1. Independence from Mom and Dad.

In high school, you are used to living under your parents' roof. You must abide by all of their rules. When you get to college, you are free to make a lot of decisions you would not otherwise be able to make. This is good and bad for some people. You get to live free of parental control in many ways; however, this means you must manage yourself. You learn to wake up on your own, go to classes and stay out of trouble without someone telling you to. While some may see this as a burden, it is an extremely important skill to be self-disciplined.

2. You are in close proximity to everything.

One reason to consider on-campus housing is the convenience. You can literally roll out of bed, walk a few steps and be at class on time. Also, you have access to a dining hall instead of finding food elsewhere. There is often no need for a car when everything you would possibly need is right there. A campus is like a mini-city where everything is in walking distance of each other.

3. The amenities.

A dorm is oftentimes more cost-effective than living elsewhere. It comes with all utilities included; water, heat, electric, cable, etc. Some dorm halls include social lounges, study areas, theaters and gyms. Apartments with all of these amenities would cost an arm and a leg. Where else could you get this much for your money?

4. The relationships you'll make.

Living in the dorms forces you to create a family away from home. The people that you live with will become a huge part of your life. You will eat meals with them, walk to classes together, hang out on the weekends and everything in between. After a while, you will find a tight-knit group that is part of your second family. It is crucial to establish these strong bonds in a place that you spend so much of your time.