I've heard more than a few horror stories about people who lost everything doing just that. 

Personally, I bought a 3 bed single family home soon after starting my job and had two friends from college rent which covered my mortgage plus a little extra.

Lots of people do short term rentals with pools, this is not very uncommon.

@Lorenzo Lopez good on you for getting into RE investing in college!

If you are willing to entertain areas outside Gainesville, you should look into areas like South Fulton, Forest Park ( lots of lower priced inventory) Jonesboro, and College Park to name a few.

I am about to graduate college in May 2025, and will be making about $120k (pre tax) in my full time job postgrad (Washington DC area).

I've heard people have had a great experience working with them!

It is located in an area that attracts college students/employees, working class families, and military families.

Looking at rentals for college students

The only thing that bests fear is courage and we only need a mustard seed of that to get things going...People often spend money on college and never go in to the field they spent that money on...the greatest lessons and the ones most remembered are learned 'on the job'.Wishing you more good news in the future and an exceptional 2025.