Making a choice about housing during college years can be a stressful process for students transitioning out of high school. Weigh the options carefully and consider personal, social, and financial needs to help ease the decision-making process. Simply understanding your options will keep you from being overwhelmed! There are pros and cons for each, so let’s take a look.
Living on campus
Opting to live on campus places you directly in the middle of campus life, often near study rooms, dining halls, and classroom buildings. Freshman year is time for you to evolve socially and make new connections. Living in a dorm gives you the opportunity to socialize and bond with many students who are going through the same experience.
Many colleges and universities require first-year students to live on campus to help them acclimate to campus life. Whether in a traditional dorm or a modern apartment, on-campus living can help students transition to living on their own without the monthly expenses of an off-campus apartment. Students may enjoy all of the same amenities like cable, internet, heating/air-conditioning and electricity, except that all of the costs are generally included in your semester tuition bill.
Students who lived on campus their first year may consider becoming a resident assistant (RA) the following year(s). Most on-campus housing departments hire upperclassmen as RAs to help mentor and engage dorm residents and to help uphold university policies in the dorms. Although being an RA comes with a lot of responsibility, it also provides free room and board and is great leadership experience to add to a resume.
Living off campus
Living off campus allows you to choose your location, style, and roommates. Most students who live off campus, either in an apartment or house, choose to have their own room, which also means more privacy and space. Another key benefit is that it helps build responsibility by requiring that you do certain things that you may never have previously done before, such as managing a budget to pay monthly bills, grocery shopping, cooking, and cleaning.
The cost of living off campus depends largely on location and type of housing. Research housing options in the area and include any transportation and parking costs to get to and from campus before making a final selection.
Commuting from home
Depending upon the distance between your family’s house and your college campus, you may have the option to live at home. Commuting from home typically allows you to reduce or remove some of the financial burden of having to pay for housing. Living at home may also make it more difficult to stay connected to campus events and friends. When considering this option, make sure to evaluate your priorities on campus, along with the cost of transportation and parking.
To determine which housing option is best for you, determine first which option best fits your personal needs, then make sure it fits your budget and financial needs. Researching your options on and around campus will help you determine the most cost effective and practical option to help you decide whether to commute or live on or off campus.