‘Snatched up quick’: Pitt students feel pressure to find off campus housing

When it comes to finding off campus housing, Pitt students share the consensus that the search has to start early.

With increased enrollment at Pitt, demand for housing in Oakland is growing. As of Oct. 1, many Pitt students have already started searching for or secured off campus housing for the next academic year. Several Pitt students report feeling pressured to make quick housing decisions. 

Ainslee Torres, a sophomore biology and psychology major, said she and her roommates began searching at the end of August because she believes houses “get snatched up” quickly, especially ones that are close to campus.

“It’s a little stressful, honestly, because we have so much going on with new classes and everything, but I’m glad we got it out the way, and we’re set,” Torres said.

Sophomore neuroscience student Trisha Shetty and her roommates are currently looking for next year’s housing and began their search at the beginning of the semester. Last year, when they began their search in February, they were unable to secure a suitable place to live.

“We’re looking early because last year when we started second semester, everything was either gone or in conditions that we wouldn’t be willing to pay rent for,” Shetty said.

Shetty said looking for housing early can be a challenge because it’s hard to plan far ahead and know whether you and your current friends will be compatible roommates. 

“There’s a lot of uncertainty — not in my case, but in most cases with freshmen,” Shetty said. 

Caitlin Snyder, a sophomore architecture major, said the nicer and newer apartments she’s been looking at already have waitlists. 

“Everything goes so fast,” Snyder said. “So if you don’t get on it early, you’re not going to get anything.” 

Snyder believes looking for next year’s housing early on puts a lot of pressure on students because not everyone knows their roommates for next year very well.

“This is a big commitment because it’s a decent amount of money you’re putting down,” Snyder said.

Riya Desai, a junior political science major, said she feels all the good housing options will be taken if she doesn’t look early.

Desai said the need to look early to find a good place leaves little room to adjust to current living situations before making the decision to move or stay.

“It’s really annoying because I don’t even completely know what I’m looking for, and I feel like if I had a problem with my living situation later in the year, I just have no choice but to have a bad living situation,” Desai said.

Amy Price, a sophomore biochemistry major, already started looking partially because of the increased enrollment in her year. She is also worried that housing will be more expensive next year.

Price said she thinks it’s hard balancing the search for off campus housing with classes and other commitments, but at the same time, realizes the semester’s workload will only increase.

“It’s overwhelming figuring out who to live with and getting settled in classes and extracurriculars,” Price said. “But it’ll only get busier later in the semester, so it’s best to get it done earlier.” 

Rohan Jawale, a first-year political science and economics major, believes living off campus is cheaper but that prices are rising, which he thinks might be attributed to Pitt admitting more students every year.  

In general, he feels rushed in deciding on housing for next year.

“I feel kind of stressed about it actually because it’s so early,” Jawale said.

Emelia Deneen, a first-year environmental engineering major, said she is just beginning the search for housing after being told to start looking early, since it could lead to finding cheaper housing. However, she is still unsure where to look.

“I’ve talked to a couple of upperclassmen, and they’ve recommended spots like Shadyside, Squirrel Hill, just apartments there. But I don’t know where to start,” Deneen said.

Abigail Lowe, a first-year neuroscience major who is about to begin the housing search with Deneen, believes it is challenging to find housing information. 

“It’s hard to find resources [and] to know where to find good housing that’s affordable,” Lowe said.

Bhasha Patel, a first-year neuroscience major, said upperclassmen told her and her roommates to start looking as early as possible.

“I feel scared, [that] I’m not going to get a good apartment,” Patel said.  “But it is comforting knowing that I have guaranteed housing next year as well.”