at no extra cost). Check the terms of your home insurance policy. Most of the large insurance companies offer separate renters policies at a reasonable rate. You may also want to look at two of the more reputable college student insurance companies, College Student Insurance, and NSSI.

Information about students’ favorite apartments.

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For students heading to Grad School, finding an apartment if they are going to a different university entails completely different criteria. My niece and our interns all recently switched universities from where they went for undergrad. Grad School housing comes with its own unique challenges. With expensive tuition and long study sessions, the last thing they need to worry about is finding an apartment near FAU.

If you will be attending FAU for graduate school, you probably want to know your options as far as living arrangements go. Graduate school consumes a lot of time and money, so you want to make sure you’re living in the right place.FAU does offer Innovation Village Apartments as well as University Village for graduate students, both of which are on-campus housing. If you’re looking for a place that’s right on campus, one of these would be a great option. The one thing to consider is that many undergraduate students live in these housing options as well, so you might want to find a place that’s still close to FAU, but provides a little more of a quiet, apartment feel.

Another option for graduate students that are off-campus is University Park. This is more of an apartment feel, but still has the close proximity to FAU. There are application fee discounts, and the rent is not too bad ranging from around $1,010 – $1,145 a month. It even offers amenities such as a study room with Wi-Fi, computers, a printer, and six individual lab rooms.  This apartment complex was designed specifically with college students in mind. Many undergraduate students do tend to live here as well, however, and the pool can become a bit of a party scene. So if you’re still looking for something a little more subdued, you might want to keep searching.

Another great place for graduate students to live is Vie Villas at Boca Raton. This apartment complex is within walking distance to FAU and provides a shuttle to FAU. The monthly rent for this complex ranges from $1,010 – $1,250 per month. The buildings are townhouses that give it more of a luxury feel and each unit has a two-car garage as well. If you’re looking for a place that is close to FAU but gives off more of an adult feel, this could be the place for you. We would recommend this place the most out of all of the options when it comes to graduate students.

No matter where you choose, Boca is a beautiful place to live. There are many apartments to choose from and price ranges that can fit any budget. Whether you’re looking for a place that’s close to school, a place that’s quiet, a place that has a single room, or a place that has all four, there are many options for graduate students.

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Here are some great tips about our favorite apartment rentals. With my daughters, I have three, not one stayed in the dorms beyond their freshman year. My youngest daughter lived in Delray Beach for her last two years at FAU. She lived at Delray Verana and found the rent was reasonable, the rooms were nice sized with each having their own bathroom and she hated moving, which made it her favorite. The commute to campus was only about 10-15 minutes; however, there are several great options closer to campus that can suit every student’s needs.

In Boca Raton, the choices are plentiful. Below are some of the more popular apartment complexes students live in near FAU. Some provide buses to campus (which can be important since parking on campus can be a nightmare), some have facilities that rival a fancy hotel (pools, hot tubs, volleyball courts, lounges), some provide reserved parking spots for a fee, some are gated and provide constant security and all have various options from studios to 4 bedrooms. Prices vary and generally go up slightly each year. The rent for many complexes depends on how early in the year you sign a lease. Many will also help find a student to fill a vacant room if need be. Wi-Fi is generally included in rent, but utilities are not always included or are included up to a specific dollar amount with the overage split between the occupants. Be sure to check all these things before making a decision.  We tried to stick with the important things like security and furniture, rather than tanning beds and lit volleyball courts if you know what we mean, but some of the amenities are pretty impressive.

Boca Bell Town Center – Located conveniently near the Town Center Mall. Currently running $1720/month for a 2/2 apartment. Rent includes Pest Control. Features a resort-style swimming pool, fitness center, and tennis courts.

Boca Winds – Currently running $1575/month for a 2/1 and includes Pest Control and Trash Service. Features a resort-style swimming pool and tennis courts.

Cynthia Gardens – Close proximity to FAU. They offer 2-floor plans in six finished. These apartments range anywhere from $1,290 – $1,420. General maintenance, sewage, trash, water, and pest control is always included.

Delray Verana – Currently running $1580/ month for 2/2 and includes alarm service and trash removal. Features a resort-style swimming pool, 24-hour fitness center, and tennis courts.

Gables Town Colony – Currently running $1875/month for a 2/2 and includes trash removal, water, and sewer. It features a business center, resort-style swimming pool, and car care center.

