Living on Longwood's campus for the second year has given me the opportunity to experience all the housing options available to students. While I personally have stayed in the dorms, I know multiple people who live in Longwood's off campus housing, as well. Before anyone makes a decision about where they live next year, they need to take their time learning about the positive and negative aspects of housing. I personally am so glad to have stayed on campus this year, but would not have minded to move off.
Pros:
1. Everything is five minutes away.
If you snooze your alarm and wake up with three minutes to get ready you can rush around the room to get clothes then leave for class and be there with time to spare. You never have to worry about taking a long walk or having to catch a ride to class.
2. Making new friends.
Even though this year I already knew most the people on my hall, there still is a chance to make new friends. My freshman year everyone hung out in the hall and we were all close like a family.
3. You get that true college experience.
Without living in the dorms you really are missing out on getting to know and be involved with your school. Dorm life really is more then it looks like on TV. It's not all parties and riding down the hall on a skateboard.
4. You don't have to clean a big space.
With the dorms the spaces are fairly spaced so there is not that much space that going to be needed to clean. Max you did is vacuum and swifter and tidy up. The bathroom isn't that big of a challenge either because you and your suite mates have to clean it so there are at least four of you cleaning it.
Cons:
1. You have to share a bathroom with a lot of people.
Sure it's nice when it comes time to cleaning the bathroom, but when it comes to using it you have to deal with the other people who would need it. After color wars all you want to do is take a shower but you can't because there was three other girls waiting to do the same thing. If all of you have an 8 a.m. some of y'all are going to have to either wake up really early or just shower the night before.
2. Limited access to appliance.
There is never open washers and dyers when you need them. The limited access is the worst thing ever, because there are 400 or so residence all trying to use the 6 available washers. You don't have a kitchen, either, so you're reliant on the dinning hall system.
3. There is no privacy.
If you don't lock your door than anyone can just walk in. Having issues with your roommate can end badly, as well. If you two don't get along then they're more likely to let people mess with your stuff.
