I am a college student looking for change.

Is it possible for a full time college student to get an apartment without a cosigner?

• Here's the deal: I'm twenty years old, and I've been a full time college student since I was seventeen. I spent a few years living in the college dorms, but I decided dorm life wasn't for me, so I moved back in with my parents. Now I want to move into my own place closer to school, but I'm really scared that it's not a possibility for several reasons: 1. My job history isn't very stable. No matter what I'm always holding a job (or two or three) that pays all of my necessary bills, but due to conflicts with class schedules and whatnot I've had to change jobs somewhat frequently. The only long term job I've had for the past three years is hard to document because I basically babysit for several families around town and make a lot of money doing that. 2. I have no rental history. 3. I have no suitable cosigners. The majority of my family has really bad credit, and several major family members wouldn't qualify due to recent bankruptcies. I'm currently holding down a summer job that's going to be paying me about $1500 per month, and I plan on putting most of what I earn into savings and applying for apartments in August. I don't know if I even have a chance, though. Some apartments are willing to count my financial aid as income, and I plan on applying for work study and resuming a well paying job I had a few years ago to cover living expenses. Is there any point in trying, or am I just going to get shot down? It seems like a really tough position to be in if you're looking for your first place, most apartments require a rental history, and your parents can't cosign for you. Any recommendations? P.S. I'm not worried about being able to afford it. I know I'll be able to make ends meet one way or another. I'm just wondering if it's possible to get accepted to begin with, since that's my major obstacle..

• Answer:

  Shiloh, you are in a tough spot and based on the history you presented you may have to reserve a spot under a bridge near the university. You may not be worried that you can make the rent payments, but your landlord will be. I have rented to students and the experience has not been good. Did you consider finding someone who has an apartment and needs a roommate to help share the rent?