The decision as to whether you live on or off-campus is a big one, and there are some significant pros and cons to each depending on your individual needs, budget and preferences. Here are some key considerations when deciding which is right for you.
Convenience
In some ways, convenience is a subjective term. Still, generally speaking, as a student, it’s more convenient to live on-campus for a variety of reasons. On-campus, students have access to everything within close proximity, and living there can make it easier to make new friends and familiarize themselves with their school. Living on-campus is particularly handy for those students who have classes every day.
One of the major benefits to living on-campus is avoiding a commute. Larger campuses may mean a bit of a walk to classes, but it’s still far quicker and easier than driving or taking buses or trains and risking delays. Not only do on-campus students avoid commuting, but being closer to classes gives them some extra time sleeping or studying.
That said, if the convenience of having your own space and cooking your own food is a priority, then living off-campus may suit you better.
Safety
Depending on the apartment complex you are comparing it to, on-campus accommodation may have more security features for added personal safety and security of your belongings.
Campus buildings typically feature security technologies such as school door locks, video surveillance and alarm systems. Most also have 24/7 security personnel in attendance, with some being linked to a police presence nearby (particularly in densely populated areas).
If living off-campus is your preference, ensure that you carefully assess the level of security that an off-campus complex is offering – apartment securities such as access control systems (ideally cloud-based) are essential to ensuring that your building is secure.
Expenses
One of the main considerations when deciding between on and off-campus living is the expense element.
On the face of it, off-campus accommodation may seem cheaper than on-campus living, but that’s usually because on-campus rates are inclusive of utilities, internet access, meals, and more. The only way to accurately compare them is to work out what all of these extras would cost you per week or month, and add that to the off-campus rental rate.
If you’re thinking about living off-campus and therefore living independently for the first time, it’s important that you do your research and not presume anything. Many students don’t take important factors into consideration, such as the cost of furniture, or the expenses related to leaving the property when it’s time to move out.
Many colleges will strongly recommend that the first year be spent in on-campus accommodations to integrate well into campus life and study, and then consider their options once they have first-hand experience to compare off-campus living with.
It’s also worth noting that most off-campus accommodations will work to a 12 month calendar and not to any college-based scheduling. This leaves many students having to pay for empty accommodation while home for the holidays.
Support
Your college will, of course, offer you the same level of support whether you live on or off-campus, it just might be a little easier for you to balance everything if you live on-campus.
If you’re great at time-management, budgeting and organizing food shops and cooking etc. then living off-campus may be for you. Conversely, if you find it difficult to balance your studies with all these other responsibilities, then it probably makes sense to live on-campus and benefit from all that it offers – meals, close proximity to classes, etc.
If you start off by living off-campus but you’re finding it tough to manage everything and your grades are suffering, it might be time to think about moving (back) to on-campus accommodation.
Peace and quiet
Some people thrive in busy, noisy environments and feed off the hustle and bustle. Still, the vast majority of people (arguably) need some peace and quiet, particularly when studying, as well as winding down and trying to get enough rest.
Campus dorms are notoriously noisy, with lots of people either milling about, chatting and laughing, playing music, or in full-blown party mode. If you’re the kind of person that needs to get away from noise and finds it hard to concentrate without some quiet, then living off-campus may suit you better. That said, some off-campus accommodations can be just as bad, so do your research before committing to a place.
Final thoughts
In many cases, it can be hard to secure on-campus accommodation unless you’re an undergraduate, so if you want to live on-campus, act fast.
Living off-campus gives you lots of freedoms, but with that comes many added responsibilities. Colleges tend to recommend that you live on-campus for the first year to acclimate to college life and get a feel for on-campus living. From there, you’ll be in a better position to determine whether on or off-campus is best for you.
