You asked:

My fall housing plans just fell through and I need a backup plan, pronto. What are my options this late in the game?

It’s tough when you get blindsided with unexpected hurdles, especially when it comes to housing plans. But before you panic, get proactive about the situation:

• Contact the university housing office to find out if you have other options. Rooms are often set aside for students who missed the application deadline or couldn’t make a deposit in time.

• Look into the off-campus housing office if there is no chance of you living on campus. Most schools in large cities have an off-campus housing office, which maintains good relationships with realtors and brokers in the area.

• Ask around for any leads. Chances are a friend of a friend might be looking for a new roommate. Use resources like Facebook and other social media websites to reach out and find out about different options.

• Check out online classifieds. Nowadays, it is not uncommon for people to find housing via classified ads and websites like Craigslist.com. Not only do people post their own apartments on there, but there are also plenty of realtors and brokers that use the sites.

• Consider studying abroad in the fall! If you really can’t find housing, maybe you should travel. That way, you won’t have to worry about housing, it will give you time to secure something for the spring, and you’ll have fun and be able to live somewhere you’ve never been before!

Name: Jonathan Fieweger
School: New York University
Major: Arts Administration and Cultural Policy
His deal: Jonathan is an R.A. for sophomores at NYU. He is tour guide in the undergraduate admissions office on campus and is also president of a food rescue and sustainability club on campus. Currently, he works at DreamWorks Theatricals as a press and marketing intern.

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