Bridges-Whitlow 1

Kaelynn Bridges-Whitlow
Mrs. Herbert
English 12: 2
5 September 2016
How And Where Will I Live
Introduction
This is the time of the year we slowly but surely begin to spread our wings and become
more independent. As time has caught up to me quickly, i believe that it is a great time i get to
make the one decision that will change my life. I consider that Arizona State University will be
the best fit for me, I can be close to family and friends but also be out on my own adventuring
adulthood.
Housing Information
College provides multiple opportunities, you can choose anywhere you want to live most
of the time. I know that ASU is very prominent to freshman living on campus for their first year,
which is probably helpful for most because it will help you know the campus better and you can
become more social because you're not isolated in your own apartment. Although I know I will
be there for more than one year so looking at other options will be helpful for myself.
On Campus Housing
For on campus living, Ive looked into the Taylor Place, located in downtown Phoenix.
Although i have not fully decided what i will be majoring in, i have an idea of providing help to
others just unable to provide how yet. I also like how there are different floor plans provided for
this residence hall, the total cost of one year in will be about 9,406 dollars. A meal plan would
also need to be put in place and the best option sounds like sparky, which allows 14 meals a

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week, adding another 4,730 dollars for just room and board. The Taylor Place is stated to be in
the middle of downtown phoenix allowing the city life being walking distance from all sorts of
places.

(street view taylor place on taylor st)

Apartment Housing
I liked the idea of having an apartment and being out living on my own and see what it's
like rather than living off of college. An apartment, college town tempe, offers rents for 620
dollars a month. Also, this apartment pays for all the needed utilities and is half a block for the
campus. Yet the food would still need to be paid for which for an average college student adds up
to 1,800 dollars in a year. I believe that this is a good opportunity because it's so close to the
campus but still you experience the on-your-own life.

(pool side view college town tempe)

Data

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In the long run, adding up all of the needs for living there is always one that works best. I believe
that the apartment is the best choice because with all the cost in a year it adds up to be about
9,240 dollars. While, the campus living adds
up to about 10,046 dollars.
12 month living

On Campus

Apartment

Rent

$7000

$7440

Utilities

Included

Included

Food

$3046

$1800

expenses

Housing Reflection
The on campus and apartment living both are great options for living after high school. I
believe I would enjoy the apartment life better than the campus life. The apartment life is more
promising to me because it provides me with my own personal space and stuff rather than a small
dorm where you have to share. Also, by my research, i have found that the apartment is cheaper
than the campus life, although not by much. Living on campus may allow more social benefits,
apartments gives more freedom. They are almost the exact same just one is better fit for me, but
all sorts of doors will open in the time that i will need to be making the decision and my mind
my change.
Financial plan
College is expensive and cost sortly add up to a great deal of money. There are multiple
fees like books, rent, transportation, entertainment, etc. Throughout a year there are expected

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cost and unexpected situations, you have to be ready for anything but still have to make sure you
are living the life you want.
Estimated Expenses
As i move into adulthood, i become less dependent on my parents and more independent
for the life that is coming. There will be book fees, about 1300 dollars, followed by
transportation, about 8000 dollars, entertainment and personal expenses, about 3000 dollars.
Although there are many more expenses, these are the main source of the estimated future. If i
choose to live off campus then, i will still have the cost of all of those above and rent. You can't
really predict what your total cost of items will be but you may have a ballpark estimate.
Estimated Income
Throughout college i will maintain to have at least one job, in order to pay for my bills. I
may receive some help from my family but i don't want to be supported off of them when it's my
responsibility. Right now i have a good stable job working almost everyday in the week, if the
opportunity presents then i will get a second job if i have the time for both and school work.
Things change but no matter what i will always have a job to be paying something off when i'm
in college. Right now i pay some of my expenses for my car, understanding the value of money
and making sure im able to make those payments.

Data
There will always be a lot more expenses throughout college then i will be able to
provide. The cost of college is quite expensive yet there are loans and scholarships to help in that
case. I cant predict what kind of help i will receive but i know it will be some.

Bridges-Whitlow 5

Item

Expenses

Books

$1300

Tuition

$9484

Rent

$7440

Transportation

$8000

Cell phone

$1000

Entertainment

$1000

Personal

$1000

Miscellaneous

$2000

Item

Income

Job

$8000

Parents

$2000

Loans

$1000

scholarship

$6000

other

$1500

Bridges-Whitlow 6

Financial Plan Reflection

Looking at this chart makes me realize i underestimated the cost of it all, there is a major
significance between the cost and income. Realizing this now shows how i may need
another job for sure or even look for more help throughout the year. Even asking for more
of my parents until i can have a stable job and income where i don't have to worry about
money all the time and can focus on school. This plan maintain the value of money for
me and showed its not going to be as easy as it's made to be sometimes. Although this is
all just estimates, it's a reality check because prices could change in just a year.
Conclusion
Going to college is important to me, but choosing where to live and realizing what are the
important expenses in life are is not always easy. My ideal college experience would be
going to ASU and living in an apartment near by. With this dream i will be close to
family but on my own. It's about time i learn how i will be on my own and discovering
what i can do for myself. Life is full of paths but i believe i'm headed in the right path for
a bright future for myself.

Bridges-Whitlow 7

Works Cited
2 bedroom floor plan- College Town Tempe on Terrace, 2016.
https://www.forrentuniversity.com/profile/999907849. Accessed on 9 Sept. 2016.
ASU information- Arizona State University. https://www.asu.edu/. Accessed on 9 Sept. 2016
Residence hall- Taylor place in downtown phoenix, 2016.
https://tours.asu.edu/downtown/taylor-place. Accessed on 9 sept. 2016.
Resident Meal Plans- Arizona State University.
http://sundevildining.asu.edu/downtown/mealplans/resident. Accessed on 9 sept. 2016.