Where you decide to live each year will have an enormous impact on your overall college experience. While a big part of the decision is personal preference (and your budget), it's a good idea to run through the following questions before you make your decision:
1. Costs involved. Living away from your campus is generally easier on the wallet when it comes to rent, but there are additional costs to consider. As an apartment resident, you'll have utilities to pay and the costs of getting to campus every day. Parking might be an expense in either case, but it may be cheaper for an on-campus student to park than someone who commutes. Don't forget to factor in the cost of groceries if you plan on living off-campus and compare that to the 'board' costs of eating at the dorm cafeterias.
2. How will my mailing address impact my social life? A lot. If you choose to life away from campus, chances are, you'll also be somewhat removed from the spontaneity of the social life in the heart of the university. For some students, that could be a good thing, while others would miss the energy involved in living among other like-minded people. You'll need to ask yourself if you are the type of person who requires privacy and down time. Apartment living would provide more space when it comes to bathrooms and sleeping arrangements, but would likely lack in the social department.
3. Study support: Living on campus definitely has benefits when it comes to studying. Most campus libraries never close, in fact. For students who like to study the night away, there's a safe and quiet place to do so. Living on campus also provides ample opportunities to meet with study groups or attend extra lectures, and so on. If you need to take a bus or drive into the heart of the scholastic activities, bad weather could prevent you from doing so.
4. The overall college experience: While it won't really matter how much fun you had in college twenty years from now, where you end up living has a pretty big impact when it comes to 'experience collecting' in life. While you're probably a little young to start writing your 'bucket list', some would consider a full on-campus college experience to be among the things they want to do during their lifetime. Others, however, want to get that degree and move onward to higher earning.
After giving these things some thought, it should be pretty clear to you which type of living arrangement would best suit your needs. If, however, you are still confused, take heart. Most college towns offer rentals within walking distance of the heart of the university. You could have the best of both worlds if you find one of these gems.
1. Costs involved. Living away from your campus is generally easier on the wallet when it comes to rent, but there are additional costs to consider. As an apartment resident, you'll have utilities to pay and the costs of getting to campus every day. Parking might be an expense in either case, but it may be cheaper for an on-campus student to park than someone who commutes. Don't forget to factor in the cost of groceries if you plan on living off-campus and compare that to the 'board' costs of eating at the dorm cafeterias.
2. How will my mailing address impact my social life? A lot. If you choose to life away from campus, chances are, you'll also be somewhat removed from the spontaneity of the social life in the heart of the university. For some students, that could be a good thing, while others would miss the energy involved in living among other like-minded people. You'll need to ask yourself if you are the type of person who requires privacy and down time. Apartment living would provide more space when it comes to bathrooms and sleeping arrangements, but would likely lack in the social department.
3. Study support: Living on campus definitely has benefits when it comes to studying. Most campus libraries never close, in fact. For students who like to study the night away, there's a safe and quiet place to do so. Living on campus also provides ample opportunities to meet with study groups or attend extra lectures, and so on. If you need to take a bus or drive into the heart of the scholastic activities, bad weather could prevent you from doing so.
4. The overall college experience: While it won't really matter how much fun you had in college twenty years from now, where you end up living has a pretty big impact when it comes to 'experience collecting' in life. While you're probably a little young to start writing your 'bucket list', some would consider a full on-campus college experience to be among the things they want to do during their lifetime. Others, however, want to get that degree and move onward to higher earning.
After giving these things some thought, it should be pretty clear to you which type of living arrangement would best suit your needs. If, however, you are still confused, take heart. Most college towns offer rentals within walking distance of the heart of the university. You could have the best of both worlds if you find one of these gems.
About the Author:
Bob Rome is a higher education writer and part time university instructor. He has contributed to websites on online degree programs and online degrees in education.
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