College Life: The Pros and Cons of Living on Campus

You have finally finished high school and are eager to step out and begin the journey of your life. You've chosen to attend college and realize it will be expensive, but an education is essential. One last decision must be made. Do you live on or off campus?

This may seem like a simple question, but the experiences of living on and off campus can be completely different and leave the average college student wishing they had reconsidered. First of all, for most schools living on campus in a dorm means nearly double the tuition costs. If money does not matter then consider the average dorm room. Four cinderblock walls with two beds and two desks is the norm on college campuses. You really have to like your roommate to survive this experience. Forget the fact that in most cases you won't be able to choose who you live with. There is nothing worse than moving in on the first day of school and meeting a stranger who you would normally not talk to, but are suddenly forced to share the next four months of your life with.

Bathrooms should also be considered when choosing to stay on or off campus. When living in a dorm you'll be lucky if you have to share a bathroom with less than three people. In some cases, the bathrooms are shared between two rooms, which means four people share one shower, toilet, and sink. However, in some dorms there are community showers. That means you have to gather all of your shower necessities and journey to the showers everyday.

Another thing to consider before making the decision of on or off campus is food. While most colleges allow you to purchase a prepaid meal plan that generally includes two or three meals a day, what if you are not able to eat your meals at regular times? You may find a part time job that takes you away from campus. If you are not actually available to eat these meals then that money is wasted. Also, forget about whipping something up when you get back to the dorms. A tiny refrigerator and microwave do not make a culinary masterpiece.

Finally, while you may be making new friends on campus, what about the furry little friends you leave at home? Dorm rooms generally have a no pet rule. If you don't mind coming home to the greeting of your gold fish every day then the dorm room life may be just what you are looking for.

If the previous statements have you thinking twice about living on campus then consider an apartment just off campus or save some money and commute. While you will miss out on dorm room life, you are still able to join clubs, organizations and participate in other campus activities.