Living off-campus is a big change from regular dorm room living. My sophomore year, I moved off-campus with two of my friends and it was one of the best decisions I have made at college. Even though off-campus living is a bigger responsibility than dorm living, it is so much more relaxed and it's easier to make it feel like a home away from home.
1. A personal bathroom
The reason I moved off campus so soon with my roommates was because we lived in a dorm with individual personal bathrooms and we couldn't turn back from there. Having a nice sized bathroom with storage for everyone and a big shower makes the college living experience a lot better.
2. A kitchen
Yeah, the dining hall is good sometimes, but being able to go to the food store and make your own meals is not only more convenient, but tastier and healthier as well. Plus, the fridge is much bigger than the mini fridge in the dorm.
3. The porch
My off-campus house has a porch, and it's so fun to go outside on a nice day with an iced coffee and people watch. We live on a busy street, so there are constantly people around to watch and talk to.
4. The driveway
Having parking for me was a must, because parking my car on a different campus last year was definitely not fun. Now that I can have my car right next door to my house, it is easier to go places, pack and unpack, and not get the magnets stolen off of the back.
5. Entertaining
We love having friends over to hangout, watch a movie, do homework, you name it. It is so great to have a space where everyone can comfortably hang out without having to squeeze in a dorm room.
6. A comfortable living space
Sitting on the couch in your own house is a lot nicer than sitting on the hard couches in the dorm lounge. I love coming home from class on a cold day and sitting on the couch with a cup of coffee. It makes the college living experience feel a lot more like home.
7. Being able to personalize your own space
There are many ways to personalize a dorm, but having the chance to make the whole house your own is really fun. My roommates and I will sit and paint sometimes to hang up canvases around our living room.
8. The convenience
Our house is directly off of a street with many restaurants, it's close to the gym, the bus stop, and my sorority house. It is so great to be able to run out to get pizza in a minute, or be able to stop home before going out.
I would suggest trying to live off-campus for at least a year in your college career. I feel like I turned into more of an adult when my friends and I moved off-campus, and I can say it is definitely an enlightening experience. Living off-campus is amazing, and now that I'm doing it I couldn't imagine ever living in a dorm again.
