Dear Expie... Words of Advice

Dear Expie,

I’m struggling to find a place to live for the upcoming fall semester. I want to stay close to campus but I don’t have roommates yet and can’t afford student housing like The Arrow. What should I do?

Sincerely, Helpless and Houseless

Dear Helpless and Houseless,

This is the perfect time of year to find and secure housing for the fall semester! Many students’ leases are near their end, so there will be lots of available homes and apartments in Bozeman. MSU has an off-campus housing resource website that provides helpful information on transportation, renter’s insurance, signing a lease and being a good neighbor. The website can be found at https://www.montana.edu/offcampusliving/. MSU also held an off-campus housing fair earlier this semester in February, and all businesses that participated post their home listings here https://offcampushousing.montana.edu/listing.If you’re in search of roommates, MSU has Facebook groups for each graduating class, and many students post in search of roommates. Facebook Marketplace is also a good place to find private rooms to rent in houses with other students. The room and home listings on all these websites vary greatly, and it’s not too hard to find an affordable bedroom to rent out! Asking your friends and classmates if they need or are looking for roommates is also a great place to start. Don’t be embarrassed that you haven’t found roommates, everyone is searching for housing and many would be more than happy to let you join in on a lease. 

Sincerely, Expie

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Dear Expie,

This is the first summer I’m staying in Bozeman, and I have no idea what to do with my time. I’m from a coastal area, so summers in the mountains are very new to me. What should I expect in regards to weather, job availability and outdoor activities?

Sincerely, Bored in Bozeman

Dear Bored in Bozeman,

Spending your summer in Bozeman is a perfect way to make the city feel more like home and discover something new you love! There are a ton of activities to learn and do, the weather is beautiful for recreation and Bozeman always has plenty of available jobs for entry-level positions. Because Bozeman is in the mountains, the weather is fairly mild, with an average July high-temperature of 83 degrees Fahrenheit and a low of 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Expect afternoon rain and thunderstorms, though. When students leave for the summer to go back home, lots of part-time jobs become available in every sector. Visit Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist or Indeed.com to find available jobs —you can even narrow your search by job type, pay and skill. Stopping into a business you would like to work at and asking if they’re hiring never hurts either! Plenty of businesses would be happy to give you an application. Bozeman is also the perfect place to get outside. Drive an hour to Fairy Lake campground and spend the day soaking in the beautiful alpine lake, or head into Hyalite Canyon for rock climbing. You can even make a day trip to Yellowstone National Park and sightsee, or spend a weekend up in Glacier. There are plenty of hikes all over, too. The AllTrails app is a great resource for hikers of all levels, as it provides a description of trails, their difficulty and a map. 

Sincerely, Expie

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Dear Expie,

I’m beginning to struggle in classes. I’m feeling burnt out from the long semester with no Spring Break and all of my classes are cramming lots of content and projects into the end of the semester. How do I keep my grades up and stay sane at the same time?

Sincerely, Burnt Out

Dear Burnt Out,

Let’s just start off by saying that you’re not alone in feeling tired and overworked at this point in the semester. Losing our Spring Break is really hard on students both academically and mentally, and professors tend to load up on projects and exams near the end. But don’t worry, because MSU has some fantastic resources to help you get a grasp on your work. The Allen Yarnell Center for Student Success can help you find tutors and create a plan to stay ahead of your work here at school. SmartyCats tutoring is great for help on difficult assignments, and if you need to talk to someone about how you’re feeling this time of year, MSU Counseling and Psychological Services offers ‘Let’s Talk’ drop-in counseling, group and individual counseling and more, and is available for free to any student taking over 7 credits. Even though we didn’t have a spring break, it’s important to take some time away from school work and do something you love. If you have a favorite hobby, try to dedicate a weekend to doing that, or just get outside for a few hours to soak up some vitamin D. Spending a night with friends, watching a movie or going to your favorite restaurant are all good ways to clear your mind. 

Sincerely, Expie