Mizner Court: 1/1 for $1,450 – 1,963. Has the potential to be a little more expensive, It is very close to FAU (only about a 12-minute drive) and has amenities such as 2 swimming pools, a tennis court, a fitness center, and a coffee bar.

Somerset Place – Currently running 1,585/month for a 2/2. Features a resort-style swimming pool and tennis courts.

The Bicycle Club – Within walking distance from FAU. I have known people who have rented here from FAU and they seemed to like it because of the closeness to FAU, Mizner Park, and the Town Center Mall. For a 2 bed 1 bath, this apartment is around $1,400. It also has amenities including some paid utilities, a washer and dryer, a microwave, and a refrigerator. It also has a swimming pool.

Tuscany Pointe – Currently running 1,220/month for a 1/1. Features a resort-style swimming pool and tennis courts.

University Park  – By far, the most popular and luxurious student apartment about a mile away from campus. This was sold along with University View and Square.  This apartment is tailored specifically to students. Amenities include fully furnished apartments, private bathrooms, granite countertops, a two-story fitness center, resort-style pool, and a 24/7 market to name a few. They also have a shuttle that will take students to and from campus.  University Park, students pay per room.  University Park lists their rent from $970/month per room (based on a 4 x 4) but it is actually based on supply and demand. All are fully furnished and rates include water, cable, and the Internet.

Vie Villas – Formerly UView apartments, this was purchased and now managed by Vie Management, who specializes in managing college apartments. These are 3 bedrooms, 3 bath apartments and amenities include washer/dryer, electronic front door locks, a 24 Hour State-of-the-art Fitness Center, Resort Style Swimming Pool, Social Courtyard with Bocce, Walking Distance to FAU, Exclusive Shuttle to FAU and Lynn University, Pet-Friendly, 24 Hour Emergency Maintenance.

Villas at Boca Raton –  These are apartments catered towards FAU college students. Florida Atlantic University is within walking distance of this apartment complex. They also have an exclusive shuttle that goes to and from FAU. They offer many amenities such as a Sand volleyball court and a swimming pool. They provide two unique styles of apartments. Both are three bedrooms and three bathrooms, however, one is considered to be premium because the layout and furniture are a little nicer. The 3×3 runs from $1,189 – $1,239 a month depending on room type. The 3×3 premium runs from $1,369 – $1,419 a month. One of my close friends lived here this past year, and she loved it. It was very convenient for her and many other FAU students live there as well. She was able to find two roommates from FAU to live with her and they all became close. I think this is a very good option for students going to FAU.

Windwood Apartments in Boca Raton is a popular living area near campus. It has many different buildings and is in a gated community. Prices vary based on those who are selling but a three-bedroom is typically about $2000 a month with varying utilities.

These are, however, just some of the more popular off-campus complexes FAU students seem to flock to. There are many more. Check out FAU’s Off-Campus Housing website for more assistance.

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Much like the national campaign No Kid Hungry®, there are many students at colleges throughout the United States that are barely getting by, some putting their nourishment behind paying for college and all of the expenses that go along with college; tuition, books, rent, utilities, to name a few. The USDA average monthly cost of food for a college-age student for a moderate-cost food plan, following the recommended Food plans, is $223.55.

According to Education Data, in 2018:

• Nearly 25% of high school students considered middle class indicated they were not planning to attend college because of the expense
• In 2018, an average of 45% of students experienced frequent food insecurity
• Over 50% of students from 2-year institutions and 44% of 4-year students worried about running out of food
• Nearly 50% of students could not afford balanced meals

Many students who are struggling just to keep up with the cost of college even while working and getting loans, often feel uncomfortable saying anything about struggling to maintain a balanced diet. As a college student who relied on school loans, I would often make light of this, kidding around and saying my meals consisted of ramen noodles. But knowing the importance a healthy diet plays on one’s health, sleep patterns, stress, capacity to think and be strong mentally and physically, it is not a joking manner. And students should not have to make a choice between buying textbooks and buying groceries. Fortunately, many campuses today recognize this problem and have addressed it by having Food Pantries. At most universities, it is referred to as food insecurity; basically, referring to students not having access to nutritious groceries on a regular basis.

At FAU, they have the Beyond Food Program. The Program offers non-perishable food. Students(and faculty and staff) may refer another student by using their FAU Net ID and password to log in to the Owl Central website and then they may complete the referral form. That student will be contacted within 2 business days to schedule a time to meet with a team member from Beyond Food. Students in need of emergency food assistance may visit University Village Apartments (UVA) and speak with a front desk staff member. A single one-day emergency supply will be available with information on nearby Boca Helping Hands.

