On Campus Versus Off Campus Living It is true that students have to choose what kind of resident they want to be. Whether it is living within one of the various residence halls established by the university or trying a hand at apartment life, one must feel the weight of occupancy financially and realistically. There are many aspects of college life that should be considered before making such a decision. Maturity, convenience, and living style are factors that will give a person a good idea of where they might want to live. On-Campus Life If you like to meet new people and can handle sharing well, on-campus living might be for you. Not only will doors open for you in your social life, but you will also never be lonely or bored. This kind of lifestyle is not what it may appear to be. You will have less privacy than usual, and gossip might become a problem. Here, you will have to learn how to live with a diverse group of people, whether you like them or not. Then there is living closely with one other person. Waking up to your roommate's snoring can be a revolting experience if you have never shared a room before. Perhaps it might be your suitemates who gang up on you during social gatherings. If you make any enemies in your suite, you will have to deal with them for the rest of the semester. Off-Campus Living If you like privacy and a feeling of independence, then off-campus living is definitely for you. Financially, however, you have to be prepared to shell out a few more bucks to cover bills and food expenses. Nonetheless, you will finally be learning how to live on your own. Paying the bills, cleaning the apartment, doing your laundry, cooking the meals, and balancing your checkbook will be some of the skills you will acquire or improve. If you like cleaning and get along with your (wisely selected) roommates, you will come out of this experience a stronger, more mature person. However, if you do not believe you can handle spending a little over $400 dollars a month on yourself and bills, perhaps you should look into on-campus living. Though this may be a higher standard of living, make sure you are up to the task of living on your own. Unless you are already financially independent, let us not forget the financial suppliers of this college experience: the benevolent parents. They have a very important role to fill in helping you make decisions that will affect the rest of your life. Always consult them if you need help with finances or are unsure of what move to make next. Depending on how controlling or lenient they might be, you may have a lot of difficulty or ease with adjusting to "life after high school". College is gratifying because half of what you need to learn cannot be learned in a classroom. |
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