Summer Living

At this time of the year, students are doing more than finding a place to live for next fall semester. Many students will choose to take summer classes, and that means finding a place in Norman to live during the break.

This is often a complicated and frustrating process, but knowing how it works and some of the options can make it easier.

Apartment complexes offer students several options. You can take someone else’s lease for the summer or start a 12-month lease at the beginning of the break.

A 12-month lease offers some advantages, as your monthly payment will be cheaper for the rest of the year. If you are planning on living at that apartment complex for the summer and the next school year, then this is the option for you.

Last summer John Pinkley, microbiology junior, lived in the Cottages for the summer. He took up someone’s lease over the break.

“Living at the cottages over the break worked really well for me,” Pinkley says. “It was close to campus and I could use the pool and hot tub.”

If you are only planning on living at this place for the summer, then on campus living is an option you should consider. The residence halls will be available over the break for students enrolled in summer classes.

Living in the residence halls during the summer will be similar to the school year. Couch restaurants will be open and there will be programs available for entertainment. Students will be housed in Adams Center.

“Many people choose to live on campus during the summer because of the convenience factor,” saysLauren Royston, marketing and public relations specialist for Housing and Food Services. “They are on campus where so much is taking place, there is no commute, you can bill to your bursar and use financial aid and scholarships to pay for it all.”

Traditions Square apartments will also be open during the summer for students that are looking for on campus apartment style living.

Students should start looking for a summer home now. The apartment complexes can assist you in finding roommates and people that are looking for someone to take up their lease over the break.

People are often afraid to live in Norman during the summer, as they expect to see a dead campus. However, this summer students can expect to see concerts, free food on the south oval, pool parties and many more exciting events.

“The university is trying to make summer a third semester at OU and make it similar to fall and spring,” says Steven Lee, assistant director of summer programming. “There will be a lot of events and activities to keep students entertained.”

So no matter where you are living during the summer, there will be something for you to do on campus.

To get more information on summer living, contact the apartment complexes that interest you. For on-campus living you can visit www.housing.ou.edu for more information.