<p>How much, do you think, living off campus (with my family in Berkley) will effect my social life, as freshman?</p>
<p>I don't have experience living off campus but I will say that pretty much all the friends I've made this year are either living on the same floor with me, or people I met through my floor-mates. I haven't really hung out with people I met in class outside of class.
So I'd imagine living off campus would have a pretty big effect.</p>
<p>If you join a frat/sorority, you can have an exciting social life and still save at least ten grand living at home. I still recommend living in the dorms, unless money is a huge concern.</p>
<p>If you can swing it, live in the dorms for the freshman year and then move home after. It will definitely have a negative impact on your social life if you commute. However, if living in the dorms is a financial drain that your family just cannot afford next fall, then the negative impact on your family will be worse than any social situations you have to deal with. Good luck.</p>