Living on campus vs. off campus

Livingon-campusvs.off-campusIt'sthequestionthateverycollegestudentmustanswer:shouldyouliveon-campusoroff-campus?Bothoptionshavetheiradvantagesanddisadvantages,soitiscrucialforyoutoweighyourchoicesbeforeyoumakeafinaldecision.Tohelpyouchoosebetweenthetwo,herearesomeprosandconsoflivingon-campusandoff-campus.On-CampusProslAccessibilitytotheschool.Ifyouliveon-campus,youcaneasilywalktoclasses,libraries,computerlabs,cafeterias,etc.Youdon'thavetowastetimeandmoneyondrivingtoschool,findingaparkingspace,andsoforth.lIncreasedsociallife.Livingon-campuswillallowyoutomeetmorepeopleandestablishmorefriendshipsthanifyouliveoff-campus.Livinginadormmeansthattherewillalwaysbesomeonearoundtohangoutwith.Youwillalsousuallybeawareofanycampusactivitiesandhowtobeinvolvedinthem.lSimplicity.Ifyouliveon-campus,youdon'thavetoworryaboutmonthlyrentpayments,utilitybills,andgroceryshopping.Moststudentswholiveinadormgetamealplaninordertomakeeatingeasyandconvenient.ConslLittleprivacy.Whenlivinginadorm,itcanbeveryhardtofindprivacy.Youhavetosharebedrooms,bathrooms,etc.Thecloselivingquartersmeanthatyoumayneverhavequiettimeinyourdormbecausetherewillalwaysbesomethinggoingon.lLimitedspace.Atmostcolleges,thedormroomsaretiny.Youhavetolimitwhatyoubringtoschool,oryourspacewillbetoocrowded.Thatmeansyoucan'tbringadifferentpairofshoesforeveryoutfit.lPossiblelowGPA.Becausedormlifeisverysocial,yourgradesmaybeaffectedinanegativeway.Ifyouconstantlychoosehangingoutwithyourdormbuddiesoverstudyingatthelibrary,thenyourGPAwillsuffer.Off-CampusProslIndependence.Youwillnothavetofollowasmanyrulesifyouliveoff-campus.Residencehallshaveseveralrulesthatstudentsmustabidebywhenlivingon-campus.(Theserulesareusuallydesignedfortheoverallprotectionandsafetyoftheresidents).Livingoff-campuswillgiveyoufreedomfromthoserulesandallowyoutosetyourown.lPrivacy.Livingoff-campusmeansthatyouwillmorethanlikelyhaveyourownbedroomsoyoucanhaveaplacetosneakoffandhavetimealoneawayfromyourroommates.Theextraspacealsomeansthatyoucanprobablyfindaquietplacetostudyintheconvenienceofyourownhome.lSenseofresponsibility.Livingoff-campuswillhelpyoubemoreresponsible.Ifyouliveoff-campus,youwillbeinchargeofpayingbills,cleaninghouse,groceryshopping,andcooking.Beingresponsibleisagoodqualitytopossess(incaseyouconsiderthisoneacon).ConslMoreexpensive.Oftentimes,off-campushousingismoreexpensivethanon-campushousing.Utilitiesandcablecanbeanaddedmonthlyexpense,andyoumayhavetopayforyourownInternetaccess.Youwillalsoneedtobuyfurniture,kitchenessentials,bathnecessities,cleaningsupplies,etc.,whichcanbeaheftystart-upcost.lTransportation.Whenlivingoff-campus,itmaynotbeconvenientforyoutowalktocampussoyouwouldhavetofindtransportation.Whetheryoudriveyourcaroruseaformofpublictransportation,itisstillgoingtocostyoumoney.Trafficcanalsobeanissueifyouliveinacrowdedarea.lIsolation.Ifyouliveoff-campus,youmaynotbeasinvolvedwithcampusactivitiesasyouwouldifyoulivedon-campus.Thiscouldcauseyoutofeelasenseofdetachmentwithyourcollegeandcauseyoutonotmakeasmanyfriends.Whendecidingwhethertoliveon-campusoroff-campus,thinkaboutwhatisimportanttoyou.Youmayevenwanttoputtogetheralistofyourownprosandcons.Keepinmindthatsomecollegesdonotletfirst-yearstudentsliveinanoff-campusapartment;youwouldeitherhavetoliveinaresidencehallorathomewithyourfamily.Checkwithyourchosenschoolforregulations.