Congratulations on your acceptance to Georgia Tech and your upcoming move to Midtown Atlanta this fall! Now that you’re officially part of the Yellow Jacket community, it’s time to make the important decision of where you’ll reside during your freshman year.
Securing housing at Georgia Tech can be difficult, particularly for first-year students who may not be well-acquainted with the student housing landscape in Midtown.
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At Rambler Atlanta, we have assisted hundreds of students in their housing search for the school year, so we understand how overwhelming finding housing can be. To streamline the process and help you navigate this process, we’ve created this guide on securing housing as a freshman at Georgia Tech.
We will answer our most-asked questions, including:
- What housing options are available to freshmen?
- How much does it cost to live near Georgia Tech?
- When should I start looking for housing?
- How do I find roommates as a freshman at Georgia Tech?
- What are the next steps in the process?
Ultimate Guide for Freshmen: Finding Housing near Georgia Tech
What housing options are available to freshmen?
Given the numerous housing choices available in the Midtown area, one of the initial considerations is determining your housing preference. At Georgia Tech, there’s no requirement for first-year students to live on campus, which means you have an even wider array of housing options at your disposal.
On-Campus Housing v. Off-Campus Housing
The most popular types of housing available for freshmen both on- and off-campus include:
- On-campus residence halls
- Off-campus student apartments
- Off-campus traditional apartments
On-campus housing is limited to residence halls owned and managed by Georgia Tech Housing and Residence Life. Georgia Tech promotes on-campus living for freshmen by offering the First-Year Experience Program. This initiative is crafted to familiarize students to the college lifestyle through traditional means with on-campus dorms, GT dining meal plan, community bathrooms and amenities, and Resident Assistant (RA’s) who assist freshmen transition to the college lifestyle.
On-campus dorms are typically arranged to accommodate you and another individual in a shared room. There are instances where triples and quads are available, where you might share a room with two or three other students. In most cases, you can expect to use a communal bathroom, although certain dorms on west campus feature suit-style bathrooms shared among you and three other roommates.
On-campus housing is located in two main areas: east campus and west campus. The decision of which side of campus to reside on is a significant aspect of the dorm selection process. East campus is in proximity to Greek Life, the football stadium, and Tech Square, while west campus offers a quieter environment and closer to the Campus Recreation Center (CRC) and other west campus buildings.
Off-campus apartments give you more freedom to choose your living arrangements, roommates, lease terms, preferred amenities, and various other preferences. You have the flexibility to decide whether you want to reside in new, luxury student apartments located near campus or in more spacious, conventional apartments within the broader Midtown area. These apartments offer an expanded range of amenities, more personal space, including private bedrooms and bathrooms, and a wider array of location choices.
Read Next: 5 Benefits of Living Off-Campus in Atlanta Midtown as a First Year Student at Georgia Tech
The biggest differences between on- and off-campus housing revolve around lease durations and meal plans.
On-campus housing offers nine-month leases, meaning if you want to stay on-campus over the summer for classes, research, or an internship, you’ll need to secure alternative housing for those months.
In contrast, off-campus housing typically offers year-long leases, giving you more flexibility in your summer arrangements. Should you decide not to stay on campus, you have the option to sublet your apartment during these summer months.
Read Next: 7 Steps to Sublet (or Relet) Your Midtown Apartment
The next major difference is the meal plan. When you choose to participate in the Freshman Experience Program, you must enroll in the GT Dining meal plan. In an off-campus apartment, you’ll have your own kitchen where you can prepare your own meals.
Which is Right For Me?
If you’re eager for the classic freshman experience, on-campus housing and the First-Year Experience Program are tailored precisely for that. This program caters to students who are comfortable with roommates, favor enrollment in the GT dining meal plan, and want to be surrounded by other freshmen in their Residence Halls.
Conversely, if you lean towards residing in a newer building, having a private bedroom and bathroom, having your own kitchen for meal preparation, and wish to enjoy access to luxury amenities, off-campus housing could be the more suitable choice for you.
Read Next: Top 7 Apartment Amenities Near Georgia Tech
How much does it cost to live near Georgia Tech?
