Part of the fun of going off to school is living on your own for the first time. For many, that will mean a dorm room with a roommate and a tiny bit of space to call your own. For others, it means finding the perfect college apartment.
For students trying to decide between apartment life and dorm life, here are a few things to consider:
Location – How close to campus do you want to be? Most dorms are on campus or on the fringes of campus. Apartments can be close-in, but some can be far away. Most students like to be within walking distance of their classes or on a bus line, since driving onto a campus and finding parking on a daily basis can be a real drag.
Food – Do you cook? Even though most colleges allow off-campus residents to purchase meal plans, if you’re living in an apartment, chances are you’ll need to cook your own meals at least some of the time. If you’re not much of a cook, the time to learn is before you move into your first college apartment.
Cost – Off-campus living can look less expensive on the surface, but it’s important to consider all the variables. Are utilities included in your rent? If not, a cold winter can zap your budget. You also need to factor in the cost of food, transportation and parking, if required.
Time – What do you do all day? Do you spend most of your day on-campus, even when you don’t have class. Then, perhaps living in a dorm is the lifestyle for you. However, if your college life mostly revolves around you going to class and then heading straight back home, then perhaps living in an off-campus environment will be the best fit.
These are just a few of the variables you should consider when deciding between living in a dorm or in off-campus housing.
What other factors can you think of when deciding whether to live on or off campus? Let us know about them in the comment section below.
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The most important thing when choosing whether to live off-campus or on-campus is the amount of privacy you require. A dorm will make having privacy at home almost non-existent.
Something to definitely consider in regards to cost is how willing you are to have roommates. Living with even just one other person can cut your college apartment expenses in half because studio apartments are almost always much higher.
I still can’t believe I shared a tiny 10×10 bedroom with a roommate with NO privacy for a year in my dorm. I don’t know how we did it. Yeah, we were on-campus and our dining hall was downstairs, but it was tight quarters! I much prefer my off campus apartment now- sure, we still share living spaces, but at least we can all close our bedroom doors and be alone!
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