U.S. News & World Report’s article “Most Students Living in University Housing” notes that some schools, such as Connecticut College, College of Wooster and Webb Institute have 99 and 100 percent of their students living on-campus. While these students are likely embracing the benefits of an on-campus dorm, they might be missing out on some of these other perks that students in off-campus housing receive.
Non-Traditional Students
Students who do not fall into the typical mold of a college student might find that they are not as comfortable as others in dorms. For example, some students return to college later in life when they are married. Even if both members of the couple are attending the college, living on-campus can prove awkward and uncomfortable. Other students may be transgender or questioning their gender identity, and as a result, they are uncomfortable with the binary structure presented in dorm facilities at many universities.
The Cost
Price is a major factor that students and their parents consider when deciding where to live. Of course, the exact cost is going to vary depending upon the specific living arrangements, the area of the country and whether or not amenities are included. The NY Times article “Off-Campus Housing Can Be a Bargain” by Rita Kirshstein states, “On campus, room and board averaged close to $8,400 for public four-year colleges and universities in the 2012-13 academic year and about $800 more for privates.” With soaring prices like these, living off-campus can be cheaper.
More Freedom from College Rules
Certainly, many rules at colleges are put into place to keep students safe and secure. However, some of them constrict freedom in ways that is debatable. For example, some colleges may put restrictions on who can stay over in a dorm building. This could restrict siblings or friends from visiting with their loved ones at the college. Furthermore, some colleges actually require that all of the students who live on-campus purchase a meal plan. Certain students might prefer to cook or have dietary restrictions that render a meal plan virtually useless. Students living off-campus can choose how they wish to obtain their food. The students living at Fairfax Properties at Salisbury collectively agree that this is one of the top three benefits to living off campus because it allows students to “stay healthy and make their own choices about what food they want to pay for and consume.”
Ability to Learn More Life Skills
Constantly going to the cafeteria for dinner and always relying on other people to help with the wash does not teach students how to take care of themselves. Many students go away to college with little concept of how to perform these simple tasks, and truly living on their own is what they need to do. A major difference exists between living under the supervision of a resident adviser and resident coordinator and renting one’s own apartment or house either with friends or alone.
Long-Term Plans
Many students do opt to go to college away from home. Even if they are still in fairly close proximity to their parents, they do have their own space. From forming bonds in another part of the country and exploring job opportunities in that area, youngsters may realize that job opportunities are stronger for them in that area. As a result, they may end up wanting to live there. When they already have an apartment, they do not need to worry about being asked to live campus housing once the semester has closed. Furthermore, living off-campus helps to introduce them to the community and community resources as opposed to only that which is available on campus.
Both living off-campus and living on-campus have their advantages. However, students and their parents should not just immediately assume that the latter is the right choice, and they should thoroughly examine both sides to make the best decision.
