Charlotte is a fantastic city to live in with so much to do and several fun neighborhoods to explore. It is ranked in the top ten of U.S. News and World Report’s best places to live.
If you’re looking to save money on housing, roommates are a great option. When I started my search for housing in Charlotte, I posted a profile to a few housing Facebook groups and the university housing portal. I managed to find two roommates who have been super easy to live with. The trick to finding roommates is to be persistent. By reaching out to people, and putting a bit of effort into it, you will find someone who you have some common interests with. People are constantly moving to Charlotte every month and a roommate is just a message away.
The second tip I have is to consider renting a house as opposed to an apartment. My new roommates and I managed to find an affordable home to rent through Zillow Rental. With roommates, I was able to find a wonderful space for an amazing price. Keep in mind that living in a house can require you to be aware of and more active in maintenance. However, I still have found it to be a cheaper option that I have enjoyed.
Another thing I kept in mind while looking for housing was travel time and difficulty. One of the great things about Charlotte is how quickly you can get around. My home is near Uptown, and my drive to UNC Charlotte is only 17 minutes, and I can reach almost anywhere else in the city within 20 minutes. Charlotte is a beautiful city and has done a nice job of creating an effective and efficient highway system that makes it pretty easy to get around. Thanks to this, you will have a wide area to work with when looking for a place with a reasonable commute to campus. There are some public transport options in Charlotte. Most students have free access to the LYNX light rail system and the CATS bus system. However, I would recommend having a vehicle if you are able.
Once I started courses at Charlotte, something I appreciated was the diversity within my Master of Social Work (MSW) cohort. As a cohort, we take many of the same classes together and get to see the different ways our classmates engage with class material. I have classmates who are starting second careers, who are parents, who just finished their bachelor's, and some who are from different parts of the country. Each perspective has added so much to classroom discussions and has helped me see issues from different perspectives. Additionally, the cohort style of the program has allowed me to quickly form friendships and establish my community here at the university and within the city of Charlotte.
The MSW program included a practicum experience requirement. This year, I am interning at the local VA healthcare system, and this has expanded my knowledge of the resources in my community, and some of the biggest issues affecting veterans in the Charlotte area. This work makes me feel connected to the city, and that as I’m learning, I can also give to the community. At the end of the day, being a part of and active in your community is one of the most fulfilling parts of the graduate experience.
Article Written by Nolan Winters
Nolan serves as a Graduate Admissions Ambassador and is studying in the M.A. in Social Work program from the College of Health & Human Services.