I've found with my snakes (i have 7 of them) that feeding responses change often. Sometimes they will take frozen/thawed, then the next time they insist on live.

To think that you can always just drop in the prey and the snake will take it is a really wide stretch - only f/t can be left in the tub unattended. If you have to feed live you must be there watching the whole time to avoid any injury to your snake.

I think with your current living situation and all the variables that need to fall into place in order for you to keep your snake - I would honestly just wait until you are in your own apartment where you can rely on "yourself" for the care that the snake will need for many years to come.

Don't want to be a "downer" and rain on your parade but things seldom work out when you have to rely on other people to take care of your pets.

Keep reading and learning all you can on how to care for the snake. You can even start buying all the supplies you may need ahead of time and then when you are all settled you can buy your snake knowing that you can be available to take care of him.

By doing it this way - money wont be such an issue either - you can save and afford all the nice caging/equipment for your snake.

Just don't rush into it.

I think you will be an awesome snake keeper once the time in your life is right.

Best of luck to you.