Resources available to graduating seniors looking for housing in new cities

By BETH BAUMGARDNER
Collegian Staff Writer

For those graduates excited to leave Happy Valley this spring, something other than that one last ESACT credit may put a glitch in their plans.

Finding a new apartment or home can be a daunting task for recent graduates, and some students don't even know where to start the search.

Mary Taylor (junior-administration of justice) said she will probably take a job outside of her hometown after graduation next year, but she does not know how to begin searching for a place to live.

"I have no idea," she said. "I'll probably just go to the town and look around. Maybe I'll read the newspapers."

Aside from looking at classified ads, Taylor said she would also network with Penn State graduates.

Jack Rayman, Office of Career Services director, recommends graduates take advantage of Penn State Alumni Association chapters to make relocating easier.

Rayman said while the office is not involved in helping students find specific residences, it can provide general advice to graduates. The office has general directories of the nation's larger metropolitan areas, Rayman said.

Some alumni chapters, such as the Metro Washington Chapter of the Penn State Alumni Association, offer a roommate service. Graduates and alumni can leave their names, numbers and apartment locations on the Washington, D.C. area hotline, and those in need of a new home can contact possible future roommates.

Assistance in finding an apartment, as well as a neighborhood's crime rate, is available online.

Pamela Maulhardt, marketing manager for SpringStreet, said her organization, formally AllApartments, has descriptions of more than 6.5 million apartments nationwide at www.springstreet.com.

"College students are a main consumer group," she said. "We really want to cater to them."

The SpringStreet apartment search allows customers to narrow their preferences and search by zip code, city or street address. Searches also can include rent range, apartment size and desired amenities.

"So opposed to going down the classifieds and weeding out ads that work, we automatically narrow the search down," Maulhardt said.

Graduates also can use the site to get change of address forms, discounts on rental trucks and research potential neighborhoods, Maulhardt said.

"I remember when I was getting out of college and wanting to move to a new city, it was very nerve-wracking," Maulhardt said. "We want to make it easier."

But Lena Ambrosius (junior-secondary education) said she would just look in a newspaper for apartment ads if she finds a job in another city.

"Strange places don't bother me, I guess," she said.