When looking for a place to live, be sure to check out the neighborhood. It does not matter how nice a development looks or what the resident manager says. You do not want to live in a soggy neighborhood where there are illicit drugs, alcohol use and illegal activities are taking place.

Drugs and/or alcohol can ruin even the best of students. If there is a drug bust, you will be taking a ride downtown to the police station right along with your friends and acquaintances. You can be the cleanest student on the block and still get in big trouble just by the company you keep.

If you want to be successful in college, you need to check out the environment; because where you live is extremely important. If you are looking for housing off campus, don’t fall for those fancy brochures that promise you paradise. Ask around and find out the real story. Visit the neighborhood and talk to some of the senior students who live there.

NOTE: If five or more students recommend the same location, it’s probably a good sign. Or, use the Google search engine and insert the (county name) police department to find your police department’s official website.  Many police departments post crime updates or interactive crime maps, so you can see where crime is occurring. You can also call the local sheriff or police department and ask about high crime areas. Once again, you do not want to spend your semester living in a stale and soggy environment. Home should be a place that you feel safe and secure.  

So think about it carefully. Would you buy the first used car you see on the lot? You would probably want to check out other cars and other dealers. In the same way, where you are going to live is much more important because it can have a profound effect on your daily life.

Even the best student can get stuck in a stale and soggy living environment which can contribute and eventually lead to academic probation or suspension. Many times after this happens, parents call the school administration and wonder, “What went wrong?”   The truth is, if these students had been more careful about making the right choices they would probably be graduating along with the rest of their classmates. So don’t take a chance and be left behind. Get in the right neighborhood and live in a healthy environment from day one!