The idea of living on campus seemed terrifying before I actually lived on campus. The thought of moving into a small room that I had to share with a complete stranger scared me. Living on campus is not perfect, but it definitely has many perks. Below are some of the advantages and disadvantages of living on campus.
Advantages
- 1) You might find a friend in the stranger you end up living with for a year. I went random with my roommate, and it was one of the best decisions I have made in college. It is okay to not be best friends with your roommate, but I got lucky and mine quickly became one of my best friends. I know when I need a good pep talk after a bad day or a person to make midnight fast food runs with, my roommate is always there for me.
- 2) Most of your classes are only 10 minutes away. This is especially helpful when you over sleep for your 9 a.m. class. Living on campus also means you can walk most places which helps prevent the freshman 15.
- 3.) There is access to lots of great food. There are almost no reasons to ever actually leave campus. Most college campuses have a Starbucks and a Chick-Fil-A, so what other food options could you actually want?
Disadvantages
- 1) Dorm rooms are small. This is one of the biggest adjustments many college freshmen have to make when they move on campus. It seems like an impossible task to fit all your t-shirts in the dressers the dorm provides. Eventually you find creative ways to organize your belongings, and the small dorm eventually starts to feel like a home away from home.
- 2) You have to share bathrooms with complete strangers. I got lucky and have a suite style bathroom, but it still has its disadvantages. You are no longer able to just take a shower whenever, and you have to accommodate other people. It can be an adjustment from having complete freedom to having to share.
- 3) You are stuck in the school bubble. Sometimes after a long week of studying and tests you just want a break from campus. This is harder when you live on campus, but you find off-campus venues like a nearby coffee shop or restaurant that you can go to when you need to get away.
