Black owned EDURain aims high to keep student concerns low

New Town Square Podcast - Ep. 4 - EDUrain with Bryon Pierson, Jr.

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St. Clair County graduate creates platform for students to find ways to pay for college

MEET THE SVC FINALIST: EDURAIN

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The Pitch: How St. Louis fintech startup EDUrain aims to disrupt student housing

One Man’s Quest to Redefine How Higher Education Works

Meet Edurain

Since its inception, EDUrain has been “for students, by students.” We want to provide you with the best tools for succeeding in college, curated by fellow students who understand the struggle! \n
\nThis week, we’ve partnered with Loren Lacruz, a rising Sophomore at WashU. Loren is also host of her podcast \n“true shh”\n, a safe place to discuss everything including financial literacy, POC experiences, and mental health. \n
\nLoren is gonna tell you about the foundation of financial success – budgeting; because how are you gonna achieve financial independence when you don’t even know how much money you have and where it’s going?\n\nCheck out \nTrue Shh \non \nYouTube\n, \nSpotify\n, or \nApple Podcasts\n! \n


Learning to Budget 

You may think that at this point in your life, there’s no need for you to get renter’s insurance: there’s simply nothing valuable enough to be insured! Unfortunately, most landlords think otherwise. 9 times out of 10, landlords are gonna require tenants to have their own renter’s insurance before they sign a lease. Thankfully, renter’s insurance can be simple and inexpensive. Let me tell you how. \n\nWhat is it? \nRenter’s insurance is a form of property insurance that insures the belongings of the renter, as well as any personal liabilities accrued by the renter. While damages caused or sustained by the building itself will be covered by a landlord’s property insurance, the coverage does not extend to the tenant. Hence, most landlords prefer their tenants to have their own renter’s insurance. \n
\nCoverage: \nRenter’s insurance coverage varies based on the company, as well as the policy you choose. But at the most basic level, renter’s insurance covers 3 things: personal possessions, liabilities, and additional living expenses. \n	\nPersonal\n \npossessions\n: coverage for your belongings in the case of \nperils\n, which includes fire, theft, plumbing and electrical malfunctions, certain weather-related damage, and other named hazards. Floods and earthquakes are typically \nnot \ncovered, and require stand-alone policies. \n\nLiabilities: \ncoverage for when an injury is incurred by someone else within your apartment. Say your friend accidentally cuts themselves while cooking dinner, renter’s insurance can cover part of the hospital bill. It also covers legal fees should you be sued by someone over an apartment injury. \n\nTemporary Living Expenses: \nin the event of a peril (listed above), and your apartment becomes uninhabitable, renter’s insurance can cover any emergency living expenses (like a hotel bill). \n
\nCost \nLike most insurances, renter’s insurance is paid out on a monthly premium, which just means a monthly fee. That monthly premium could be as low as $5/month, should you choose our renter’s insurance partner – \nLemonade\n. The cost of insurance varies based on a few things: the amount of coverage, the company, and your deductible. \n\nWait. What’s a deductible?\n\nA deductible is the amount you have to pay out-of-pocket before your insurance covers the rest (up to a limit). For example, say you file a claim for a $1,000 stolen laptop. If your deductible is $250, you would have to pay that $250 first, before your insurance steps in and covers the remaining $750. Important note: there’s no point in filing a claim that’s under your deductible! Your insurer won’t cover any amount that’s under your deductible. A limit, on the other hand, is the maximum amount of money your insurer will pay. \n\n\nThe size of your deductible and limit both impact how much your monthly premium is. The lower your deductible, the higher your premium. The higher your limit, the higher your premium.\n\nChoosing your Plan \n\nWith that, you should have everything you need to know about renter’s insurance. Now, before you choose a plan, it’s good to understand exactly what you need. It’s a good idea to record a walk-through of your apartment, in order to document all of your belongings. Because chances are, you’re undervaluing your possessions.\n\nOnce you know how much coverage you need, think about how you want to structure your premium. Would you rather pay a larger one-time payment in the case of something being stolen, or a greater monthly fee? If your answer is the latter, choose an insurance with a lower deductible (which would have a higher premium). \n\nThere are also simple ways to lower your premium. Though factors like neighborhood safety and fire risk are outside your control, you can secure the inside of your own apartment to decrease your risk. For example, you could decrease your premium just by installing a burglar’s alarm. \n\nWe hope this information helps in your renter’s-insurance-search! If you’re ready, click \nhere\n to get a free renter’s insurance quote today!\n
\n\nSources: \n\nHow Much Does Renters Insurance Cost\n\n\nHow Do Insurance Deductibles Work? | Lemonade\n\n\nA Comprehensive Guide to Renters Insurance\n\n\nRenter’s Insurance 101\n\n


