Getting the “college experience” always seems to go hand in hand with living on campus. While living on campus sounds like the most obvious and easiest choice, it is not always the right option for everyone. Here are some pros and cons you should consider before moving off campus.

Pros:

1. It’s much cheaper

Living on campus and be a huge rip-off. While colleges require first-year students to live on campus, getting out of the requirement will save you a huge chunk of change. Aside from paying to live on campus, you’ll also have to deal with buying a meal plan. Living off campus means no meal plan and cheaper rent.

2. You get more space

Sharing a super small room or suite with random strangers can be a very awkward and frustrating experience. Living on campus gives you the freedom of your own room with your own door to close. Depending on where you go, you might even be able to get your own bathroom, making those communal showers a distant memory.

3. You can’t beat the convenience

Living off campus means that you don’t have to adhere to set quiet hours, leave during breaks or worry about someone setting off the fire alarm because they went out the emergency exit. You have the ability to cook, do laundry and relax all without having to leave your apartment.

Cons:

1. Commuting can be a pain

Living off campus comes with the added responsibility of commuting and leaving on time. Depending on what time your class starts, finding parking can feel impossible. If there is an accident or bad weather you’re at the mercy of things that you can’t control. You don’t have the ease of just walking out of your dorm and heading to class.

2. It’s harder to make friends

Dorm life is filled with different types of events and mixers. From trivia nights to award show viewing parties, most off-campus apartments don’t offer these types of get-togethers. For first-year students, living off campus detaches you from everyone else because they are having “the college experience” and you’re not.

3. Finding college apartment is a huge hassle

Apartment hunting in college can be a hit or miss. If you can only afford the cheapest apartment, you might find yourself dealing with bugs and terrible management. On the other hand, finding that perfectly priced apartment might still leave you with parties and noisy neighbors. Apartment complexes know how to take advantage of you, you just have to know how to outsmart them.