If you know of a student that needs this resource, you should absolutely share this information. They are very discreet about respecting the privacy of those that are in need, whether temporarily or long-term. They will typically receive a three-day food assistance pack which they can get one time per month. Students also have the option to go to Boca Helping Hands, located two miles from FAU’s Boca Raton Campus. The Boca Helping Hands (BHH) hot lunch program is offered Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. and family dinner on Thursdays, 4:30 – 6 p.m. They do need to register and it is closed all Sundays, New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Day after Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day.

And, if you are more fortunate than others, the Beyond Food Program accepts donations, both monetary and food.

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Unprecedented doesn’t even begin to describe what the past few months have been like during this COVID pandemic. We may have had to change our daily way of life these past few months, but one thing we know for certain, classes are in session! Classes may look a little different this year however the fall semester will begin before we know it and it is important that we stay up to date on the latest plans and procedures at FAU.

At present, FAU will remain online throughout the rest of the summer while administrators are communicating with government officials about necessary safety measures and health protocols for the return to campus. Updates change, well, frankly, like the wind, but here are some important parts. On-campus COVID-19 testing is available and encouraged. Students can sign up for COVID testing and their results online. For those students that test positive or have been in contact with an individual who tests positive, students will be provided housing for a 14-day quarantine. Off-campus students will isolate themselves in their apartments/houses. The following numbers may be useful:

• General COVID questions can be sent to FAUCOVID19@fau.edu.
• Department of Health COVID Call Center: 866-404-6300, available 8 am to 5 pm
• Florida Department of Health COVID-19 Call Center: 866-779-6121
• Additional community resources.

Let’s talk facemasks…. just wear it. FAU is requiring all students, faculty, staff, and visitors to wear face masks while on campus. This is required at all FAU campus locations. You can find more information on facemask requirements and proper sanitation on Page 10 of the COVID-19 Reopening plan. Some have even turned their facemasks into a fashion statement. It might feel more comfortable to wear something fashionable, so get something fun and machine washable.

There is no doubt that the fall semester will look different starting with the new safety measures FAU has put in place. Students will still be able to participate in organizations, clubs, events, and activities –most virtually and others in-person, and probably outdoors, using proper social distancing. Indoor fitness will be limited in capacity, but there will be virtual fitness options offered as well. As for football and tailgating…. well, it isn’t looking very good, but no decisions have been made yet.

Housing has reduced occupancy at 96%, implemented space and amenity restrictions, and increased cleaning and disinfecting. At the Boca Raton Campus, there will be 112 beds reserved for self- isolation, if needed. Fall courses are a mix of in-classroom, hybrid and online; select courses and labs, and experiential courses will be face-to-face; however, no face-to-face classes will take place after Thanksgiving. Any classes that do take place in classrooms will only have 25% capacity to limit the number of students, faculty, and assistants at any given time. Entry to buildings will be regulated and monitored. Academic advising and support services for students will be available both face-to-face and remotely; intercollegiate athletics, including practices and competitions, will continue and follow NCAA and ACC requirements; and services such as parking, student recreation, student health, and student activities will be available.

Fraternity and sorority life will be quite different, but it will still exist. Recruitment will still happen, with some parts done virtually and others with the option to be in person.

You may want to check out some of our other blogs to help get you through these unprecedented times.

• How to Succeed in Online and Virtual Classes
• Online Test Taking
• Should my Student Go Back to School This Fall?
• Want to Get Back the Security Deposit
• Dealing With Uncertainty
• Creating Work and Study Home Space

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Easier Than ToGo, It Comes To the Door!

Taking time away from studying can be the difference between dinner or a bag of chips and a soda.  Sometimes it pays to turn to delivery services. Here are some of the ones we found and what they deliver and/or how they work. Delivery equals easy!

