There are many excuses universities give as to why college students are ushered into dorms their first year. Nevertheless, it’s a trend that should be abandoned in favor of off-campus student apartments and here’s why:
1. Dorming is basically jail with extra steps.
Sleeping next to someone on a flimsy bed in 200 square feet of poorly painted cement block enclosed misery is also how one might describe a holding cell at your local jailhouse. Shall we continue this analogy? You spend all your time inside there reading, have to share a shower with far too many people of the same sex, you’re much more likely to get into territorial altercations with your ever-near bunkmate, you are never safe from random room checks, you have to get the O.K. for visits, you don’t get to choose what’s on the menu, and don’t even think about having special time with that cutie from the mess hall. You get the picture.
2. Campus becomes your whole life.
You would be living on campus, going to school on campus, and probably even working on campus too. That seems like far too much of the same scene. Living off campus allows you to explore your college town and catch a much-needed break from school. Worried about making it to class? Well, if your city is a well-known college town (or even if it isn’t) it probably also has a decent public transportation network. If not, find an apartment that’s close enough and bike it out.
3. I-N-D-E-P-E-N-D-E-N-C-E
Dorms tend to spoon-feed residents in ways that off-campus student apartments simply don’t put up with. Get yourself to school, pay your own utilities, go out and make your own friends. Having more responsibilities helps prepare you for adulthood – a class most universities simply don’t offer.
4. Safety
News flash: on-campus housing is a LOT less safe than off-campus. You would think that the high population density and stricter policies would improve safety, but sadly, this is not the case. More sexual assaults occur on campus and the high-trafficked/shared-spaced dorms are more prone to theft. Opt for the relative privacy (and safety) of apartment living.
5. Money Problems
Strangely, your prison-style room and board comes with a pretty staggering bill, and you could end up paying a lot more for a lot less. Parking passes, meal plans, and fines you might acquire over the course of any rule-breaking add to an already over-priced living space. Not worth the walk to class, especially when there are plenty of non-dorm student apartments located just steps from most colleges.
Student apartments are really the better option. Unfortunately, many universities don’t allow their freshman classes to opt-out of dorming. If that’s the case for you, our advice is to stick it out anyway and try to remain positive about doing time – this too shall pass.
If you liked this article, check out Off-Campus IS The College Experience
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