When it comes to living situations during college years, everyone will have different situations. Some may complete their studies living back home with family if they choose a college close to home, while others prefer to dorm for the entirety of their college years for the numerous benefits of living on-campus. Many college students, however, experience a mix of living both on and off campus as their needs and desires change throughout their college years.
If you find yourself considering your living situation options, with off-campus housing being one of them, keep reading for tips on how to know if you’re ready to move off-campus.
You’ve done the research
It is no secret that many college students live on-campus during their first year of college for one major reason – it’s the easiest and most encouraged option for new incoming students. Not only does it offer close proximity to the campus and its resources, but it also grants a close community of fellow college students and staff available to benefit college students the most, from on-site RAs to maintenance and student housing staff.
Even if you choose to live fairly close to campus, off-campus housing causes you to lose out on many benefits that would come with living on campus, from nearby dining halls and classes within walking distance to having friends and peers close by at all times.
If you are choosing to live off campus, you want to make sure you have taken the time to research different aspects of living off-campus, including how you are going to get to campus, who you are going to live with, and the unexpected costs often come with living off campus.
If you’ve done the research, you may even consider that continuing to live on campus may be the right decision for you for the time being.
You’ve figured out transportation
Living on campus is beneficial for most younger students as they often don’t have a car on campus to drive to classes every day, or they aren’t familiar with the surrounding area to make use of public transportation. When living off-campus, housing options may be fairly limited when it comes to housing that allows you to live within walking distance of your classes.
If you are living off-campus, make sure you have figured out how you are going to get to and from campus. This can look different for everyone depending on their situation. Some are fairly active and find biking 10-15 minutes to and from campus with no issue, but if this is the case, make sure you have options for when the weather will make it difficult or near impossible to bike to campus.
If you are lucky enough to have a car to bring to campus, make sure you have everything figured out. Does your off-campus housing offer ample parking for you and your roommates if they also have cars, or is street parking limited? How much will parking cost on campus, and will it work in your budget?
If biking or driving aren’t viable options for you, consider public transportation, such as buses
that you can use to get around town and to campus. If you are looking into using buses to get around, make sure you have routes that service your housing area, have active hours that will work for your schedule, and can reliably get you to where you need to be. Some transportation systems will also offer discounted passes to local students.
You’ve considered the extra costs
While living on campus can be pricey, it often means that many costs associated with living on your own are considered in the price you are paying. From utility bills to groceries being swapped out for meal plans, living on campus can make more financial sense for some students than living off campus does. If you are going to move off campus, make sure you considered what you are going to have to start paying for, and if you are going to be able to pay for them. These costs can include:
– Transportation (parking permits, bus passes, gas)
– Groceries
– Utilities (electricity to water usage)
– Furniture: on-campus housing often comes fully furnished, saving students from having to shell out money to furnish their living space
You have the roommate situation figured out
One thing many students struggle with when it comes to moving off campus is having reliable roommates to share the space with. Unlike on-campus housing, off-campus housing requires everyone on the lease to be equally responsible for the rent to be covered in full and no extensive property damage to be made. If one roommate fails to pay their portion of the rent, all roommates are accountable for making sure that portion is covered.
If you are moving off campus and expecting to live with roommates, make sure you are living with roommates you can rely on.
Living off campus isn’t for every college student, but it can be a great step to take to get more living experience and fulfill your needs as you progress in your college experience.
Equal Housing Opportunity
