If you come to school from out-of-town, finding off-campus student housing may necessitate one or more weekends with a car (or rental car) to drive the neighborhoods around school.
Advantages of off-campus living:
- Independence: fewer rules as in a dorm. Nobdy watches you come and go. Living off-campus will give you freedom from dormitory rules and restrictions.
- Privacy: living off-campus greatly increases your proviacy and let's you use your space as you wish. You propbably have more space, even in small studios or one-bedroom apartments.
- "Grown-up" living: off-campus, you are responsible for your own bills, cleaning house, grocery shopping, and cooking for yourself.
Disadvantages of off-campus living:
- Surroundings: unless you choose your off-campus hpousing carefully, you can end up in a "bad neighboorhood," where you may not always feel safe. Also, many low-cost units are dark and have poor aesthetics.
- Cost: usually, off-campus living costs more, especially if you consider all the secondary costs of renting your own place. But this may differ depending on the location of your school. Utilities and cable/Internet access are added monthly expense. Unless you rent furnsihed, you may also need to buy furniture, kitchen utensils, bathroom items, and cleaning supplies.
- Transportation: often, reasonable off-campus apartments are too far from school to walk, forcing you to take the bus or drive, with the additional cost of a parking permit and car gas, and wear and tear. Traffic can also be an issue in a crowded areas.
- Loneliness. If you live off-campus, you may not be as involved with campus activities and events, which can cause you to feel detached from your school and peers, keeping you from making new friends.
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
