Once each year, possibly each semester if you’re daring, students are forced to decide where they will be residing during the upcoming academic year. This is a tricky decision in many different ways; who do you want to live with? On-campus or off-campus? Near or far? Cheap and economical or expensive and fancy? Do you want to share your bedroom or bathroom?

That’s just the tip of the iceberg. UNC has many different options for housing. As far as on-campus housing goes, there are many different dorms and apartments, each with pros and cons. UNC has also begun to increase the number of “open houses” it holds so that students are able to preview the rooms before making a final choice. The apartments also offer an off-campus style of living, albeit an expensive one.

Hinton James, also known as HoJo, is a dorm on the South Campus of UNC. Photo by Flickr user roy_

Off-campus, the options become more varied; one can rent a house, an apartment, a condo, a finished basement/attic, etc. But since UNC doesn’t help students secure off-campus housing, this option can be a little more stressful and difficult. However, The Daily Tar Heel offers an online website, the HeelsHousing Roommate Board, in which students can connect with other students in order to find someone to live with during an academic year or over the summer.

UNC Housing is also currently holding their annual “CRIBS” photo contest. Two lucky winners will either receive a $150 gift card to Johnny Tshirt or the coveted first pick in the housing selection process. This contest closes Tuesday, January 31st.

Whatever your choice may be for housing, if you want to stay on-campus you only have a short while to plan to do so. Housing applications (for a guaranteed spot) are due on February 20th for apartments and February 27th for dorms.