Why Do So Many American Students Rent a 2 Bedroom Apartment Instead of TRU Residences?
If you’re going to attend Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops, living in TRU residences isn’t suitable for everyone and spaces can fill up quickly, so having a roommate and sharing a 2 bedroom apartment rental may make more sense. In our experience as property managers for Summit Village Residences, this is especially the case for American students.
Below are the main reasons U.S. students rent an apartment in Kamloops.
TRU Residences Fill Up Quickly
TRU residences are convenient for international students, which also means there is a lot of competition for available spaces. Being admitted to TRU is not a guarantee of on-campus accommodations. If you plan to attend in September, spaces are often full by mid-July and there may not be a waiting list.
You Can’t Always Pick Your Own Roommates
When you’re accepted into TRU residences, choosing your roommate is limited and you can’t always find the right match. TRU allows students to search for and request a roommate using a roommate matching portal, and as the TRU housing website tells you, choosing the right roommate is a vital part of an optimal student experience.
When you rent an apartment, you can choose to live with whomever you want. You’ll still have to find a good match, but you have more people to choose from. Not only do you have other TRU international students and local students as potential candidates, non-students are also potential roommates.
A 2 Bedroom Apartment Rental Buys Freedom
When you rent a 2 bedroom apartment, in addition to a place to live, you’re buying the freedom that comes with it. Although you have to be respectful of your roommate, you can come and go as you please, cook more or less when you want, and study or relax on your own schedule.
More Space and Privacy
TRU residences can be cramped and although there are shared spaces such as full kitchens and TV lounges, you’re sharing these areas with many other students. When you rent an apartment, you have more space and privacy, with less noise and chaos!
You Choose Where in Kamloops to Live
There are many 2 bedroom apartments for rent in Kamloops, so you can choose where in the city you’d like to live. Some apartments, like Summit Village Residences, are very close to campus.
U.S. to CAD Exchange Rate Makes it Affordable
American students also enjoy the benefit of Canada’s comparatively weak dollar. At the time that we are writing this blog post, $1 dollar USD is worth $1.38 CAD and historically, the U.S dollar has been much stronger than the Canadian dollar for many years.
Today, the exchange rate on rent for a 2 bedroom apartment at Summit Village Residences would result in this difference:
$2,050 CAD
$1,484.70 USD
Summit Village Residences Welcomes TRU Students
Summit Village Residences has many TRU students who choose to share an apartment rather than live in TRU residences. Our building is located in Sahali on Summit Drive near the Springhill Drive intersection. View a Google Map. From our buildings, you can walk to TRU in 25 minutes or grab a bus at the bus stop just outside our doors and be at TRU in under 15 minutes.
