Is Residence or an Apartment Right for You?

One of the biggest decisions to make before you head off to university is where to live. Many students decide to spend at least their first year in residence, but others find this uncomfortable and prefer to live in apartment rentals in Waterloo. Waterloo students are lucky, as there are plenty of options whatever you choose — you just need to figure out what would better suit your needs.

Cost of Living

Living in residence is almost always more expensive than renting an apartment. You pay for the convenience of being on campus, receiving a meal plan, and having a furnished space.

However, the total costs could be lower, as you’ll only pay for eight months rather than 12 months. This could be convenient if you want to go home over the summer, but it will be an additional complication if you want to stay in Waterloo for a job or internship.

Meet New People

A major reason why many students opt to live in residence for their first year is because they have no friends at university yet. When you live on campus, you meet a huge number of people in a short period of time. Beyond just being around other people, you can attend organized events that are designed to help you make friends.

Privacy and Freedom

A downside to living on campus is the lack of privacy. You’ll be sharing a room with another person, which means you’ll rarely be alone. Plus, you’ll have to share a bathroom with even more students.

You’ll also have less freedom. In residence, you need to stick to the rules about who you are allowed to bring to your room and stay quiet during exams. At other times of the year, you may find the dorms quite loud, which could make it difficult to study.

If you live in your own apartment, you’ll most likely have your own room and share common spaces with fewer people. Plus, you can set your own rules.

Commute

The last factor to consider is your commute. Living in residence means that you’re already close to everything and rarely need to think about transportation. If you have an apartment, however, you will need to think about how you’ll get to class.

It is possible to have the best of both worlds. With Waterloo student housing rentals like King Street Towers, you’ll be around other students and live near campus, but you can enjoy freedom and privacy. Plus, the suites are much more affordable than living in residence, even though rooms are furnished.