It’s a question we are all faced with when we enter college: should I live on or off campus? In addition, after freshman year you are allowed the option to move off campus and live someone nearby such as those “luxury” Kingswood Apartments or you can continue to live on campus at buildings such as East or West Res. Both options have their fair shares of pros and cons.
Everyone knows living off campus allows complete independence where you may set your own set of “house rules” whether those are “no ratchets allowed” or a cup is removed if an island shot is missed in pong. Compared to living on campus you are essentially free from the conventional rules of a residence hall. Ever felt as if you had no privacy at school? Then living off campus may be the key to getting some peace and quiet to finally finish all that homework you should’ve done last week. Living off campus and independent from campus could even, if a miracle were to happen, change you from a couch potato into a young responsible adult.
The pros of living off campus may sound great but there are plenty of cons that come along with it. How many times have you heard someone say that it is cheaper to live off campus? Is that statement actually accurate? No, living off campus being cheaper is a common misconception. Sure you are not dropping over $12,000 on room and board but every month you owe rent, upfront and in cash. Don’t forget about that water bill when you take your daily “let-me-contemplate-life” shower that takes you an average of 20 minutes. If you want to be entertained enjoy paying for your own cable and Internet too. Did I mention transportation? Well now living off campus will also require a car and money for gas. In an overall view it actually turns out to be more expensive and must be paid all upfront compared to being on campus where a loan could be used to pay for it.
Whether or not you live in the hood, better know as Woodcrest, or another one of the dorm halls such as West, living on campus allows more accessibility to the school, which may lead to being more involved. Unlike being off campus where you may only be close friends with whom you live, being on campus brings out a whole new social environment.The best part of living on campus are the utilities that are already installed into each building such as Internet and cable.
The largest cons I’ve ever come across are the privacy and space when living on campus is very limited due to having a roommate. If you can get past getting sexiled, the act of banning one roommate from the room to allow engagement in intimate relations, then you may just be able to survive the year with a roommate.
In the end it is up to you to find which option is better for you and if you plan on winging it next year and rooming with a random, may the odds be ever in your favor.