What is Renter's Insurance?

Well, I didn’t either. Not until I watched 7 youtube videos and read 11 articles about credit (all of which are linked below), so that you don’t have to. Here’s my best attempt at condensing what credit is, and how it applies to a college student. \nTwo\n key terms: \nCredit Report\n - a credit report is a detailed report of your credit history, including all of your borrowing, payment behaviors, and credit inquiries. \nCredit Score\n - credit scores are essentially summaries of your credit report. It’s  a 3-digit number that summarizes how good of a borrower you are. The firm FICO popularized it, and the FICO credit score is the most widely used credit score. A credit score between 580 and 669 is considered fair; 670 to 739 are considered good; and above 740 is considered excellent. \n\n\nYou \nneed \nto build a good credit score.\n\nIt may be easy to dismiss the importance of good credit when you’re only 18, and taking out a loan for a house or a car is still in the distant, unimaginable future. But there’s no such thing as too early when it comes to building good credit. Here’s how your credit score affects you today: \nWhether or not you get selected for an apartment - Part of any standard apartment application is the submission of your credit score. Landlords often only accept tenants with good or at least fair credit scores, and having a good credit score can put you over other applicants.\nCredit Cards - Your credit score can affect what type of credit cards you can get. A better credit score usually unlocks credit cards with higher credit limits and more rewards. \nCost of a Loan - Not only does your credit score affect whether or not you can get a loan, it also affects the interest on that loan. A higher credit score usually means a lower interest rate, which essentially means a cheaper loan. 
\nIf that wasn't enough to signify the importance of good credit, here’s an especially poignant example of the impact of your credit score from \nCapital One's website\n: \n\n"Consider recent averages for a 30-year, $200,000, fixed-rate mortgage…\nA person with a 650 credit score, which FICO classifies as fair, would have a 3.566% APR and a $908 monthly payment.\nA person with a 670 credit score, which FICO classifies as good, would have a 3.136% APR and an $860 monthly payment.\nThat $48 difference might not seem like much. But over the course of the loan, it could add up to more than \n$17,000.\n And that’s starting from a 20-point difference in credit scores. \n"\n
\nOk ok. I got it. I need a good credit score. How do I build it?\n
\nTo understand how to build a credit score, let’s start with a brief understanding of how it is calculated: \nPayment History \n(35%) Your payment history is the largest factor in your credit score. So make consistent, on-time payments, and \ndon’t be late\n. A payment more than 30 years late can stay on your record for 7 years, and drop your score by up to 90 points.\nAmount of Debt\n (30%) This just means how much credit you’re using at any point of time. As a rule of thumb, don’t use credit exceeding 30% of your credit limit. For example, if you have a credit card with a $1000 credit limit (the max amount of credit you can use at once), don’t spend more than $300 without paying it back. \nLength of Credit History \n(15%) Though not a significant factor, your length of credit history is why it’s important to start building credit early. \nNew Credit \n(10%) Anytime you apply for a line of credit and a lender does what is called a "hard pull" on your credit score, your score can drop by a few points. As a college student, this will probably rarely affect you. \nCredit Mix \n(10%) Lenders like to see a variety of credit accounts in good standing. As a student, it’s difficult to get a wide variety of credits, so don’t worry about it too much\n\nNow, enough talking. Here’s how to build credit: \n\n\nRent Reporting\n \n- \nContrary to popular belief, opening a credit card is not the only way to build your credit. The three largest credit bureaus – Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian – all accept rent payments if they receive it, which can be included in your credit report for a significant boost to your credit score. Consistent, on-time rent payments not only demonstrate a good payment history, but also extends your length of credit history. Reporting your rent for a year can boost your credit by around 40 points. EDUrain can help you report your rent! \nLearn more here. \n\nBecoming an authorized user on your parent’s account -\n This method, often called piggybacking, remains one of the easiest ways to get a huge boost when starting out. You’ll be able to get your own credit card, but just under your parents account. It also comes with less risks: your parents will be able to monitor spending on the account, and they will be the ones liable for paying any debt back.\nOpening a Student Credit Card or a Secured Credit Card - \nStudent Credit Cards are specialized cards tailored to students. They have very low bars for approval, since most students have no credit history. They also bring specialized benefits like streaming subscriptions or Amazon spending. Beware, however, that student cards have very high interest rates, as students are deemed high-risk-borrowers. Secured Credit Cards, on the other hand, function more like debit cards. You deposit a certain amount of money, which will act as part of all of your spending limit. Either way, any payments made by a student card or a secured card will be reported to credit bureaus, and increase your score. \n
Annnd we’re done! I hope that gives you a good, broad overview of what credit is, and how it affects you as a college student. But note that I’ve only included the most basic, crucial aspects of credit/credit building. If you want to learn more, I’ve linked all the resources consulted in the writing of this article below. \n
\nArticles: \n\nFinancial Literacy | Harvard\n\n\n10 Best Online Banks of 2022 - NerdWallet\n\n\nWays to build credit as a student - CreditCards.com\n\n\nCredit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009 (Credit CARD Act) | Federal Trade Commission\n\n\nCredit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009 | Wex | US Law | LII / Legal Information Institute\n\n\nHow To Build Credit | Bankrate\n\n\nWhy Is Good Credit So Important? | Bankrate\n\n\nWhat Does Your Credit Score Start At? | MoneyGeek.com\n.\n\nHow To Build Credit As A College Student | Bankrate\n\n\nWhy Is Credit Important? | Capital One\n\n
\nVideos:\n\nCredit Cards 101 (Credit Card Basics 1/3)\n\n\nChecking and Savings 101 - (Bank Accounts  1/2)\n\n\nHow to Get an Apartment (Apartment Hunting 1/3)\n\n\n


