Hi All,

I am awaiting acceptance (hopefully) for the Fall '06 class. My SO and I are looking for some clarity on housing options. Ideally, we would have a housing option that would allow us to bring our pet bunny down with us, as he is truly a member of our family.

Does anyone know if this can be accomodated in the on-campus married housing? What is there to expect from married housing? Are there queen beds, kitchenettes, private baths, or just your basic undergrad dorm motif of a room with a twin bed and common areas? I was thinking that EMT or another RA might have some insights here, especially.

Also, is on-campus housing really compulsory for first-termers? If not, I will eventually be seeking guidance on what areas are the best for off campus housing. . . That discussion can either be tackled now for other's benefit, or later for mine!

On a related topic, does anyone know what airlines are pet friendly. Since our bunny is slightly larger than a squirrel, we're hoping to be able to have it accompany us onto a plane. I queried Jamaica Air without any reply.

Thanks in Advance!
TheTallGuy

If you're married, you're not required to live on campus first term. I would suggest you look into off-campus housing. Not only is it A LOT cheaper, but you'll also get more space. The true blue married housing is tiny. It's essentially a dormroom (studio) with a queen bed in it, adjoining kitchen, and separate bathroom.

The benefit to on-campus housing is that you're on campus. The detractors: it's so expensive that you could live off campus and have a car for about the same amount you'd be paying to stay on campus- and your SO will appreciate the freedom of a car. Also, the easter bunny will be welcome at the majority of off-campus places, where as on campus housing is typically no pet (although post-ivan i know some pets were allowed- not sure if that's still the case). I lived in Lance Aux Epine, and from my perspective- it's the only way to go. Others lived on campus and didn't mind the small accomodations. If possible, try and visit Grenada for the weekend and check out your housing options- it will really put your mind at ease.

no pets on campus at all. except on grand anse, but they are not offering many rooms this fall term at all.

i would go off campus with your situation.

The term after the hurricane, some pets were allowed in most dorms, however, this is no longer the case. Currently, there are a few rooms in Grand Anse that are designated as available to people with pets, but they are usually all snapped up by Vet students in the lottery. So, if you want to bring your bunny along, there is a 99% chance that you will be living off-campus. As Buttons said, being married or having a pet are the two exceptions to the "all first-temers must live on-campus" rule.

Yes, the married housing in True Blue is pretty small. Depending on what type of bed is in it (queen vs. full), the same room is either called "married housing" or "single with kitchenette." In married housing each studio does have it's own bathroom and kitchen (2 plate electric range, sink and fridge - no microwave).

Off-campus is nice - I ended up with a single off-campus, with car and cable tv/internet for less than living on-campus. Lance Aux Epines is a nicer area where lots of students/professors live. Grand Anse (the area not the dorms), is also not bad, and I know a family that was able to find something cheap in Frequente (not reputed to be the safest area, but they seemed to have less problems than those living in LAE.) There is a listing of off-campus housing on the SGU website: http://qp2.sgu.edu/QuickPlace/housin.../?OpenDocument They also produce a booklet, but no pics in either so you really need to see the places beforehand, so I would also recommend visiting and looking at options before deciding on anything. For more info, you can check some of these past threads on married housing:
http://www.valuemd.com/st-georges-un...arried+housing
http://www.valuemd.com/st-georges-un...arried+housing
http://www.valuemd.com/st-georges-un...arried+housing
http://www.valuemd.com/st-georges-un...arried+housing

You can do a search to find many more. And sorry, I've never brought a pet down, so don't know about the airlines. I would suggest that you contact a vet admissions officer in Bayshore -- they have to deal with this more frequently, and know more about it.

Thank you for the prompt replies! To answer your question, my SO and I are not married right now, but are tying the knot on July 22nd! So, by the time we head down there, we'll be wed. Thank you for the insights, I am certainly glad to hear that there are off-campus options for married first-termers! I know one big trepidation for my SO is living in 'college dorm conditions,' as we are both in our upper 20s and lower 30s.

I will also check out the links tonight after school and work, thanks EMT. I also may need to come down as Buttons suggested. I think that this will need to wait for monetary reasons until I am accepted. Does anyone know when housing off-campus gets scarce in the better and safer areas?

I am looking forward to hopefully getting in, and having a chance to meet people who are motivated to become docs and help out the world in their own way.

Cheers!
TheTallGuy

off campus housing has already become scarce because the housing lottery has already happened and ppl that didnt win have already went off and put their deposit for the fall term already. but i am sure there are a few spots around as there are more and more on campus housing spaces now. there is a bldg being built off campus right by campus and it will be done by fall 2006...at least thats what the sign says...

I came down with my husband when we were newly married and I am SO happy we decided to live of campus. On campus is way to small for a newly married couple especially. I highly recommend Lance Aux Epine as a nice neighborhood to live in. regardless of the lottery, there are so many places to live. The Hair Affair off Lance Aux Epine has built new apartments off the main road and they have central AC! Anyway you can PM me if you want more info on places my married freinds here have stayed at. Also, I was at Caribbean Star yesterday and they would not let someone take their pet gerbils so make sure to check beofre you go-they are pretty strict!

Thanks again! I have spoken to my SO, and we agree that a trip down there in the coming future would be worth the expense. I really thank you all for the clarity. I would not have considered this otherwise. I am going to wait until I hear back officially from SGUSOM