Delivery:

• Amazon – Seriously, what can’t you get from Amazon. By signing up for Amazon Prime as a student, the first 6 months are free and then there is a discounted membership fee for the next 4 years until graduation. Prime membership includes free 2-day delivery, among many other perks.
• DoorDash – More food delivery at your fingertips. Some say it is more efficient than UberEats too. Use the app or the website.
• Eat Street – Delivery and takeout options available. There are delivery fees and a minimum amount that has to be purchased for certain restaurants. They offer features to filter your restaurant results such as order ahead, restaurant-rewards, specials, fast delivery, or try something new – all on the website.
• Eat24– is actually powered by GrubHub. It is super easy to navigate, you type your address in the search they will show you restaurants currently delivering to your area, as well as places that offer pick up. There can be a minimum amount spent, depending on the restaurant. Just enter your address into the website or app and before you know it you’ll have dinner.
• GrubHub – Sign up for their emails and get $7 off your first order of $15+. As well, for each friend you get to sign up you get $7.
• Instacart – For faster shopping and easier checkout, get the app and have groceries, etc. delivered from most of the same places as Shipt, but also includes CVS and Whole Foods.
• Just Baked -This Cookie and Candy shop lets you create the cookie of your dreams. With several options on the menu and additions that can make it your own. The best part is that they deliver to FAU.
• Krave Kitchen– Specific to Boca Raton, Krave Kitchen delivers vegan meals ready to go. All your student has to do is heat it up.
• Postmates – Another app that delivers food, drinks, and groceries. You can choose delivery or pickup. Check their daily deals from your favorite restaurants.
• Seamless – Online ordering and Delivery from your favorite local eateries and chains, powered by GrubHub. Users can earn rewards and coupons for their favorite restaurants.
• Shipt – Get 2 weeks free and $15 off your first order on deliveries from stores like Publix, Costco, Target, and ABC Fine Wines & Spirits. Let their shoppers do what your student doesn’t have time to.
• Uber Eats – The same concept as Uber, but they deliver food. You can track, via the app, when the restaurant is preparing food; your driver is picking up and when they are in route to you. The fee may be a little pricier than most delivery places.

Particularly when they have been studying for hours on end or they aren’t feeling well; it’s good to know that food can be delivered right to their dorm or apartment. My favorite delivery option is probably chicken soup from the Hillel. Just call and give them the name of your sick student and a quart will be delivered, usually within a few hours.

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I never thought I would be saying this, but sometimes it is a good idea to hire a cleaning service for your students’ apartment or dorm. Hear me out…I think most kids are perfectly capable of keeping a clean room but get a maid. Growing up, my daughters knew I was not their maid and they certainly learned how to clean their rooms. But, recently I had a friend whose daughter was extremely sick with the flu. The mom began a search to have the entire apartment disinfected. With flu season and virus’ going around; wouldn’t it give you peace of mind to know those nasty germs have been eradicated and may lessen the chances of your child catching what their roommate has or the roommates catching what your child has? Of course, this is my strongest point, but having seen my daughter’s apartment after a few months of living, I have others. Some students simply don’t have the time and are often searching for affordable maid cleaning help. Here are few cleaning services some of our Owls have tried.

FAU Cleaning Services

• Dorm Mom- Dorm Mom Cleaning services start at $69 per visit. They send out 1 cleaner who will clean for up to 3 hours the common areas, kitchen, and bathrooms. Dorm Mom also has laundry options; prices vary based on load size and frequency.
• Boca Cleaning Service- Boca Cleaning service was used by several of my daughter’s friends. They provide both regular house cleaning and move in/out house cleaning. 561- 305-3083
• Campus Suds- Pick up and delivery laundry service for students. Campus Suds offers plans for the entire semester or one time washes. They also offer storage facilities for students over the summer. Click here for more information or call 561-716-4026
• Classmaids – Also popular with many students, you can book everything through their website. They also offer laundry services. Most of their employees are students who are background and reference checked. They offer a move in/out cleaning service as well.
• One might also check out Thumbtack’s website or app for reviews. Locals post about their business, expertise, and services offered. There is a page specifically for house cleaning in the Boca Raton area. You will need to know the zip code of the area you are searching for.
• Finally, there are some students that like to clean (not my daughter) and will do so to make some money. Some will do laundry for a fee too. Students can look at social media for posts or post what they are looking for. It can be a time-saver, moneymaker, maid services are a good idea.

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If you’re wondering what to bring and haven’t started shopping for your incoming freshman yet, whether for things for their dorm or clothes; well, then, we are here to tell you that you probably shouldn’t bother. You see, my daughters have cleaned out just about every store and depleted us of our savored stack of Bed, Bath and Beyond coupons only to find out that many of the things we purchased were just a waste of money. I have had three daughters go off to college over the past few years, what I want to share is that there are a few things you really do not need to purchase for freshman move-in.

