My nephew was getting ready to leave for college and asked me what I thought about living in a dorm versus living off-campus in an apartment or house with other students. When I left home to go to school, I chose to live off-campus, simply because it was cheaper and I wasn’t sure I could handle living in a place with so many people close by. So, to help you decide if a dorm is right for you, here are some things to consider:
Workload
The one thing I regretted when I lived off-campus in a house with other students was the need to buy groceries and do my own cooking. While I like to cook, it does take time away from studying. In a dorm, you can usually opt-into a food program so you are sure to get your three-square meals a day without having to grocery shop, cook or even clean-up. The downside is, your food choices might be limited or might get tired of having pork chops on Thursdays (or whatever the menu schedule turns out to be). Friends who lived in residences with meal plans, loved knowing that dinner would be waiting for them after a long day in the library, while I liked the fact that I wasn’t limited by cafeteria hours. At the end, think about how you want to spend your time and what your school workload looks like. Might be best to spend more time studying than thinking about what to eat for dinner.
Cost
Cost is definitely a consideration when choosing one form of living over another. Dorm living can be more expensive than off-campus housing, depending on the city where you’ll be living. If you’re moving to New York, it might be cheaper to be in residence, whereas smaller towns might offer cheaper apartment rentals that are still close to campus. If you’re on a tight budget, it’s worth it to compare your options. Remember, if you’re considering apartment rental or sharing a house with other students, you’ll probably need to think about furniture, stocking the kitchen and paying for extras such as cable, internet, telephone, heat and hydro. These costs might be built-into your dorm fees. To find out exactly what you’ll be charged for your dorm stay, make sure you ask the residence administrators to ensure your cost listing is complete. You can find out more here.Location
Another time consideration is location. Living in a dorm, on campus, means that everything is convenient, from your classrooms to the library to the school store. Commuting won’t be an issue, which can save you time and money. If living off-campus means that you’ll have a long commute, you should factor this into your decision, particularly if you have early morning or night classes or if you plan on studying at the library until late. Check out the cost of commuting, both time and financially and factor this into your decision.
Personality
As I mentioned previously, I knew I wasn’t cut out for dorm life; I like things quiet and while I can be social, there are times I just need my own space. I knew a dorm wouldn’t work for me. My friends who lived in a dorm, loved the ease of making friends, the social scene and the community building that happened over the course of the school year. It’s definitely a great way to meet people who are studying outside your own department and often, you’ll make friends for life. Really, it all depends on what you want out of your school experience.
Try it
If you just can't decide what is right for you, then try it for a while. Find out from the college if you can sign an agreement for one term only, with the option of extending it should you like the experience. Some dormitories will only grant an 8-month contract, or two terms, while others may prefer shorter residencies. Ask.The other option is to just try it dorm-life two terms, make some friends, see who you could live with, then ask people if they'd like to room together for the next year. That way, you'll meet people and you'll have time to check out the city, get to know neighborhoods that you might want to live in and find apartments that are affordable.
