Behind the Scenes: Creating the UGA International Student Life Housing Guide Video
Moving to a new country for college is exciting, but finding off-campus housing can be one of the biggest hurdles to overcome. To help, ApartmentsForAthens.com partnered with UGA International Student Life to create a comprehensive video guide for international students navigating the rental process in Athens, Georgia.
Why We Created This Video
Every year, UGA welcomes students from around the world to study, learn, and grow as a part of the Athens community. Many of these students have never been to Athens before or even the United States. Linden Dudley, Director of International Student Life, reached out to our team to help create a video to inform incoming international Dawgs about off-campus housing. After working with our team for International Student Orientation last summer to offer office hours, participate in the involvement fair, host a roommate mixer, and direct an Athens apartment bus tour, Linden trusted us to guide her students in the right direction. As part of her Suitcase Series, this video will be shared yearly with all international students ahead of their arrival in August.
As the Athens apartments experts, we’re uniquely qualified to help students understand the local rental market, navigate leases, find roommates, avoid scams, and figure out transportation. Our goal was to create a clear, engaging resource to help students confidently find housing and settle into life at UGA.
How We Made It Happen
First, we created a video plan that covered all the most common international student concerns when searching for housing.
Key Topics Covered
- Where to search for apartments
- When to start looking
- Rent prices & budgeting
- Lease agreements & deposits
- Roommate matching
- Transportation options
- Avoiding rental scams
- Moving-in tips
We then connected with Will Newbury, our videographer and former UGA international student, to bring our vision to life with professional filming, on-screen graphics, and clear visuals to make complex information easy to understand.
To give the students a sense of their new home, we filmed across iconic UGA and Athens locations, including the UGA Arch, Main Library, and Atlas Athens, a local apartment community. Our former social media intern, Ava Watson, served as the on-screen host, making the information engaging and relatable.
With Linden’s insights and approval, we finalized the video and got ready to distribute to international students starting for Fall 2025!
The Impact & What’s Next
The video has received great feedback from UGA faculty inside the international department and beyond and has already stated to help international students feel more prepared for their move to Athens. We look forward to the impact this resource will have on the next generation of international Dawgs and to see them soon for orientation this summer!
This project wouldn’t have been possible without Linden Dudley, Will Newbury, and Ava Watson, whose contributions made this guide a reality.
If you’re an international student at UGA, check out the UGA Off-Campus Housing - Suitcase Series Video and our International Student Guide on ApartmentsForAthens.com to make your transition easier. Welcome home, Dawgs!