Most students tend to live in a dorm during their freshman year of college. There are plenty of articles, listicles, and how-to guides giving you advice for surviving in the dorm life. But no one prepares you for living in campus housing beyond your freshman year. For those of us upperclassmen who live in on-campus apartments (or for some people, they're still in dorms), the pro/con list seems never-ending.
I thought I would highlight a few of these struggles as well as benefits of living on campus beyond freshman year:
1. Pro: We never have to worry about parking.
By not having to spend an hour looking for a parking spot each morning, we get to sleep in. Some of us wake up 10 minutes before class starts (although I don't recommend that).
2. Con: We probably don't have a car.
While we don't have to worry about parking, that's also probably because we don't have a car in the first place... hence why we have to live on campus.
3. Pro: There's always a place to go if we want to get away from our roommates.
In off-campus housing, it's hard to find somewhere else to go study, unless, of course, it's the apartment complex lobby. I can just walk right over to the union or the library if I want to get away.
4. Con: Our WiFi isn't the best.
Most universities' WiFi is notorious for suddenly going out and not working. Unfortunately, LSU is not immune to this fact.
5. Pro: When something does go wrong, they're always willing to fix it free of charge.
Off-campus apartments want to spend the least amount of money as possible. Universities want their students to spend money and live in their housing, so they know that sometimes they have to spend money to make money.
6. Con: The walls tend to be "paper thin."
We hear loud stomping from the floor above us and noises we'd rather not hear coming from our roommates.
7. Pro: We still have RAs.
Thankfully we have RA's to put a stop to those issues listed above, whereas in off-campus housing, your options are limited to calling security (if they have it) or the police.
8. Con (?): Our friends beg to stay with us the night before a big game.
See #1 for reference.
9. Pro: Every resource we could possibly need is within walking distance.
Dining hall? Check. Library? Check. Student Health Center? Check.
10. Pro: We get more involved.
There are statistics (that I'm too lazy to find tbh) that show students who live on campus are more involved with the social scene and have a more positive college experience, versus those who commute to campus.
While living on campus after freshman year has its pros and cons, it has proven to be a very positive experience for everyone I know who lives near me.