Credit. Credit. Credit?

Whether you’re a matriculating high school senior, or a rising sophomore in college, moving to off-campus housing will soon be the natural next step in your university life. There’s a reason why 87 percent of college students nationally live off campus (\nNew York Times\n): off-campus housing brings with it a series of new freedoms that serve as stepping stones towards adult life. I spoke with one rising senior at Washington University in St. Louis to better capture how the transition off-campus was, and the benefits that came along with it: \n“It’s cheaper. It’s so much cheaper…,” says one rising senior at Washington University in St. Louis. He recently signed a lease for a 2-bedroom apartment near the Delmar loop. The rent? Nearly half of what he was paying at WashU when split between two people. \nThe experience of this particular student is by no means unique. In most conversations, price was the first topic to come up. That comes as no surprise, as most universities upcharge on-campus housing, justified by the amenities they offer. At WashU, for example, on-campus housing ranges from $1,353 to $1,567 per month per person. Rent in the nearby area, meanwhile, costs just $1,058 \non average\n. Finding a roommate can lower your costs even further, as the average 2-bedroom apartment in St. Louis costs just $1,285.\n
\nBut of course, off-campus living brings more benefits than just prices. For one, an off-campus apartment is something that you can call your own. I don’t mean that literally, but at least for the duration of your lease, you have complete jurisdiction over the apartment you call home; there are no RA’s doing weekend patrols, and no crowded communal bathrooms:\n“Moving off-campus brought with it this sense of independence, like what you envisioned college life to be when you were younger. You feel like an adult, especially in the little things; like inviting your friends over to ‘your place’ instead of ‘your room’. And when your friends do come over, you can actually cook for them in your kitchen instead of eating some dining hall food.” \nWith these new freedoms, though, comes new responsibilities. There won’t be a housekeeping staff cleaning after you, and you’ll have to learn the basics of “adulting”, such as meal planning, paying utilities/rent, and getting transportation to campus. The most daunting part for most, however, is the process of actually finding an off-campus home. That’s the part where EDUrain can step in! From our housing search platform to our scholarship database, we can help you find and fund housing. Check out our other blog on the \nResources\n page to find what you need!\n


