<p>I've been looking at my housing options for next year, and I'm quite frankly astounded by how much cheaper it would be for me to live off-campus. A freshman going to my college is expected to pay ~$9,000 for the meal plan and double room I've selected, whereas rent (not including food) would be almost half of that for me to get an apartment near campus.</p>
<p>As someone who is quite social and adept at making friends (if I do say so myself), I'm not overly concerned about missing out on social opportunities at school. There are events almost nightly, an incredibly nice recreation center I can work out at and meet people through, and a good student union building. I'm also not incredibly concerned about getting to and from school, as I have a good road bike and our school provides free bus passes. I also enjoy cooking and grocery shopping, so not having a meal plan isn't scary to me either.</p>
<p>However, my parents still seem to have some reservations about it, and I do too. They acknowledge the huge price difference between the two, but they also are afraid I'll miss out on some grand experience I would've had if I'd stayed in the dorms. I'm not sure what to think at this point, because I realize both sides are valid. </p>
<p>Does anyone have any experience (personal or through friends) of people living off-campus freshman year, and how that went?</p>
<p>People living off-campus freshman year missed a grand experience.
If you can afford it, live in a dorm.</p>
<p>Big mistake -you will miss all the bonding that goes on in dorms . You will be isolated and possibly regret it .</p>
<p>The whole ‘live in the dorms or you’ll miss a life changing experience’ thing is overrated. Plenty of people live off campus and do just fine – I even know a girl who commutes every day and still has a solid friend group. </p>
<p>I know a few freshmen who live off campus – they hang out in the dorms a lot, have parties at their place, and aren’t missing out on anything except annoying roommates.</p>
<p>Your dorm room will be furnished. Are you comparing the cost of a furnished dorm room to that of a furnished apartment?</p>
<p>Utilities will be included in the cost of your dorm room. Are they included in the cost of your apartment?</p>
<p>Dorm room costs are usually for 9 months, but apartment rents often last 12 months. Have you included this in your computations?</p>
<p>At some colleges, it is difficult to choose to live on-campus after having lived off-campus one year because many spots are reserved for freshmen. Do you know the situation at your college?</p>
<p>One of my closest friends here lives off campus. She stays over the dorms some weekends and often times she will stay after her classes on Fridays and whatnot to hang out with us.</p>
<p>Another guy I know lives off campus but hangs out a lot on campus and sometimes crashes in someone’s room for an entire weekend.</p>
<p>Not that hard to maintain friendships. Truth be told, I wish I saved the money and just rented an apt and did my own cooking. I hate my roommate so much, it’s not all that grand to be in a dorm room. The only good thing is I have faster access to my friends but my friends usually just drive to campus from nearby apts and viola.</p>