Living Arrangements for College Students

You’re reaching a point where college is coming close, but you’re not sure about your future living arrangements. Let me help you familiarize yourself with it!

Living On Campus:

Pros: Living on campus allows you to live with other first-year students, where you can help each other adjust to this new environment. In most cases, students aren’t used to being away from their families, so this is a big adjustment. Despite this, don’t let this discourage you, as most students come from similar backgrounds, so you can build a support system and gain independence and self-reliance as a team. Living on campus is much more convenient to make friends or participate in school activities or events. The proximity of your environment can allow you to sleep later and release any stress if you’re often late.

Cons: Despite your preference for a one-person dorm, there’s a possibility that students are assigned a shared room. Unfortunately, not everyone is lucky to have a great roommate and be paired with someone you aren’t compatible with. Whether the incompatibility is due to conflicts regarding hygiene, inviting guests, or a little thing, in most cases, student affairs are unable to revise all students’ living arrangements; the ability to resolve a conflict on your own is crucial. Dorm inconveniences are common, especially with holiday or summer breaks when they close it off to students, requiring you to repack constantly or with shared laundry rooms with students taking your unfinished load out. Dorming requires patience, especially if you’re not used to doing things differently from your family house.

Living Off Campus:

Pros: You have much more opportunities since students aren’t as restricted with privacy and freedom, where you can ensure a room for yourself. It will improve your independence because of you: managing more responsibilities with bills and groceries. You have more flexibility, making it unnecessary to pack as often.

Cons: Unfortunately, this choice is a more expensive alternative because of the rent and utility bills. These necessary expenses make it critical to develop a plan to meet them. With more responsibilities, it does prevent you from spending time at parties or studying for classes. The distance from your apartment and college could also stress you out as you might feel isolated amongst college friends living in dorms, who are more involved with the active events.

Commuting:

Pros: Staying at home will save you money with reduced rent and home-cooked meals. You’re also in a familiar and comfortable environment, with fewer distractions because you’re not waking up to parties in the middle of the night. The benefits of staying at home include lower rent and home-cooked meals. You’re also in a familiar and comfortable environment, with fewer distractions because you’re not waking up in the middle of the night: to partygoers.

Cons: Because you’ll be using your car so often, it leads to increased transportation costs with more car maintenance and fuel prices. It’s more difficult being involved on campus when you’re isolated; making friends and being involved in activities will require more effort. You have to manage your time effectively for traffic, especially if you’re not a morning person.