Don’t Bring…

Do not buy a printer. There are quite a few places across campus to print wirelessly and it’s by far cheaper to load money on their Owl Card than purchasing ink refills.

Curtains. I know it says that students can bring curtains to cover up their closets because they have no doors but trust us; the curtains will spend more time on the floor or pushed to the side. And when they crash to the floor in the middle of the night, no one is happy.

All of FAU’s Dorms are equipped with high-speed Internet; however, they recommend bringing along an Ethernet Cable. Buy the cable, but save the receipt, you may not even need to open the package. Leave Alexa and/or Echo home. While FAU does allow these devices on their network, not sure their roommate would appreciate your student’s commands.
Of course, if they are living in an apartment-style or a single dorm room, perhaps their roommates would not mind having these devices.

It is tempting to want to simply pack by taking everything out of the drawers and closet, but truth be told, if your student’s wardrobe is as ridiculously large as my daughters are, it just won’t fit. In sunny Boca Raton, the temperature is pretty consistent year-round. The typical outfit consists of tank tops and flip-flops.  A jacket or two is more than enough to get your student through the “winter” months.

There simply isn’t room no matter how many under-bed boxes you buy. The same holds true for shoes. My daughter brought every shoe she owned with her. Even with a shoe rack, there just was not enough space and I had to take a box home with me.

One of my daughter’s roommates showed up with a 24-piece pot and pan set. While it was lovely, we assure you most of it was rarely used. As a matter of fact, when we packed up at the end of the semester, there was an array of kitchen items strewn all over the counter and the girls weren’t even sure which belonged to whom.

As for their pets, there are not too many allowed into dorms. For off-campus living, there are some apartments that allow pets.

Finally, we encourage you to have your students speak with their roommates before arriving at school. My daughter lived in one of the Apartment Style Dorms with a full kitchen. She talked, texted, snap chatted and so on with her new roommates but still, we ended up with two coffee makers and about three toasters. Google Drive is a great tool for creating a spreadsheet of who is bringing what.

With so many great deals out there on  Overstock, Wayfair, Dormify, and Amazon in addition to the traditional big box stores like Bed Bath & Beyond, Kohl’s,  Walmart and Target, if you plan in advance, you may be able to save some money too and not end up running around trying to find items that could possibly be sold out.

As for what to bring, we’ve got our Shopping Guide for New Students that breaks it down and has some great places to find what your student will need. Happy Shopping!

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Although it feels like you just moved your students into their dorms, you now have to move them out. The worst part, aside from the grueling heat, is that some may be returning in just a few weeks to move back in somewhere. And, if they have to be back early in August, whether it be another dorm, house, or an apartment, having to schlep their stuff back home to return in just a few weeks seems a little silly. I know how many carloads it took to get our daughter moved in and, frankly, I am not prepared to rent a U-Haul to get her home and back again. So, my first piece of advice is to recommend that they start bringing things home if they are making any trips home between now and the end of the semester or if you are visiting them, bring some of their belongings home. Here is how we managed that weird time between semesters, the gap!

FAU has partnered with Smart Box, which schedules pick up, and storage for students and return of the belongings. There are also several other storage options within the vicinity of campus. There are other companies that service FAU including DormRoommovers. They too will drop off boxes, pick them up and store them and then redeliver in the fall.

Another inexplicable frustration for students who live off-campus in apartments over the summer but are not planning on renewing their lease. Most leases end on July 30th but classes do not end until August 10th. That leaves those students in a bind as to where they should live for that 10-day period and store their stuff all while heading into finals. Check with the apartment rental to see if they will extend the lease; the issue here is that those apartments that are in high demand have no incentive to do this and many will not. If they are moving into another apartment or house, most new leases start after August 1st to allow the management company to clean the premise). It’s not ideal to have to move while studying. If they are graduating, perhaps find a good friend to put you up or look at an inexpensive hotel or Airbnb. As for their belongings, there is no easy solution. It is one of the many reasons I am not a big fan of students changing living arrangements every year.

For my daughter, we had no other option but to put her stuff put in storage by a company that FAU works with. Her items were in storage for a total of 7 days but we still had to pay for the full month. It is a pet peeve of mine that takes place not just at FAU but many of the Florida universities where students have to pay for sometimes only a few days of storage; you actually cannot rent a storage facility for less than a month so the price is still the same.

Hope these ideas help you manage the gap with your college student!

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