QUIZ: How to Decide Where to Live Next Semester

Every spring college students are faced with the challenge of determining where to live next fall. Should you live on campus or off campus?

Take the following college apartment QUIZ  to help you decide where to live next semester!

1.  Will You Have a Vehicle?  ___Yes  ___No

If you will have a vehicle next fall your living options are quite varied. You do not need to live within walking distance to your classes instead, you can select an apartment further from campus, which will usually save your money. Keep in mind that even if you don’t have a vehicle one of your roommates may have a car and could provide you with transportation. Just be sure your roommate will be heading to and from campus at the same time of day as you.

2.  Do You Want to Cook? ___Yes ___No

Most dorm rooms do not have kitchens, thus the cooking options are limited. The dorm may have a shared kitchen in the hall, but it’s likely not very clean and may not be accessible when you’re hungry and ready to cook. Therefore, most students living in a dorm have a meal plan. If you prefer to cook or at least have the option to cook occasionally, an off-campus living arrangement may be the best fit. You can eat out when you want, but also will be able to cook your own meals if desired.

3.  Do You Prefer Quiet? ____Yes ___No

Some students find they study better in silence. Others value sleeping without too many disruptions. On-campus housing can be noisy. Quiet study and sleep may be difficult to come by in a dorm due to social disruptions. If you prefer quiet you may want to look for an off-campus option that will provide you the peace you need to be successful. Verify with current residents that the off-campus apartment you’re considering is in a quiet part of town.

4.  Are You Ready to be Treated Like an Adult? ___Yes ___No

Once you move off-campus you will be taking a step toward adulthood. You will now be responsible for paying rent on time. You need to verify which utilities are included and which ones you’re responsible for. If the cable bill is not included you will need to pay that on time each month. Cleaning of the kitchen, bathroom and living areas will now be your responsibility. In addition, an off-campus apartment won’t have a Resident Assistant to enforce rules. You will be responsible for making appropriate decisions on your own. If you’re not ready to take this step, another year in the dorm may be in your best interest.

5. Are You Looking for Privacy?  ___Yes ___No

Dorms commonly have shared bathrooms and shared living spaces. Privacy is at a minimum. Therefore, if you’re looking for privacy, you may want to look at the off-campus living options. Most college apartments have individual bedrooms. So, you would have a single bathroom all to yourself. To save money people often share the common areas with a few friends. However, instead of sharing these areas with 20-50 people in the dorm you will only be sharing with a few. You will have more privacy than in a dorm.

This spring when you are considering what your college living arrangements should be next fall it may be worthwhile to investigate off-campus living options. If you answered YES to at least three of the questions in the quiz an off-campus apartment may be the best choice for you. Many students find that dorm living impedes their ability to do well in classes. They don’t have the privacy or quiet they need to be successful. An occasional home-cooked meal would be welcome at the end of a stressful week. Even the ability to bake a batch of brownies can help relieve stress. Other students want to take the next step toward adulthood. They want to start establishing a good credit report and a rental history so they are ready for post-college life. Use this quiz to help determine the best living situation for you.

Did we miss any pertinent questions that students should ask when deciding there college living arrangements? Let us know about them in the comment section below.