During
college, you’ll make many
life-changing decisions. One of the most overlooked life-changing decisions is
deciding to live on or off campus. Deciding where to live is complex, as there
are multiple options with multiple potential outcomes. Your student experience
could change depending on if you live at home, in a house with several
roommates, in a residential hall or in an off-campus apartment. Each option has
its advantages and disadvantages, but you only need to know the differences
between living on campus and off campus. Below are the pros and cons of living
off campus.
Disadvantages of
Living Off Campus
Like all
things in life, off-campus living has its downsides. Some of the downsides of
living off campus include:
·
Having
more responsibility:
Having your own apartment means having more responsibility. Your responsibilities will include
cooking, cleaning, paying bills and arranging maintenance or repairs (when
necessary). Plus, you won’t have the
assistance of residential life services, which are offered at dorms.
·
A longer commute to campus: Unless
you live in housing that’s close to
your campus, you’ll have
a longer commute to school. This means you’ll
have to drive, ride a bike or take public transit to class. A longer commute
could lead to tardiness or even hinder your academic performance.
·
Lose touch with campus life: Campus
and community life is an integral part of the college experience. However,
living off campus can essentially remove you from the campus community. For
instance, apartment buildings won’t
have bulletins advertising events or other campus activities. This means you
might miss out on informative and important social or even academic events.
Advantages of Living
Off Campus
Off-campus
living has many advantages that can make your student life easier, more
convenient and more affordable. Some of the most notable advantages of living
off campus include:
· Freedom to do what you want: Student
apartments are much less restrictive than residence halls. There isn’t a curfew, restrictions against
overnight guests or severe noise restrictions. You’ll also have your own private kitchen or kitchen area and
bathroom; luxuries that can’t be
found in most dormitories.
·
You choose your roommate: If you
live on campus, you can’t choose
your roommate. Many students are left with roommates that are incompatible. On
the other hand, if you live off campus, you can choose your own roommate
instead of living in close quarters with someone you don’t know or may not like.
·
It’s more affordable: Most off-campus apartments are
more affordable than dormitories. Because they’re often inclusive, your rent will be less expensive than an
on-campus housing fee. Besides that, you’ll
have access to amazing amenities. Renting a room or bachelor apartment is even
more affordable. If you’re searching
for rooms for rent Waterloo style, check out King Street Towers. They offer some of the
most affordable, modern off
campus housing Waterloo
can offer to students.
·
Access to amazing amenities: Off-campus
housing projects are all about community. This community includes
amazing amenities. For example, King Street Towers offers study lounges, a
24-hour Academic Success Centre, 24-hour recreation and fitness centres, a
rooftop patio and fire pit, a sauna and more.