Why Should I Move Off-Campus?

Are you moving to St. Louis for a job? Or maybe you’re transferring to a different university? Well, no matter the reason, finding a place to settle in a new city will always be your top priority. However, finding housing in a new city can be daunting, especially if you’re limited by a small time window and don’t fully understand the city. But EDUrain can help you with that! With our database of over 700 properties, you can quickly search for properties in the St. Louis area based on price, size, and distance from your workplace/university. \n
\nOnce you find a property you like, a contact information page will drop down with the listing agent’s phone number. At this point, you can call the agent directly to schedule a tour or ask for more information. If you’re uncomfortable with the leasing process, however, we’re ready to help. We know that the leasing process can be a daunting one; after all, that’s why we built EDUrain! Simply email us at \nshengyun@edurain.org\n, along with your desired property, and we can help connect you with the landlord. \n
\nWe also know that safety is a key concern for new residents to the city, and you’re definitely gonna want to protect all the belongings you’re bringing to your new home. That’s why we’ve partnered with Lemonade to provide you with renter’s insurance at as low as $5/month. You can get a free quote today by clicking the link \nhere\n, or the link on our home page! \n
\nAt the end of the day, we’re always here to help! Reach out with any questions, concerns, or recommendations, and we wish you the best of luck in your search for a new home! \n\n\n

Looking for a New Apartment?

Moving to a new apartment is always a fun adventure especially if you have been living on campus for the majority of your college years. Sometimes you need a guide on \nHow to Successfully Move Off-Campus\n, but if you are already further ahead in the process you should be just about to sign your lease. A \nlease\n is a contractual arrangement calling for the lessee to pay the lessor for use of an asset, in your case the asset is a property. \nHere's what you should ask \nbefore signing\n your lease:\nDo a walkthrough of the property and note any damages\nAsk your landlord what is included in the rent and if utilities are not included in the rent ask what the average monthly cost of these is\nIf you have an ESA (emotional support animal), ask if there are any additional fees for having a pet\nIs wifi included?\nAsk if you having a parking spot is included or if you'd have to pay for it separately\nIs there a washer/dryer in the unit?\nAlso, take pictures of the apartment and email them to your landlord as proof of any damages that were not caused by you so you can get your full security deposit back\nIt's recommended you also \ndo some research\n on your own time such as\nHow secure is the area?\nYou can use tools such as Areavibes or North American Title to determine this. Make sure the area you are moving into is safe because you don't want to wake up one morning in a rush and find your car's window is broken.\nWhat are the rent prices nearby?\nYou can use this as leverage when negotiating your rent price (more on this later) and make sure you're getting the best bang for your buck.\nHow convenient is the area?\nThis is based on personal preference, but for example, if you depend on public transportation you want to make sure there is a bus stop near your apartment or a convenience store around the corner. If you have a car you want to make sure that the nearest highway exit isn't far away to make your commute easier.\nRead your lease thoroughly and remember that this is a \nlegally binding contract\n so ask how long you have to sign your lease upon receiving it without incurring any additional fees and make sure you take advantage of that time to read through your lease thoroughly before signing it. If you reached any verbal agreements with the landlord make sure they are included. You should always try to \nnegotiate the terms of your lease\n so try and save some money. Ask about things like waiving fees, including the parking spot at no cost, or lowering the rent price. Come prepared to do that by researching properties near you and comparing costs and amenities. Never make the first offer because some websites like \nZillow\n can show you what the price for the rent was during previous years and you could use that to your advantage. \nWhen you're \nready to sign:\nMake sure all roommates are present and in agreement about the terms of the lease\nIf the security deposit is due at the time of signing have it ready to be transferred to your landlord. If you're struggling to get the money together or are waiting on your FAFSA use or tool to get a 0% interest loan to help pay your security deposit.\nIf you are signing for the upcoming school year, figure out when and where you can get your keys\nAsk when your move in and move out dates are\nNever sign an apartment lease without having a walk-through with the landlord.\nHave renters insurance ready. Some places require it but we recommend getting it even if they don’t just in case any unforeseen event happens. Need help finding the best renters insurance?\n\nSign up to use our free tool\n\n\n\n\n\nAt the end of the day, you just need to trust your gut. Moving to an off-campus apartment is a learning experience and EDUrain is here to help make it easier for you by offering you tools that will help you get your dream apartment at the perfect price.

