Over the last few weeks, students were assigned lottery numbers and began to think about where they will live next year. If your lottery number doesn’t seem promising, or you were planning on finding an off-campus apartment anyway, then you may be facing a stressful search.

You may have trouble picking from the numerous realty companies available. Not to mention figuring out who you want to live with, in what neighborhood, for how much and which amenities you would like in your apartment. The whole task can seem quite daunting, especially considering the rush seems to start sooner each year.

I have personally taken part in the apartment search process for the past two years, and I still dread it. It seems that there are new real estate companies popping up every day.

From word of mouth and trusting my own instincts, I learned to weed out which companies I didn’t want to work with. Realtors work for landlords and it is their job to rent out apartments. Therefore, I felt as though some realtors were not looking out for my best interests. It’s hard not to get a little stressed out.

What many students may not be aware of is that Northeastern actually has an office available to students as a resource to help alleviate some of the stress. The Off-Campus Student Services (OCSS) Office is located at 226 Curry Student Center. The staff is there to help you at any point in your search or if you are already living off campus and encounter a problem. Maybe you got a chance to attend the Apartment Fair held by the OCSS Office Feb. 16, but if you missed it, there is going to be one more Apartment Hunting 101 session Feb. 22 at 6 p.m. in 14 International Village.

There’s even an online apartment database provided by the office at Northeastern.edu/offcampus/apartment. I work as a community ambassador for the office, and as a fellow student who has been through this, I know it is easy to feel pressured or even left behind.

Remember, most leases are for a full year, so don’t let yourself get lost in the shuffle or feel pressured into signing a lease. Be confident and utilize your resources, because you don’t want to be unhappy about your living situation before it begins.

– Kyle Kennedy is a middler psychology major and a community ambassador for the Off-Campus Student Services Office.