Transitioning into college is hard enough, but being off campus away from all the other freshmen is even worse. Unfortunately this was the situation I was in. With such a massive freshmen class coming into GVSU and because I applied rather late for housing I was told that on campus was really not an option. With a damper to the beginning of my freshmen year, somehow I got through it all and I'd like to share my overall experience in case anyone else is stuck in this same insane pickle I was in.
So if you're contemplating living off campus your freshmen year, or any year for that matter, check out this list first.
Pros of living off campus my freshmen year:
1. Save tons of $$$.
And I really do mean tons. No matter what college you attend, on campus housing is extremely expensive. And after not getting into on campus housing because of the mass amounts of incoming freshmen one main reason my parents allowed me to go off campus was the cost. I saved about $2,000 living off campus. $2,000. And that includes still having a 10 meal a week meal plan. If you're wondering how in the world will you afford college, especially housing, consider off campus apartments.
2. Say goodbye to sharing!
That's right. Kiss community bathrooms goodbye. *Cue the singing angels* One of the biggest reasons students choose off campus housing is for privacy. My freshmen year I lived in a 4 bedroom 4 1/2 bath apartment, which means I had my own bathroom, shower, queen sized bed, huge closet, and only shared a decently sized kitchen with 3 other older girls. In other words, I was living the dream.
3. Gym, tan, laundry? Oh Yeah.
Most off campus apartments come with some pretty awesome perks such as free tanning, 24 hr gym, washer and dryer in your apartment, etc. Not only did my complex have all of these it also had a community pool and hot tub, basketball courts, volleyball sandpit, and a study/hang out lounge with computers and free printing.
4. "So much room for activities!"
Off campus apartments give you freedom. Unlike dorm life's tiny rooms with "extra long" twin mattresses and boring furniture off campus rooms generally have full or queen sized beds with comfortable living spaces, couches, dressers, (if you check out a furnished apartment like I did) and showers that you don't have to wear "shower shoes" in.
5. Quiet hours or guest sign in/passes aren't a thing.
Okay well sort of. Like you generally can't throw Project X in your off campus apartment, but you can be a little louder and have guests over whenever you please. Unlike dorm life where you have a RA breathing down your neck every second and sometimes can't even have the guests spend the night without them signing in/out!
Cons of living off campus my freshmen year:
1. Financial aid can be challenging.
This is the part my mom wasn't too fond of. Sure it might be cheaper living off campus, but if you receive financial aid you might be getting less money as well. Generally speaking if you rely on financial aid to go to college you receive more money if you live on campus than off. I'm not 100% sure why unfortunately, maybe because they know how much cheaper off campus apartments really are.
2. You miss everything.
And I literally mean everything. This was definitely the hardest thing for me because you hear all of your freshmen friends talk about how cool their RA is, how much fun that 3rd floor *insert dorm name here* ice cream social was, or how hot that guy is in room 284. There are so many events that go on in freshmen dorms in order for new students to feel comfortable and get to know all of their new housemates, and I felt so out of the loop and lonely the first semester I wondered if I'd ever feel like my college was actually my home (Thank God it does now, but that's a whole other story).
3. Safety is a huge concern.
That's very ironic that the second I wrote that a GVSU student posted on Facebook "If anyone knows of someone who drunkenly wandered to *off campus apartment name and house number here* last night and took things that weren't theirs, tell them to do the right thing and give it back please. No questions asked." My point exactly. When I moved into my off campus apartment my senior roommate casually said, "Oh sorry we don't have a TV in the living room, I had a really nice plasma screen that got stolen over the summer." Now, I'm not saying my college is a horrific place full of thugs. I actually feel extremely safe at GVSU. What I'm saying is you're not protected by an RA, or by doors that lock even if you forget your swipe card or passcode. Living off campus means being responsible. Locking your front door even when you're home. Better safe than sorry.
4. Traveling sucks.
Especially if you're a freshmen living off campus with no car (aka me at the time). The bus becomes your best friend whether you like it or not and sometimes the bus isn't the most reliable, especially on the weekends. If you know you won't have a car in college I'd recommend on campus housing for sure. Because believe me riding your bike while it's snowing on a Sunday to go get food on campus because the buses aren't running isn't very fun (been there done that).
5. You lose that connection.
A support group is crucial your freshmen year of college. And whether you can't stand your roommate or not seeing people you know on campus is very comforting. When I finally began meeting people about a semester in they always started the conversation with, "what dorm do you live in?" And when I said I lived off campus I had to explain practically my entire life story on why I was there and not in a freshmen dorm. It was then extremely difficult to hang out with them or stay in touch because unlike they're dorm friends only a knock on their door away I was a bus ride and a quick walk away which was fine...until the snow fell.
Well there you have it. The pros and cons of living off campus your freshmen year in college. Do I regret not living on campus my freshmen year? Well, kind of. But I had no other choice. I just stayed positive, and it all worked out in the end. Thank God.