Tips and Tricks for Signing Your Lease

Living on campus at your university can be an exciting new experience. You’re living with (potentially) your friends, deepening your bonds as well as developing new ones! \nBut after the first year or so, you can (and should) start considering moving off campus. Not only is it cheaper, but you also get a different sense of freedom that you wouldn’t otherwise have while living in the dorms. You’ll also still be quite close to anyone important to you. \nThere are pros and cons to moving off campus, as there are with most things in life, but it can be done easily with good planning. Off campus living is the bridge between a more traditional college experience, and standing on one’s own two feet. Let’s begin:\nTo roommate, or not to roommate, that is the question\n.\nLiving alone definitely has its perks. You get to experience full autonomy—from choosing your housing location, the apartment decor, to the house rules. Your inner child will surely rejoice with the unparalleled freedom that comes with living alone. Although, being the sole renter also comes with taking on 100% of the cost and responsibility. Things that for some can be a lot to handle at first. 
Going from a dorm room situation to full-on solo living is not for the faint of heart. For those who may feel like a little companionship is more their vibe, a roommate (or at least a cat) is a strong option to consider. By living with roommates, you can opt for a larger apartment space—a huge upgrade from a dorm situation. Roommates also help split the cost, and ultimately can end up being some of your strongest friendships in life. Few things bond people together as deeply as sharing a space. 
Make sure you find someone you feel comfortable communicating with. Living with roommatescan be fun if you have good roommates. Being able to split the cost of rent is a perk of having a roommate but make sure it’s someone you are compatible with, so try comparing study habits, sleeping schedules, cleanliness, and work schedules with a potential roommate to make sure you won’t have conflicts. Location, Location, Location. \nA great apartment search tip is to start near your campus and work your way out. 
Look around…. notice which bus stops are there? Is there a train? Are bike racks readily available?  If you have a car, most places will include a parking space with your rent cost, saving you a bit of money every month versus buying those unnecessarily expensive campus parking passes. If you're already living nearby, try taking a trip through potential neighborhoods and see if you can find any houses or apartments that aren’t listed online—you might be able to find a few hidden gems!
 Some extra student-friendly apartments will even offer shuttle service to the nearby campuses. If you have a car and don't mind paying for the parking permit you could save some money by moving a bit farther away from campus.Furnished or Unfurnished?\nDepending on what you and your roommate’s preferences, it’s helpful to make a list of all the things you want to have in your new apartment \n(for example: a balcony, washer/dryer in-unit, fully equipped kitchen, big windows, etc)\n. You can also choose furnished or unfurnished apartments, which includes a lot of people's favorite part: decor.
Although perhaps not as essential as the other parts, it is still considerably important and something you have to include in your budget. When living at an off-campus apartment, you get to customize your space and express yourself in a different way. Make sure your space is comfortable seeing as you'll be spending a lot of time there. 
Some places will offer the option of including furniture, but this can sometimes bring up the cost of rent. You can alternatively choose an unfurnished apartment and easily add your own style by looking for some cheap, cute, comfy furniture—the 3 C’s.  Another good thing about getting your own furniture is that you can potentially re-sell it once you’re ready to move out. I recommend using \nFacebook Marketplace\n or \nCraigslist\n to find cheap furniture in fairly good condition, but remember that this is an extra expense you’ll have to save up for. 
Furnished apartments are great if you’re not local, and it makes the moving process even easier. Just make sure the furniture is in good conditions when you move in \nand\n out; you don’t want to put your security deposit at risk!
