Maybe you’ve been living in a dorm for a while now and are considering moving off campus, or maybe you’re a new student trying to avoid dorm life altogether.
No matter what your reasons are for not wanting to live in a dorm room, here are some benefits of off-campus housing.
1. Freedom
Depending on the campus, sometimes dorm rooms can feel a bit too much like summer camp, and you’re ready for a change. If you move off campus, you won’t have to worry about adhering to curfews or other unwanted rules to dorm living. Off-campus housing means no more waiting in line for the showers and no more sharing living space with strangers. Imagine a life without an RA dropping by your room at any time.
2. Privacy
Unless you can afford a single dorm, you’ll probably be living with at least one roommate. When you share a small living space with other people, you’re sharing your whole life with them. Every habit, phone conversation, and personal belonging will be on display for your roommates to see and hear. If you’re a private person, dorm life may prove to be a challenge. Finding time to be alone may also be difficult since at least one of your roommates is bound to be in your dorm room at the same time you are.
3. Cost
If you do it right, you can actually find off-campus housing that’s cheaper than staying in a dorm. Consider renting a studio or micro-apartment. They’re less expensive, and they still offer more independence than a dorm room. If you’re someone who needs more space, find one or two people to move out with. When you have roommates sharing the rent, you’ll be able to afford more square feet.
4. Responsibility
While dorm life feels more like public housing or summer camp, off-campus living is an opportunity to have some real responsibility. On top of keeping up with school assignments, you’ll also be responsible for paying rent, cooking, cleaning, and dealing with a landlord. Moving out of a dorm is a great way to prepare for adulthood, especially if you’re a junior or senior who’s getting close to graduation. Life after college will be filled with a lot more responsibilities, so why not get apartment life out of the way now?
5. Accessibility
Many universities do not allow students to stay on campus during breaks and holidays. Dorm buildings often close during winter and spring breaks. Some even close during the summer, which makes taking summer classes a nightmare. If you’re someone who wants to stay in your college town all year round, off-campus housing would probably be best for you. You won’t have to worry about finding a place to stay for the weeks you won’t be allowed in your dorm room, and you’ll easily be able to take summer and winter courses.
Living off campus has a lot of benefits, but the most important thing to remember is to do what’s best for you. Some students like the structure of dorm rooms, and if you are one of those students, consider living on campus until you feel completely ready to move out.
About the author:
Kate Graham is a Sociology student attending Carroll Community College. In the spring, she plans on transferring to the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, where she will major in Sociology and Spanish with a minor in English. She lives in Carroll County, Maryland, where she works at three different libraries. When she’s not working, she enjoys writing screenplays, performing at open mics, and posting on her YouTube channel
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