With the scheduled demolition of the Branscomb Quadrangle this summer, Vanderbilt has lost around 10% of its student housing capacity for the coming academic year. Housing and Residential Experience has, therefore, agreed to increase the number of students it authorizes to live off-campus for the 2025-26 academic year, and many students have applied as they realize their on-campus housing options are limited.
This was my situation in February. My friend group wanted to live together in Highland Quad. While the rest of the group was accepted, my roommate and I were denied an apartment and told that we must look at traditional double housing — we were both understandably upset.
On a whim, my roommate said, “What if we went off campus?” Thus began a two-week-long whirlwind of apartment hunting done by two first-year girls who barely knew what we were getting into. We went from being sure we would be in Vanderbilt housing to having to think about apartment tours, applications, leases and rent within a few days. It was a stressful experience full of late-night debates with my roommate over options and intense phone calls with my parents convincing them to let me stay off-campus. However, it also brought me my first real adulting experience.
For most college students, getting an apartment is a first. At the beginning of the process, I assumed I was too young and too inexperienced to find and live in an apartment, but I was wrong. It turns out that an 18-year-old can rent an apartment. Here’s how:
Start early
I have heard many horror stories about college towns where students must secure an apartment lease in September of the year before move-in day. Luckily, Nashville is not like that, and my roommate and I were successful in finding an apartment six months before move-in. Realtor.com suggests that you can begin the process two to three months in advance, but if you aren’t in Nashville for the summer, you will need to start earlier so you can tour before leaving. Know that the apartments close to campus tend to fill up quickly.
Begin by looking online for apartments. My roommate and I used Apartments.com to find options, but we also made sure to look at the apartment websites to see available information such as floor plans and photos. When you find ones you like, book tours — they are free and can be booked less than a week in advance. I recommend starting with around four tours.
Treat tours professionally
Not only are you looking to see if the apartment is a good fit for you, the leasing agents are looking to see if you are a good fit for the building; it is important to make a good impression. Wear jeans, not sweatpants. Treat your leasing agent with professionalism and friendliness.
Come prepared with both questions and personal information for your leasing agent. Be prepared to tell them your desired floor plan, move-in date and budget range. Make sure to ask about lease length, subleasing policy, available amenities and utility fees. You may ask to see multiple floor plans, even if you only listed one when you booked the tour. The agent will be happy to show them to you.
While viewing the apartment units, take photographs so you can remember them later. You can inspect the apartment by switching lights and water faucets on and off.
Weigh various factors
After viewing a few apartments, you must compare them and decide your top choice(s). A list of pros and cons or a chart with important factors could be very helpful. Here are some of the factors you should consider:
Price: Bigger floor plans on lower floors can be cheaper than smaller ones on high floors with street views. The building’s subleasing policy and the number of roommates you will split costs with also determine if the rent will be cheaper than Vanderbilt’s housing fee of $14,900 for the 2025-26 school year. Additionally, with access to a kitchen, you may choose to opt out of Vanderbilt’s meal plan, which costs $3,925 per semester for the 2024-25 school year.
Location: Learn the time it takes to walk, bike, drive and take the bus to campus, work and other important sites. Consider the safety and amenities of the surrounding neighborhood.
Utilities: Apartment tenants must pay for utilities, including water, electricity, WiFi, sewage, trash, parking and community fees. Know the estimates you will be expected to pay for each of these and whether you will pay them with your rent or as separate bills. Most buildings require you to pay for electricity separately through Nashville Electric Service and for WiFi through your own provider.
Amenities: Consider whether the building has amenities such as a pool, gym, community spaces and pet friendliness, and which are most important to you. Buildings with more amenities will likely have higher rent.
VIBES: This is an overlooked but highly important category. Some buildings and leasing agents have warm, friendly vibes, while some have cold, unwelcoming vibes. Trust your gut. My roommate and I immediately dropped a building from our list when the front desk employee was cold with us, and the leasing agent did not show up on time for the tour. Also, pay attention to your reaction to the space while touring. Can you see yourself cooking, decorating, studying, hanging out and sleeping there?
Keep in contact with leasing agents
The person who gave you your tour will reach out to you soon after, summarizing the tour in an email and providing links to apply to their waitlist. Reply to emails showing your continued interest in their building. If you have additional questions, it may be beneficial to talk to them over the phone. If you decide you would not like to apply to a particular building, let the agent know so they are not left hanging and can remove you from their list. Know that responsiveness, professionalism and friendliness will make the agents more inclined to help you get the unit you want.
Complete waitlist applications
After narrowing down your options, begin completing waitlist applications. Avoid applying to too many, as application fees can be as high as $500 and are only partially refundable. Your application is tied to your desired floor plan and move-in date. As units become available, applicants are placed in the order applications are received — which is why it’s important to move quickly through the process.
Applications can be confusing if you are doing them for the first time. They may ask you to provide your ID and Social Security number, as well as talk about your income and residential history. This gets complicated if you are a student living temporarily in Vanderbilt dorms and if your family is helping you pay rent. The key here is communication with your leasing agent. If there are any problems with the application, tell them, and know that they will be more lenient toward students for imperfect applications because they understand your situation.
When offered units, act quickly but surely
After you submit your application, it can take anywhere from a week to a month for agents to notify you of your unit options. If given an offer from a top-choice building, respond quickly to secure the unit. If you are given an offer but are still waiting to hear back from your top choice, you may kindly decline the offer and ask to remain on the waitlist in the meantime. The building can assign other applicants to the unit you were offered, as they will not hold it for you for more than a few days. If offered multiple units in the same building, compare prices and floors to decide.
Do not accept a unit or sign any lease until you are 100% sure about your decision. If you sign a lease and back out later, you will lose any refundable deposits.
At this point, your apartment hunt will have successfully concluded. The next step, preparing to move in, can be equally complex to coordinate. However, the independence and comfort of having your own apartment is more than worth it!
