You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
Your friend has been offered a place on a course at the university where you studied. He/she would like your advice about finding a place to live.
Write an email to your friend. In your email,
- describe where you lived when you were a student at the university
- recommend the best way for him/her to look for accommodation
- warn him/her of mistakes students make when choosing accommodation
Write at least 150 words.
You do NOT need to write any addresses.
Begin your email as follows:
Dear …………………………,
Sample Answer 1
Dear Kim,
First of all, let me congratulate you on your success in gaining admission to a great university where I also studied. I’d also like to thank you at the same time for having confidence in my advice in finding accommodation for you.
Of course, the best way to find accommodation at your university is to go over the daily local newspaper’s “classified” section, where many local residents post advertisements to rent out their flats to students. You could also try reading the “student union” notice boards where students frequently post ads to either find suitable roommates or share their flats.
By the way, you could also live in one of those single-bedroom apartments on Jenkins Avenue, where I also lived as a student at that university. These single bedrooms are a bit pricey, but you would probably like them because of their calm and nice environment.
But, wherever you choose to reside, please make sure that the flat or home you rent has a good central heating system because that place can get really cold during the winter.
Wishing you all the best.
Warm wishes,
Minh
Sample Answer 2
Dear Andre,
I hope you’re keeping well. It’s been a long time since we met. Many congratulations on your admission to SRCC. As I also graduated from the same university, I would like to recommend you to the Grand Madhu PG for accommodation. It is located near the campus, and the food is homely. Moreover, and rooms have beautiful views and a serene environment.
If rooms are already occupied, I will share your contact details with a couple of my friends in the area. Although they would be busy during the weekdays, I hope they will definitely help you out over the weekend. This would save the commission money you’d otherwise have paid to the broker for finding you PG.
Lastly, one mistake many students usually make while finding accommodation is opting for a shared space. It seems a good option initially, but later on, it ends up in dispute related to privacy issues. So it’s better to spend some extra money but choose an individual room.
I’ve shared my personal opinion with you. I hope that will help you. If you need any further details, I’m just a call away.
Warm wishes
PR Pram
Sample Answer 3
Dear Shaurya,
First of all, many congratulations to you for securing a position at your desired university, where I spent almost 4 years during my graduation.
As I told you before, I lived in a hostel near the university campus while studying at the university. It is a great place for students as it is adjacent to the university campus, has a low rent, and has a mess providing nice food at a reasonable monthly charge.
You can also try searching on the Kijiji app for some accommodations nearby. It gives very nice recommendations, and you can choose one that fits your needs and budget. Alternatively, you can look for the student union’s notice board to find the rent notice. Just look if other students are looking for roommates to share the accommodation.
And I also would like to warn you about a big scam that students face while looking for accommodation, and that is the fake middlemen that you meet up with while you are exploring different places searching for accommodation. They convince you with their sweet talks and take money from you in the name of token money for accommodation. Don’t even talk to such a broker.
Wishing you luck in your time at the university.
Warm wishes
Chetan
Sample Answer 4
Dear Erfan,
Congratulations on finally achieving your goal and being accepted by MIT University, where I have spent my entire postgraduate years.
Keeping track of your costs is critical if you’re a student. My first two years of study were spent in a basement on Wills Street. Being only five minutes away from campus, you may find it to be the right option.
Kijiji is the most reliable source for finding a place to stay among the many available sources. This well-known website connects you directly to landlords without any middlemen. It’s so competitive because the prices are so low, so you shouldn’t let this chance slip away.
Most of my friends decided to choose expensive accommodations, but you will spend most of your time researching in the Lab, so your room is just for rest and sleeping. Also, by looking into the advertisements, you may want to consider Kelves street on the downside of campus since prices are low there, but remember that the ground is so slippery in that area in the winter, and it is extremely difficult to reach the main drive, so I would recommend keeping it off the list.
Best Wishes,
Amir
Sample Answer 5
Dear Amy,
I hope you are doing well. I am so glad that you will be doing your masters from the same university where I graduated. I am writing this letter to advise you about finding a suitable place to live near the campus.
When I was a student, I used to live on West Broadway, which is about 15 minutes far from the main campus. It was a two-bedroom apartment that I shared with a fellow classmate. This was a great area to live in because of its connectivity to the university and downtown. Also, the bus stop was right in front of my apartment.
I suggest you search for decent accommodation on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace. You can filter the search by putting in the area and how many rooms you would like to live in. Apart from this, make sure to have a look at the college bulletin board. It has a lot of advertisements for vacant apartments.
Having said that, I would ask you to be careful with some choices. Firstly, do not share the accommodation with more than one person as it would cause a lot of distraction in your studies. Secondly, many times students find a place distant to the college to save on their rent, however, this is a bad choice which they regret later as a lot of time is wasted on the commute.
I hope you will find my advice useful.
Yours lovingly,
Preet Sohi
Sample Answer 6
Dear Brian,
I’d be more than happy to advise you on where to stay when you begin your course at university! I lived in an apartment building a few minutes away from campus when I attended. The building was a 10-minute walk from the main campus and 5 minutes away from the Spruceland Shopping Center. It had some gorgeous apple trees growing out front!
The best way to look for a place to live would be to look on Facebook. There, you’ll find many groups for people looking to rent houses, apartments, and even single rooms in someone’s home. In addition, you can easily direct message the homeowner if you find a place that suits your needs! It would be a really great way to not only find accommodation but also to practice your written English skills.
Make sure that you don’t make the common mistakes that other student renters make, though! Don’t go with the cheapest accommodation you can find if it’s further than a few minutes away from campus. If you do that, you’ll end up being late or skipping class more often than you think you will. Also, don’t move into the first place offered if it isn’t something you like!
Best wishes,
Mike
Sample Answer 7
Dear Jack,
I was surprised when I got your letter yesterday. I think it was last Christmas we wrote in between.
I’m so happy that you chose the same course you wanted to take, but the decision to study at the university I studied at makes me even happier. When I was a student there, I could not find accommodation near the college, as I joined late. So I stayed in Fraser Town for a year before moving to Thomas Town, near the college and the city.
I’m sure you will plan things in advance, so I think you can find better accommodation inside the city, proximal to the college. The best thing is that you must log on to this website and check for the same well ahead of your enrolment.
I should tell you one thing. Many students pay the rent before the occupancy and find themselves dissatisfied with the facilities. So, I suggest you pay just a token advance and contact my friend Mike who is doing post-graduation there. He’ll see whether it suits you, and then you can pay the rent.
Best regards,
Tom