Short answer: Probably not. Most students want something different each year. As a freshman, you may care most about being close to class. By sophomore year, space and roommates start to matter more. By junior and senior year, cost, room to host and a quieter home often move to the top of the list. Knowing that ahead of time helps you pick a lease that fits the year you’re in and plan your next move before the good options fill up.
Read Next: When to Start Your Search for Housing as an A&M Student
Why Do Housing Needs Change From Year to Year?
Your life in College Station changes every year, so your home has to keep up. Classes get harder, your friend group settles, you pick the organizations you care about and you figure out how you like to spend your free time.
Carlos, a Texas A&M architectural engineering student staying at A&M for his master’s, moved three times in four years. Each move matched a change in what he needed. His path shows what to expect at each stage.
Read Next: How to Find the Perfect Student Apartment Near Texas A&M
What Do Most Freshmen Look for in Housing?
Location, usually above everything else. Carlos missed the campus housing deadline and had to find an off-campus place fast. He didn’t think twice about amenities.
“Freshman year it would have been something close to campus, something walkable and close to the engineering building,” he said.
He chose a studio in Northgate and lived alone, partly because he was “more comfortable living [with] people that I knew, especially as a freshman.” It gave him independence and his own kitchen, laundry and parking spot.
Freshman year is also when you have the least information. You don’t know yet who your closest friends will be or how much space you’ll want. That’s one reason a single-year lease with a clear plan for year two makes sense.
What Changes by Sophomore Year?
For Carlos, space. He loves having people over, and the studio couldn’t keep up.
“As much as I love living alone, the space was small. I love hosting. I love having people over,” he said.
He moved into a four-bedroom apartment with friends from high school. Private bedrooms meant he could still be alone when he needed to study. Timing changed too. After scrambling his first year, he signed his sophomore lease in October of his freshman year.
Neighborhood fit can shift as well. Carlos enjoyed living in Northgate as a freshman, but he’s honest about how that changed: “I guess the older you get, Northgate becomes pretty loud,” he said.
If you want to be in the middle of things, that’s a plus. If you’ll need quiet for heavier classes, look at soundproofing, study spaces and which side of the building your unit faces.
What Do Juniors and Seniors Usually Want?
More room and a better value. Carlos and his roommates moved into a house north of campus with five people total. “We wanted to up the ante,” he said. The house gave them more room to host, and by his estimate it costs less than his sophomore apartment.
The tradeoff was the commute. The house is less than a mile from campus, but he usually drives or takes the bus. He’s also taking on more upkeep, which he can handle because a roommate’s family helps with repairs. Not every rental comes with that, so ask who handles maintenance before you sign.
Is It Better to Move Every Year or Stay Put?
Stay put if the place still works. Moving takes time and energy. “I will say moving is miserable,” Carlos said. Between leases, he’s had to pack up, haul everything home and move it back weeks later. One summer, his solar car race ended July 31 and his lease ended Aug. 1.
Now that he’s found a house that fits, he’s staying for grad school. As he put it, there’s “no need to move again.”
When you choose a place, ask whether it can still work for you a year or two from now. A community with several floor plans can make that easier, since you can change layouts or roommates without changing addresses.
How Can You Plan for Housing Needs You Don’t Have Yet?
A few questions to ask before each lease:
- How will my course load change? If your major gets harder after freshman year, a private bedroom and quiet study space will matter more.
- Who will I want to live with? Your friend group at the end of freshman year may look different from the start.
- How much will I host? If friends gather at your place, shared living space matters.
- What’s my real monthly cost? Compare rent plus utilities, parking and commute, not rent alone.
- When does leasing open? Carlos’ advice is to “look at housing at the very beginning.”
Where Does The Jay Fit Into Each Stage?
The Jay is a new student community opening in Northgate in fall 2027. Floor plans range from studios to six-bedroom apartments. That range means a freshman who wants a studio and a group of five friends can both find a fit in the same building. The community includes study spaces, a fitness center, a pool and Daydreamer, an in-house cafe.
If you’re interested in learning more about living at The Jay, explore our floor plans or book a tour to see it for yourself.
Audrey
Audrey is a Property Marketing Intern for The Jay. She's a senior at Texas A&M University, majoring in Communications. Her favorite drink to order is an iced matcha latte with lavender syrup!
Published On: October 2, 2026
Last Updated On: October 15, 2026