Hold on a second though! Before you start picking out a color scheme, you have to: Finalize Your Apartment Decision. \n`After scrolling through an extensive roster of furnished/unfurnished apartments, try narrowing down your list to 3-5 options. 
Begin scheduling tours by calling or emailing the real estate agent or landlord. Some realtors are even willing to schedule virtual tours through video call to follow social distancing regulations (or if you’re an out-of-state student). While on the tour, make sure to look at every single room and pay attention to details so you can take note of anything that looks broken or ‘off’. After you tour all the apartments choose the one that works best and begin the leasing process. 
It cannot be stressed enough, but \ndo NOT sign anything without reading it thoroughly first\n. If you are interested in learning more about negotiating your lease or how the process works \nmake sure to check out this article\n. Once you review the terms of your lease and you reach an agreement, it’s time to submit your first payment.
 This first payment should include the security deposit, first months rent, and any fees. If you started saving up money early this should be the first thing taken care of. If you didn’t quite save enough, it’s time to look at your options. One option is that you could ask your parents or legal guardian to help, but that isn’t always an option for everyone. Another option is looking up loans like the \n0%-interest loan\n offered by EDUrain to students who are eligible for the FAFSA to assist them with the cost of moving to off-campus housing. The last consideration is getting a loan through a private bank, and most likely, with high interest fees. Pass.\nOnce all of that is taken care of, determine whether you’ll need a moving truck (if you’re bringing a lot of furniture), or you can potentially save money if you have a friend with a truck, van, or any car to help with your travel. \nCongratulations! You’ve successfully acquired your first off-campus apartment *\nwipes tear from virtual face*. \nNow it's time to sit back, relax, and enjoy your new space and lifestyle!

How to Successfully Move Off Campus

You applied to your dream college, Yay! Now what? \nTime to fill out your FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) application.\nThe process of acquiring financial aid is very time-consuming and confusing. We wanted to make it a bit easier for you, so here's \na list of everything you need to file your FAFSA\n:\nTax Returns\nYou’re going to need your tax returns from at least two years before, so if you are filing for 2021-2022 you need your tax return from 2019. If you are a dependent, the ones you would use are your parents’.\nFSA ID\nAn FSA ID is just your username and password that helps make the process easier. While you aren’t required to have one, it helps streamline the process of filing your FAFSA. The FSA ID is \nespecially\n important if you plan on filing more than once, because it saves your information so you don’t have to re-enter it.\nList of schools you plan on attending\nThese are going to be the schools that receive your information and determine your eligibility status, as well as amount of aid granted. To enter the school, you will need a 6-digit code that the school can provide for you, or you can find at \nhttps://www.fafsa.gov/\n.\nSocial Security Number\nHave your SSN on hand while filling out your FAFSA. Your SSN acts as a unique identifier to you given to you at birth by the government. If you are not a US citizen, you can provide your Alien Registration Number as part of your application.\nAssets\nFAFSA will need some information you can easily find on your bank statement. 
Since 2017, the U.S. Department of Education also takes into consideration your investments and savings as a factor in determining your financial aid.\nThe FAFSA becomes open to all October 1 and closes June 30 of the next year. Remember that the sooner you fill it out, the higher your financial aid could be! This process can be time consuming, so we created a tool to help you fill out your FAFSA in under 5 minutes versus the typical 45+ minutes that it would take to fill out on \nhttps://www.fafsa.gov/\n.\nCreate your account today and get your federal aid!\n\nCREATE ACCOUNT\n\n 

