Some things in life are done best with the help of a recommendation, such as seeing a new hairdresser, picking a new mechanic or deciding where to live.

In a typical year, more than 50 percent of undergraduate students at UNC-Chapel Hill choose to live off campus, in a fraternity or sorority house or university-affiliated property. At N.C. State University, about 45 percent do. There, on-campus figures include students who live in Greek and other housing.

UNC-CH and NCSU students who plan to live on campus must apply by February, so a lot of off-campus apartment hunting happens in January. Some students go online to apartment rating sites such as www.apartmentratings.com and www.apartmentreviews.net for messages, both positive and negative.