After living in a dormitory my first two years of college, I decided it was finally time to upgrade to apartment living. This past summer, I was extremely excited to get all my apartment apparel together, and move into my own room! While I have three other roommates in the apartment, I knew it was going to be so nice to have my own personal space. However, I knew there were going to be some things that I was going to have to learn. I knew I was going to be responsible for cooking my own meals, figuring out the new bus transportation to campus, and keeping up with the cleanliness of our shared kitchen and living area. I haven't even lived in the apartment for a month, and I can already say it's a lot different and better than being in a dorm.
1. You have your own room
While I did enjoy sharing a space with roommates my first two years at school, it can get overwhelming sometimes. No matter how much you may like each other and get along, sometimes, you crave your own space. When you're in an apartment, you can keep lights on as long as you need, and you can go to bed at whatever time you need to. Plus, you don't have to worry about waking up any roommates if you come in the room late or wake up early.
2. You can make your own meals
If you thought you had to become more independent when you lived in a dorm, you really have to become independent when you live in an apartment. Cooking is essential when you are living on your own. Even though I hate to admit it, I really am not the best cook in the world. If I'm being completely honest, I really don't know how to make a lot of stuff; but this is definitely the time to learn! In a dorm, you really don't have the space to make your own meals. And if you do have a kitchen in your dorm, it's probably extremely small. Plus, in an apartment, you actually have to do your own grocery shopping.
3. People are allowed to have pets
Whether you have a pet in your apartment or not, you have to admit that seeing others people's pets around the complex is the best thing EVER. I always enjoy seeing peoples dogs running around in our little grass area, and seeing them play with each other is priceless. For all those times that you joked about sneaking a dog into your dorm, now you actually don't have to worry about breaking any rules.
4. You have parking right outside
Depending on the school you go to, underclassmen parking is the absolute worst. Especially for freshman, you usually have to park your car in a lot that's far away. I had friends my freshman year that parked more than two miles away, and the only option they had to get their car was taking a bus. With an apartment, you can walk outside, and your car is a few steps in front of you.
5. Your mail isn't a pain to pick up
Having a PO Box on campus can be such a hassle. Unlocking your mailbox can sometimes be impossible, and you constantly have tons of people around you also trying to open their mailbox. Plus, if you get a package, waiting in that long line is never fun. Now, I can see my mailbox from my window! It's easy to pickup, and packages come to my door instead of sitting in a large mailroom full of other people's stuff.
