Daniel Barkowitz | June 14, 2005
"Sometimes you get what you don't pay for..."
What a warm weekend in Boston -- humid, hot and sticky. It's nice that summer has arrived, but I would prefer to have my heat without humidity! This weekend was my choir's end of year performance. We were in a room with no A/C; and I had six or so costume changes (some including a woolen tuxedo and another with a heavy leather jacket). I'm ready for a break in the weather!
One event I happened to miss during my visit to Aspen last week was the annual Dean for Undergraduate Education Infinite Mile Award Reception. The Infinite Mile award is to recognize staff who undertake "outstanding achievements" in their support of students, staff and faculty. Take a look at this year's award winners; you may recognize some of the recipients (especially the three named at the end of the page).
Off to the main purpose of the post: for those of you who may be looking for ways to limit your out-of-pocket expenses, may I suggest you consider Student House as an option?
Student House is one of the members of the FSILGs (the Fraternities, Sororities and Independent Living Groups) at MIT. The FSILGs as a group are residence alternatives for upperclass students (Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors) who want to live in an independent residence, but with MIT presence (in the form of a residence-based advisor). While each of the FSILGs represents a great opportunity to form a close-knit, cohesive bond with a group of MIT students, I want to focus this particular post on Student House because of its unique history and its relevance to the work we do in Student Financial Services.
Student House was originally established as a residence for students with financial need. In its organizational structure, it is established as a cooperative residence; students do work (light cleaning, cooking, etc) during the semester in exchange for a significantly reduced living expense. There are about 30 students who live in the residence, both men and women, and the student rooms vary from singles to doubles to triples.
So, financially, what is the benefit? Since your monthly rate to Student House (at least for 2004-2005) is about $350 a month, and that figure includes room and board (dinner every day, lunch and breakfast available for you to take with you, combined shopping list for food), by living at Student House you wind up reducing your out of pocket expenses by about $5500 (coincidentally the amount of the student self-help award). Since we don't reduce your financial aid budget if you live in less expensive housing, you can certainly save the cost of your annual self-help by living at Student House.
If you are interested, you certainly do need to be willing to be an active participant in the maintenance of the house, but in this case, if that appeals to you, you can certainly get what you don't pay for. Rush will occur during the Fall of your Freshman year, although Student House is pretty flexible about Rush (I think they even still have a very small number of vacancies for this Fall for current upperclass students who may be interested).
Do any current or former residents of Student House want to comment on their perspective on Student House? Any comments about other FSILG residences
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The author has filed this entry in the "Residential Life / Housing Options" section; check it out for further reading on this topic. |
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