Colleges/universities that allow snakes

Yup...I went to the University of Illinois and they had a fish only rule...and what college student can afford cool fish!? I had a really cool RA on my hall and he didn't care at all...so I kept tarantulas and scorpions; and when the big guns came around he gave me a heads up and I stashed them or moved them somewhere safe (there were some really easy hiding spots).

And it wasn't just my RA...at one point a 5 foot retic. got loose in the dorm somewhere and vanished, everyone was searching for months! Sad for the snake, but goes to show just why they don't want pets around drunk college kids (my cages had actual locks on them just to kill the 2am "lets play with the spider" ideas)

I've got my BP in my dorm room. I didn't get into snakes until after I started college, and I've been on campus the whole time. Like many people have said, it's really not the best idea, but since I couldn't get off campus this year, I can't quite help it. I keep the tank hidden in my closet, and not many people know about her. The up side of the dorms here (Oklahoma State U) is that they don't check your room with out you knowing about it....They post when they are going to do any maitnence over the breaks, so I just take her with me on the longer breaks (like this past Christmas break). I also have someone who would take care of her if I was to get caught and forced to get her out of my room. But they really aren't very strict on the rules here....the vet I go to graduated from here, and claims he always had several lizzards or snakes in his dorms :P

It is also usually cheaper to live off campus if you can. My lack of "real" money was my issue this year (I have scholarships and what not that go right to the school) but as soon as I can, I'm getting off campus.

you could go to a college near to your home and keep your herps there. lol. but that was probably not the answer you were looking for.:rofl:

I think there's an issue here that hasn't been addressed yet:



What do you do when you finally move off-campus and your LANDLORD doesn't allow pets? I found a great off-campus apartment and am living with my two snakes in my closet of a room. Unfortunately, my lease technically prohibits any pets - I did check with my landlord first about my snakes and he said it shouldn't really be an issue, since my snakes don't make noise, don't smell, and don't bother anyone else in the house.

However, I was not able to bring my beloved adult bearded dragon because of his absolute voracious appetite for big, ugly insects. Not wanting to get on bad terms with my new landlord I opted to find my beardie a new home.

How do you find a landlord that, on top of everything else, allows herps? Any thoughts on that?

:weirdface

I am currently a sophomore in College. During my Freshman year I lived on campus, and consequently was restricted by the University's no pet policy. I think most colleges and universities prohibit anything but fish in their dorm rooms due to the obvious concerns involving noise/mess/property damage/ potential escapes. This year, however, we moved into an off campus apartment that is tolerant of all 'caged' pets (no cats, dogs, or rabbits but anything else goes). As for finding an apartment that allows animals, your best bet is to go for housing that isn't specifically geared towards students. If having pets is something you desire, then you need to make finding a pet friendly landlord a high priority. For next year, my roommates and I are moving to another complex. During the search for a new apartment, we went through a LOT of trouble finding a place that would allow our pets. In our apartment we now have 10 snakes, a bearded dragon, a pac man frog, and 2 ferrets, so finding an apartment that not only tolerated but allowed pets was a must. We eliminated MANY, MANY apartment complexes that were otherwise suitable for our needs but that would not allow pets. There are pet friendly apartments out there, but most of them charge some pet related fee. For example, the town homes we are moving to next year allow all pets, but charge a pet fee of $250 dollars nonrefundable up front. Pet Friendly apartments are out there, it just takes a lot of searching and sometimes a little more money to find them.

Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences! I'm heading to college next year and this thread has been very helpful.

I go to UConn and live an hour away from here (I have an on campus dorm and a roommate who is terrified of snakes so no hiding them in a closet!). I go home every weekend to take of my animals, so yes I miss out A LOT of my college experience by having pets at home, but I don't regret it at all. To me it cancels out, I love my snakes/beardie and wouldn't give them up for anything.

UConn is considering having an 'animal friendly' dorm for next year. But its still shaddy on what​ animals those will include.

I went to Mount St. Mary's University and we had to take everything home with us when we left, so we couldn't even keep the tank or remnants there for our fish.

One of my ex-roommates had a hamster and got kicked off campus for it... thank god.

I think a list of apartments that allow snakes would be more useful, not just to those attending college/universities, but to those just trying to find a place to live. The least we can do is point out apartments near campuses.

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Originally Posted by slither9192

I think a list of colleges and universities (in the US) that allow snakes in dorms would be very helpful to many people including me. I am starting to look at colleges but I need to know whether or not they allow snakes (and of what size). So if anyone goes to a perticular college/university that does or doesn't allow snakes could you please post the name. Hopefully we can compile a good list.

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This may not make me many friends on this thread....but I feel it needs to be said....(in my opinion and personal experiences) pets should NEVER be the sole reason for not attending the college of your dreams...especially for undergrad.
The 3-5 years that undergrad represents are some of the most formative of your entire life and letting pets hold you back is only doing yourself a disservice. I am pretty sure the vast majority of colleges have a no pets policy for dorm residents...I know Shenandoah University, U of Colorado @ Boulder and The George Washington University all have 0 tolerance policies for pets in the dorm...With the RARE exception maybe for legally certified and paper worked service animals.

and running the risk of potentially getting kicked out of the dorms for a pet just isn't worth it...especially the kind of stress that would add to what can be a stressful first year...