Welcome to college; a place where you have to do your own laundry and learn to wake up on your own. College is what you make of it. It can be some of the best times of your life or it can be a time where you just glide through it. No matter what you do, you will grow as a person and you will have to start making adult decisions. The biggest decision (other than deciding on your college) is deivding whether to live on or off campus. It something some people wait to decide til last minute, but the sooner the better. There are several things you should consider when making this decision though.
1. Money
Financial responsibility is usually on the top of everyone's list. Dorm rates depend on your university or college, but state and private universities will cost more than your hometown public university. The good thing about that cost though is the fact that you can earn scholarships to cover it. Loans can help whether you live on or off campus. If you love off campus, first you actually have to find a place. If it's a big university, there are usually apartment complexes close by directed towards the students. You can expect to pay around $500 a month or more, but usually they include utilities if it's a student complex. If you look a little further away from campus, you can find a place probably for cheaper but will have to think about utilities and start up fees and usually first and last months' rent. You also have to compensate for gas for traveling to and from campus. If you bring a pet, such as a cat or dog, there will also be a large let deposit as well as a small fee every moth tacked on to the rent.
2. Pets
I mentioned a cat or dog fee. Some of us can't stand to leave our little fur baby at home. Unless it's registered as a service dog, there is a good chance they aren't allowed in the dorms. It's a huge liability for universities and they can't afford to fix issues in the dorms made by pets, let alone previous students. If you are dead set on bringing your cat or dog, you should probably look for a place off campus.
3. Roommates
Do you know who you want to live with? Do y'all want the same thing? If you don't know who your roommate will be, are you comfortable sharing close quarters with a stranger? If you live off campus are you going to be by yourself or will you have a roommate? Who you are going to live with for a whole year is important and possibly a make-or-break situation of your happiness.
4. Campus Involvement
Living on campus definitely has its advantage of staying involved on campus. You don't have to get up as early for your morning classes. You can walk outside your room and there is at least one thing going on somewhere on campus. If you live off campus, you just have to put in a little extra effort to do things on campus. It forces you to prioritize and when you decide on certain clubs and organizations, you can put your all into it.
These are just a few things to consider when making the decision to live on or off campus, but they are the main ones. I decided to live on campus my first year to get the full college experience. I joined Greek life and clubs directed toward my major. I was also able to make new friends and connections around campus. Next year though, I will be living off campus. I never use my meal plan that is required if you live on campus at my university. I know who my roommate will be in my apartment because I met her on campus this year. Just make sure you give everything some thought and to think things through thoroughly!
