At all costs, avoid the kinds of cages that have a wire bottom to keep them up off the base of the cage. I would prefer not to run the risk of broken limbs or bumblefoot and I only use solid-floored enclosures. Even commercial breeding operations avoid wire bottoms. Some people use shavings for absorbency, some use pee pads. I use the latter. In any case, they are very clean animals and I have never known one to deliberately sit in its own waste if it can avoid it.
On the matter of baths, dust only, avoid water. Which means, if you have asthma, might be best to give them a pass. But then my roommate has asthma and loves them to bits, even though he sometimes has trouble breathing
Good point about the lifespan, I forgot to mention that. As you're young you will want to consider all the major life changes you have coming up. Who will look after your chinchilla when you go away to college? Get married? Get your first apartment? Will you be able to take the little guy with you? They are a long-haul pet