Part 3 of The Ultimate Guide To College

Dorm, Villa or Apartment - What’s it gonna be for you, Master Philipp?

One point I hardly mentioned in the series I’m On My Way is where I’m going to stay once university doors close late at night until I rush into the first lectures scheduled for 6 am. U-Bahn (underground) stations are no option here.

Sleeping in a U-Bahn station is not appropriate. I want to survive 5+ years in Vienna.

This question is actually quite crucial and quintessential for me since this is going to be the one of the biggest changes of all. University, a pool of students ready to roll off several parties and catch some obligatory lectures whose absent would set up your parents and get you kicked out, itself should be exciting, at least during the first couple of days, but living on my own, oh this must be like holiday, except prolonged for the whole year. Haha. Like with any other great power comes great responsibility, Philipp…

There are actually four options I have on the figurative table in front of me.

#1 - Move in with my sister. My grandparents have an empty apartment in Vienna that we - and that’s the thing that slightly irritates me - both use… I’d get the room that is separated from a larger living room where my sister then would be living, too. Until September she should be (or is, in fact) done with her FH (Fachhochschule) and will be working. That means I need an extended amount of silent hours on a daily basis for an increase of my studiousness. That’s the official reason I’ll have in store of there ever will be a fight over the separated room. My parents like idea #1 since they wouldn’t have to provide rent.

#2 - Not move to Vienna. And stay at home commuting for three hours a day. Right. Not gonna happen!

#3 - Move in with a Friend. This of course bears a whole lot more excitement. Move in with a FRIEND! And have a party house that opens 24/7. Again, excuse my perception of life without parents. Immature? Nah! Honestly, I think this is the most reasonable option although this would mean a 250-300 EUR additional (monthly) fee that my parents have to sponsor and invest.

#4 - Dorm rooms. This is the less likeliest option I am listing here. It’s uncommon to move into dorm rooms in Vienna. Most students get an apartment. They offer it though, but to me and most of the students they are less appealing.

Here are some additional thoughts that have to be reflected and considered in this decision. BIG ONE! In decision-bigness this comes second hard on the “what major to pick” decision’s heel.

A Year Abroad

If (and this isn’t really a big IF for me and is rather a WHEN) and when I go for a year abroad that takes me to a country other than Austria (my favorite destinations are London, New York, San Francisco, Seattle or Sydney), I do not want to pay for an empty apartment in Vienna, since going abroad isn’t going to go easy on my parents’ portemonait and on their willingness of investing in their last but not least son Phil. This argument, as much as I love it, I have to admit militates FOR option #1, moving in with my sister dearest.
So what I have to work on is finding a plan that allows rent for two (optimistically) or three (pessimistically) years since my major program won’t have me walk away to another country during the first Studienabschnitt (a 2-year-term, basically).

The Viennese Real Estate Market

Vienna’s real estate market isn’t the business I want to bother with longer than needed. Ugh, it’s a pain and it requires intense work (that I’m ready to put forth, though) to get a nice spot with a sensible rent that doesn’t include rats and germs.

The Hygiene Factor

Living with a person other than your family is going to be interesting. Interesting. This soup tastes interesting - on your mind: Ew, gross!. You are a interesting person - on your mind: What a bastard. What an interesting way of thinking - on your mind: Shut up! Interesting is such a passive aggressive word. I love it.
Anyway, I’m aware that there is a difference between “I like you” and “I have to live with you” friendships. Therefore, I’ll be picky about who I choose to reside with or would rather invite for a night over but kick out the next day because he/she doesn’t live up to my standards of common hygiene. Haha, I’m just kidding, but this is a point I strongly believe is worth mentioning here.

I couldn’t help while writing about the hygiene factor but think of all those passive aggressive notes that where created by roomies (room mates) in despair due to lack of decency and humanity. Read about the interesting experiences roommates all around the world made. Again. Interesting:

• Here, have three Quaters and go buy some soap!
• Cleaning up 24/7 on your mind, this my friend, is not healthy either. Healthier than filth, though? Dunno!
• Law Enforcement will be seriously considered.
• And many many more…

Sidenote: I am not surprised that the tag roommates is hard to be overlooked in the passiveaggressivenotes.com tag cloud.

Are you about to go to college or university? How are you going to live? Are you having troubles living with strangers or even friends?