Is it a bad idea to live at home junior and senior year of college? The college is about 25 minutes away from my house. As far as I’m seeing it:
Pros: “free” living (of course there’s maintains the car and paying a portion of bills), “free” food (I’m not a bum, I’ll definitely help with groceries), my parents are old and I’d get to make sure they don’t forget to take their medication since I already do that.
Cons: I won’t be by campus, I’d be living at home and not in an apartment, it would make friends visiting me a bit harder.
The biggest factor is hoenstly finances. Sure it wouldn’t be free, but it’s a lot cheaper than 13,000 a year, not factoring in food or car maintenance. Is it a bad idea? My parents want me to live at home btw.
The highest value for living on campus tends to be in frosh year in terms of the adjustment to college. By junior and senior year, many students at many colleges live outside of group environments, so living with nearby parents is not as big of an issue. If cost and/or assisting your parents while you are at home are significant issues, then living with them may be helpful to you and them more than it may be to other students.
However, realize that food, utilities, and commuting costs while living at your parents’ house are not free, so, even though they typically cost a lot less than living on your own, the savings may be less than $13,000 per year.
If you have access to a reliable car, I’d give it a try. Even if you only save $16-20k, that’s a nice chunk of change. My son commutes, and he loves it. He goes to the library or dining hall between classes and attends events on campus when he can. It will probably be easier for you to go see your friends than for them to get out to see you.
Many students move off campus during those years and commute in. You would be just like them except you would not have a roommate. If your that close then definitely do it. You will never regret saving that $26K. You already lived the dream of being on campus. Now it is time to begin looking outward towards the real world. Time to get used to driving into work every day as opposed to rolling out of bed.
Living on campus is most important during freshman year. By junior year you’d have become independent so that it wouldn’t be as much of z problem.
However, aren’t you a high school senior?
Are our trying to see if costs are affordable?
If you can only live on campus for two years, I’d definitely pick freshman and sophomore years.
Do whatever makes sense for you. It sounds like commuting could be a reasonable and cost-effective option for you.
I would discuss in advance with your parents things like: 1) if you can have friends over 2) that you may spend occasional nights at friends place 3) that you may not be home to eat every meal with them 3) you might be out later than they are used to when you are studying or even on weekends and other things along those lines. Be sure you can create some ground rules that you can all live with before you make the decision to move back home.