With college comes a slew of decisions, including which university is best for you, which major you want, which subjects to take, and where to live. While you may not realize it at first, deciding where to live is a significant decision that you will be responsible for for the next four years. If you’re not sure what you want, here’s a quick rundown of your options, along with the benefits and drawbacks of each.
Campus living is a popular choice. Sharing a dorm with other students allows you to get the full college experience, including 3 a.m. pizza dinners in a crowded room, full participation in college life, and close contact with friends. If you’re a full-time student with very short breaks between classes, living on campus is the best option. If you frequently use the college library or need to transport a large number of books or materials, living on campus will make things much easier for you. If public transportation is unavailable, living on campus may be your only option.
On the other hand, living on campus is costly. Living on campus can be up to three times more expensive than renting a place in the city, depending on the college. It can also be inconvenient and inconvenient in terms of privacy.
It is usually less expensive to live off campus than it is to live in a college dorm. It gives you the freedom to live your own life without worrying about curfews, noisy roommates, or the other distractions that come with college life. On the negative side, finding a landlord willing to rent to a group of out-of-state college students may be difficult.
You’ll almost certainly need to furnish your own apartment, though finding secondhand items to furnish a small apartment is usually not a problem, as students tend to leave a lot of things behind when they graduate and move on. Safety is also a major concern. Campuses usually have their own security 24 hours a day, so if you live on campus, you won’t have to worry about walking around after dark. However, if you live off campus, you’re on your own.