Campus Housing

[SCNCY]

So Buchanon is not just grad students anymore I assume? Where do the grad students go, or are they all intermingled?

I think with the increase in the student population, there are not enough dorm rooms to follow those kinds of restrictions. My junior year living in freddy, we had a freshmen living next door and she said that the freshmen class was so big that there were not enough dorm rooms for all of them.

I have lived in Freddy, west Ames and a block away from campus. Freddy was good because we did not have to buy furniture. West Ames has some nice apartments, but i thought it sucked scheduling everything around the bus schedule going out there. Also, if you miss the drunk bus you have to walk. Obviously living in campus town or close to campus is the best option. If I had to give someone advice from my experience, I would say find an apartment close to campus as a first option. A close second would be freddy, I say close second depending on how much furniture one might need for an apartment. Then a distant third would be West Ames or other areas in Ames.

[cyclonehokiece]

If cash is an issue, you might want to consider SUV. I know that a lot of international students live up there, but it seems like more American students are moving up there each year. It is located north of Freddy, but only costs $275 a month with roommate plus gas and electric (electric cheap because you buy it from the university). It is unfurnished, but nice and cheap. Lived there three years and never regretted it. Bus runs every 15-20 minutes during peak period (classes) and has one that leaves campus around 1230 am for late night studying plus the drunk bus does run up there.

[JY07]

i am surprised at how many people are recommending freddy... what's wrong with you people

5 years ago the rent for a 4bdrm apartment there was about $2,000 (~400-500 a person) a month; you could get a hell of an apartment in campustown for that amount of money, still be close to campus, AND be within walking distance to the bars/house parties... freddy's on the wrong side of campus

[Cytom5]

If cash is an issue, you might want to consider SUV. I know that a lot of international students live up there, but it seems like more American students are moving up there each year. It is located north of Freddy, but only costs $275 a month with roommate plus gas and electric (electric cheap because you buy it from the university). It is unfurnished, but nice and cheap. Lived there three years and never regretted it. Bus runs every 15-20 minutes during peak period (classes) and has one that leaves campus around 1230 am for late night studying plus the drunk bus does run up there.

gotta love the drunk bus

[ISUAgronomist]

i am surprised at how many people are recommending freddy... what's wrong with you people

5 years ago the rent for a 4bdrm apartment there was about $2,000 (~400-500 a person) a month; you could get a hell of an apartment in campustown for that amount of money, still be close to campus, AND be within walking distance to the bars/house parties... freddy's on the wrong side of campus

This!

[RING4CY]

So Buchanon is not just grad students anymore I assume? Where do the grad students go, or are they all intermingled?

The top two floors (8th and 9th) of Buchanan Hall are still reserved for grad students. Well, grad students and/or students over 21. I'm currently living a grad student (I'm still an undergrad,) but we're not in the top floors.

When I went to go move back into Buchanan Hall last week, the guy at the hall desk said Buchanan is now the most diverse campus housing building of any housing in Iowa State, and that the oldest resident living in the dorm building is 31 years old.

[alarson]

i am surprised at how many people are recommending freddy... what's wrong with you people

5 years ago the rent for a 4bdrm apartment there was about $2,000 (~400-500 a person) a month; you could get a hell of an apartment in campustown for that amount of money, still be close to campus, AND be within walking distance to the bars/house parties... freddy's on the wrong side of campus

Agreed. That price is just way too high.

And if you dont mind being a bit farther from campus, you can get a lot for your money in SE or SW ames. Me and a few other guys got a house on Emerald Drive south of 30, just a couple years old, 4 BR, 2k sq feet and a huge unfinished area. Perfect place for parties with the big living room upstairs, big family room downstairs, and then the unfinished room was perfect for a flip cup table. 300/person for that big place. Sure, it was down on south duff, but if youre driving anyways its not that far to campus (just a quick zip over on 30 and up elwood), and the drunk bus comes out there too so no problems getting to\from bars.

Whatever you do... freddy is not worth it. If you want close, live in a campustown area apartment. If you want a deal, go to SE or SW Ames

[CycloneNorth]

If you want to have fun don't live in Freddy. We had the CA's called on us constantly and once we were just watching Monday Night Football. I say go off campus, I live on Campus Ave. and love it.

[agrabes]

If I had to give someone advice from my experience, I would say find an apartment close to campus as a first option. A close second would be freddy, I say close second depending on how much furniture one might need for an apartment. Then a distant third would be West Ames or other areas in Ames.

Interestingly enough, I would give the exact opposite advice. It all depends on what you value.

If you value being close to campus above all else, pick a campus town apartment or Freddy Court. If you value anything else, pick another area in Ames. You will be surprised at the difference in quality and size of apartments you can get in West Ames vs. Campus Town. When I was looking at apartments back in '07 and '08 you could get an apartment with twice the space and 20 years newer for $100 less per month if you went out to west Ames. If you stay in West Ames there are great bus routes that come every 10 minutes. Stay away from east Ames or north Ames if you want to take the bus because they have poor routes that don't come often. I lived in a 3 bedroom apartment just across from west HyVee and had buses come by every 10 minutes during class time and it was about a 7 minute ride to campus.

As far as dorms, I have a soft spot for BWR. I lived there for my first 2 years and really enjoyed it. It's all guys which is not as bad as you might think and the rooms are quite a bit bigger than MWL because it's an older building.

[SCNCY]

Interestingly enough, I would give the exact opposite advice. It all depends on what you value.

If you value being close to campus above all else, pick a campus town apartment or Freddy Court. If you value anything else, pick another area in Ames. You will be surprised at the difference in quality and size of apartments you can get in West Ames vs. Campus Town. When I was looking at apartments back in '07 and '08 you could get an apartment with twice the space and 20 years newer for $100 less per month if you went out to west Ames. If you stay in West Ames there are great bus routes that come every 10 minutes. Stay away from east Ames or north Ames if you want to take the bus because they have poor routes that don't come often. I lived in a 3 bedroom apartment just across from west HyVee and had buses come by every 10 minutes during class time and it was about a 7 minute ride to campus.

The value in West Ames is great compared to what is available in Campus town. I have just enjoyed living close to campus more than living out there.

[ajk4st8]

Might wanna email Kirk Freerentz about some cheaper options.