As I sit in my hometown, beginning to miss campus life again, I look in some of my group messages and remember that while several of my friends are home for the summer, many are still there, taking classes, working, hanging out. The majority of these are those living off-campus, whose housing does not require move-out after finals week. Not just in terms of summer living arrangements, but the experiences of the college student living on-campus and off can be fairly different, almost like different college "worlds" that meet up for classes.

I suppose one could consider there to be three or more "worlds," a third being those who attend college in the town they were raised in, staying at home. However, for these intents and purposes, I am analyzing the difference in college experience I seem to have observed between those living on-campus and those living off. It truly has baffled me, as I expected the stereotypical college experience to apply to most, but this is not always the case. Especially at JSU, because we are a smaller college campus that often sees students going home on the weekends even if it is a game day weekend, all that some of the campus commuters, as the off-campus dwellers are referred to, may see is the classroom. This does not apply to all, as people can find ways to be more involved on campus, but from what I have seen, life can be pretty different depending on whether your apartment down the road is university-owned or not.

The Commute To Class

Off-campus: Air-conditioned drive

On-campus: Walking (plus), but through tundra, monsoon, and desert conditions (negative)

Meal Times and Options

Off-campus: Fast food, cooking, or cheaper options like ramen, whenever you want

On-campus: "Home-cooked" food is only served during select times of the day. This food must either be eaten on-location, or one must select on-campus or take-out ahead of time, and dine-in cannot be taken out nor take-out eaten in. (Sounds like a lot of hoopla over a Krabby Patty). Choose carefully. Otherwise there are fast-food options, still only open at select times, but with more flexibility than the home-cooked food options. Occasionally a flock of small children delays your meal delivery.

Campus Familiarity

Off-campus: Knows building where major is; may be found asking where the "cafe" or the "quad" is as a senior.

On-campus: Intimately familiar with every square acre, nook, and cranny of campus. Especially in a town where Walmart is one of the biggest attractions, you've probably walked all around campus in one go at least twice. Where is the cafe? It's where all the on-campus people flock for Fried Chicken Sunday and where those with the unlimited meal plan live.

In-Between Classes

Off-campus: Schedule classes close together to minimize breaks, grab lunch in-between, study at library, drive home for long breaks, or hang-out somewhere else on campus.

On-campus: Go home and take a nap in bed, "study" then fall asleep on the couch, change outfits, shower, sweep, watch TV with no shoes or real pants on, I mean really, the world is your oyster. Home is not that far away.

Friend Proximity

Off-campus: Friends can drive to your apartment or house and knock on your door when you get there.

On-campus: Off-campus friends can safely park a distance and walk to your dorm, risk getting towed, or park during the hours when it's safe, and hope the door to the lobby is unlocked so you don't have to walk down the stairs to let them in. However, at least half of your friends may live in the same building as you, so instead of cooking dinner for friends, you walk to your friends' rooms so you can walk to dinner together.

Recreational Options

Off-campus: Pool, possibly tanning bed or tennis courts on property

On-campus: Stadium in backyard, recreation center, library

Pets

Off-campus: You can have a dog (depending on the place). 'Nuff said.

On-campus: Fish are usually okay, and of course I have never ever possibly seen anyone have smaller pets hidden anywhere, but cats and dogs are really out of the question. Believe me, I've tried to plan that out in my head. Back to my original point, however, fish cannot lick your face and sit in your lap and love you after a long day. They're cute, but they will just look at you from across the room and never compare to the warm embrace of my two completely adorable puppies (that my parents would never part with anyways, but that's besides the point.) I do not have the option to bring home a new puppy randomly. And that is a sad situation.

"Monthly Rent" and Other Strange Phrases

Off-campus: Actually having to buy groceries. Leases not being up until a full year.

On-campus: You know how in other countries citizens may walk to market to obtain a day's rations, then walk back home? This can be done at your student center, using the meal plan to fill your backpack with water bottles, apples, and cereal. Groceries only have to consist of housekeeping items and foods you want to keep on hand. Cable, utilities, and much of the furniture is included in housing costs, and you don't have to worry about someone buying out your lease when you graduate.

I suppose there are advantages to each way of living. Plus when it comes down to it, despite different living situations, all students have a common goal of working towards his or her respective degree. Those classes that start as one of the few commonalities allow individuals from various lifestyles and experiences to meet and come together. Although individual "college" experiences vary, two or more worlds become one campus, and can share with one another (Chick-fil-A in exchange for a free ride to Stone Center?)