At the time of this publication, living on-campus as a part of the First-Year Experience Program costs $7,450 per year for housing, with an additional $5,950 per year for the meal plan, applicable to both in-state and out-of-state students. Given that these contracts span nine months instead of 12, this translates to a monthly rate of around $1,488 per month for both the meal plan and housing.
Opting for off-campus student apartments can range anywhere from $1,200 to $2,500 per person, per month. The actual cost depends on factors such as location, amenities, and the floor plan you choose.
For traditional off-campus apartments, the pricing can span anywhere from $700 to over $3,000 per person, per month. This cost fluctuates based on factors like location, year built, size of apartment, and the specific Midtown area.
Read Next: What’s The Cost of Living Near Georgia Tech in Midtown?
When should I start looking for housing?
If you’ve received your acceptance to Georgia Tech, it’s a wise move to begin your housing search now! Acting early greatly increases your chances of securing your preferred dorm or apartment. Both on-campus and off-campus housing alternatives tend to fill up quickly, so initiating your housing search as soon as possible is your best course of action.
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When it comes to on-campus dorms, your Room Selection order is determined by when you complete the GT Housing Application. This application typically becomes available in January and will require you to pay a housing deposit of $600, as well as sign the Housing Contract and the Meal Plan Contract for completion. Given the limited number of recently renovated on-campus dorms, securing your preferred room can be highly competitive. To maximize your chances, it’s crucial to complete this application soon after its release.
For off-campus housing, you should also make a decision shortly after committing to Georgia Tech. Leasing for off-campus apartments can start as early as the fall of the preceding year for second-years and upperclassmen, meaning spots may be limited at popular apartment complexes. To stay ahead, be proactive and start your research early, allowing you to initiate the leasing process while desirable spots are still available.
How do I find roommates as a freshman at Georgia Tech?
Securing the right roommates as a freshman at Georgia Tech can make a huge impact on your freshman experience, unless you opt for a higher-priced one-bedroom or studio apartment.
The space you share with your roommates is dictated by the type of housing you live in and what floor plan you have.
Most on-campus dorms will be set up as a single room with two beds, so you would have one roommate that you share a room with unless you opt into a quad, triple, or a dorm with suite style connecting bathrooms.
For off-campus housing, you may share an apartment with anywhere from one to five roommates. Typically, each individual will have their own bedroom and bathroom, with a shared kitchen and living space, unless you opt for double occupancy or shared bathrooms. In off-campus apartments, you also have the choice of one-bedroom and studio options if you prefer living without roommates.
Both on- and off-campus housing options give you the autonomy to select your own roommates. However, for first-year students who may not know many people at school yet, finding roommates can be challenging. Fortunately, there are numerous resources available, including Facebook groups, Instagram pages, and other resources designed to assist freshmen in the roommate search.
Alternatively, you can opt for the dorm or apartment management to match you with a random roommate. In the GT My Housing Portal for on-campus dorms, you’ll complete a roommate questionnaire that will pair you with a roommate based on your preferences. This process is similar for off-campus apartments, with many apartment complexes offering roommates surveys and their own matching processes to ensure you are paired with compatible roommates.
What are the next steps?
After determining what type of housing you are interested in, it’s time to start your leasing process!
On-campus
As mentioned earlier, for on-campus housing, you should complete the Georgia Tech Housing Application via the My Housing Portal to secure your place in line for room selection. The sooner you finish this application, the higher you’ll rank on the waitlist, increasing your chances of getting your preferred dorm. To expedite this process, you can prepare by familiarizing yourself with the application process using this step-by-step guide provided by Georgia Tech Housing and Residence Life.
Off-campus
For off-campus housing, start by compiling a list of apartments you’re interested in and schedule tours at these locations. The leasing staff will provide you with more details about rates, amenities, and availability. If you’re located out of state or unable to visit in person, many leasing teams are accommodating and can arrange a virtual tour or phone call to address any questions you may have about the property. Following this, you’ll complete an application, and once approved, you can proceed to sign a lease for your apartment!
We hope this guide has provided you with a good understanding of your housing choices as a first-year student at Georgia Tech. If you have additional questions about student housing in Atlanta or seek further information regarding leasing at Rambler, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our leasing team. We are more than happy to assist you in your housing search.
