During this time of the semester, many college students are trying to figure out where they are going to be living during the next school year. Most colleges have a variety of on-campus housing to choose from if you wish to remain on campus, or you could move off campus into a house or an apartment. I have been living in an off-campus apartment for two years now, and I can tell you from personal experience that living off campus has both its pros and its cons.
PRO: You will probably get your own bedroom and bathroom
This is probably my favorite aspect of living off campus because I am an introvert, so having time away from people helps me to recharge. This also helps if I am having a rough day and just want to vent on the phone with my mother without having to worry about disturbing someone who is trying to study. Having your own bathroom is also really nice because you are only cleaning up after yourself instead of yourself and other people.
Con: Rent and Bills
When you live on campus, you do not have to worry about rent and bills after paying your housing fee because all of the individual charges are lumped together. When you move off campus though, you are paying for everything separately in the form of rent and bills every month.
PRO: No rules
Gone are the days of curfew, room checks and having to check people of the opposite gender in at the front desk. Your landlord might have a few rules like no pets or no parties but they still are not as strict as the rules that you had to follow when you lived on campus. You can stay out as long as you want, keep your room as clean as you want and allow whoever you want into your apartment.
Con: No rules
This can also be considered a con in situations where you have loud neighbors or a party is going on outside when you are trying to study for a major test that you have the next day. Unless you want to call the police, there is not anything you can really do in these situations. I recommend buying a noise canceler machine because those things help a lot.
PRO: Do not have to get a meal plan
I have a meal plan because I am on campus for most of the day almost every day, but my roommates do not and they love the fact that they do not have to have one. A lot of people complain about the food in the dining hall, so they love the fact that when they move off campus they get to make their own food in their own kitchen.
Con: Lack of community
This might not be true for all apartment complexes, but the first thing I noticed when I moved off campus is the lack of community that I felt among the people living there. It was nice in the dorms to be able to hang out with people on your hall and have hall socials. You might not ever meet your neighbors when you live off campus.
PRO: You do not have to move all of your stuff out after each semester
When you live on campus you have to figure out how to basically pack up your entire room and get it to fit into your car because people who are taking summer classes will be moving into your room in a couple of weeks. If you live off campus though, all you have to take with you is the stuff that you need for the summer, and that is it.
Con: Stuff will probably break
Most apartments are built for people who are only going to be there for a short period of time, so the appliances are not very fancy. My roommates and I have had to call the maintenance man on numerous occasions because of stuff breaking.
For anyone who is considering moving off campus for the next school year, I hope that this article helps with your decision.