How to File your FAFSA

Living on campus is convenient when it comes to being near your classes, but \nmoving off campus\n can be a difficult transition. Off-campus apartments can also be expensive—which is why we want to help make it easier for you, and get you the off-campus apartment of your dreams!\n✔ Budgeting\nBudgeting for your move off campus should start ASAP. Usually, most students look to move in between july and august. Try to find a job before the summer starts to save up enough money to make first months rent and security deposit. \nUsually, most students start looking for apartments around July or August. However, you should begin your search as soon as possible. Ideally, before Summer starts, we \nhighly\n encourage students to find at least a part-time job to save enough money for first month’s rent and security deposit.\nTypically, students plan on using FAFSA for off-campus housing, but it usually gets deposited too late to apply for housing in the Fall.\nThat’s why, if you’re working part-time or full-time as a student, EDUrain offers a 0%-interest loan for students looking to move off campus!\n✔ Schedule a Tour\nMake sure to walk through the apartment at least once before signing your lease. Don’t get scammed by landlords who will refuse to return a security deposit due to damage you didn't cause. Also be sure to take pictures of any damage you may have spotted.\n✔ Find the Best Renters Insurance\nMost places \nrequire\n you to get renters insurance, so you want to make sure that you get the best rate on the market. We've partnered with local companies to help students find the best price for their renters insurance.\n✔ Find Good Roommates\nMake sure your roommates are people you trust. Remember, you’ll have all of your belongings there, and you don’t want the person you’re living with to be a kleptomaniac! It’s also very important to find out if you and your potential roommates have \nsimilar dynamics\n (when it comes to things like studying and cleanliness).\nWe recommend that you print out a \nroommate contract\n as an easy way to set some ground rules. You can easily find various templates for roommate contracts on the internet, or RA’s can usually provide one upon request.\nNo matter what you decide to do, EDUrain is here to support you by providing you with the tools to make your move off campus easier. Our 0%-interest loans, apartment finding tool, and easy access to finding renters insurance are all in one place. \nCheck it out now! \n\n 

Checklist for Moving to Off-Campus Housing

Apply, apply, apply!\n The scholarship process is a numbers game. Make sure that you are actively searching and applying to scholarships; EDUrain makes that easy with one of the LARGEST, FREE databases of scholarships matched personally to YOU!\nKeep your social media clean:\n Did you know that colleges and scholarship committees do check your social media? Make sure you’re posting things that you would be okay with them seeing.\nDo the optional questions!\n When it comes to scholarships, everything counts, so make sure you’re filling out all the optional questions and putting your best foot forward in each application you send out.\nLook for scholarships at the college you’re interested in:\n There are a lot of merit-based scholarships that you can apply for at the college you’re interested in. Many students never find out about these scholarships until they get to campus, but most of these scholarships are only open to high school seniors. Make sure you’re early!\n 

Mon Aug 01 2022

Learning to Budget

Shawn Zhu | 1 min read

Tue Jul 26 2022

What is Renter's Insurance?

by Shawn Zhu | 3 min read

Fri Jul 08 2022

Credit. Credit. Credit?

by Shawn Zhu | 6 min read

Mon Jun 13 2022

Why Should I Move Off-Campus?

by Shawn Zhu | 2 min read

Thu Jun 09 2022

Looking for a New Apartment?

by Shawn Zhu | 1 min read

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Tips and Tricks for Signing Your Lease

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