<p>I applied for housing but I am in a tight situation with money and may not be able to afford living on-campus freshman year, my situation is like a gamble. so I have to cancel the contract this week and live a block away from UCSB, off-campus. Would this affect my social life and ruin my college experience? There are 3 really good friends of mine that are also going to UCSB but they are living on-campus. Again, would living a block from UCSB robe me of the college experience? or would it really not be as different since I would be living close to campus?</p>
<p>Not necessarily. And I wouldn’t fret about not living in the residence halls.</p>
<p>In any case, the major factor of the college experience is the individual and not the living circumstances. You can definitely take this situation to your advantage. For example, just make those freshman friends and whenever ya’ll need a place to chill outside the halls they have your place. I’d imagine this means spending a lot of time at your friends’ dorms.</p>