I will be a freshman at my local community college and my options are to either spend over 6,000 dollars on room and board or move in with my boyfriend, who also attends this school, and his parents. They do not require me to live on campus my first year I have already checked.
My boyfriend and I have been together for 2 years and face few issues. I understand that there is a possibility of breaking up though, and in that case I will move home and drive 40 minnutes to school everyday. This may seam like a lot to you but I am from a rural community and am currently driving 55 miles to high school everyday, so this does not concern me.
I understand that it is easier to make friends and stuff in the dorm, but majority of kids who go to this college here don’t live in the dorms anyway and I also will only be attending here for 1 year.
Do you think I should save the money and live with my boyfriend/ my home or should I move to the dorm rooms anyway.
Also my boyfriend lived 4 minutes from the school and it is in a town of less than 10,000
You thinking there is a possibility of breaking up means that there is a huge chance you guys might break up. You have to think for yourself. Always try to protect yourself and make decisions which benefit you without hurting others. It will be painful for you to drive 40 mins to school. I think you should play it safe and live on campus. Also, you will be having way more great opportunities when you live on campus than off campus.
Can you afford to pay the housing deposit when it is due (since you might get it back if you change your mind)? If so, then you can hold yourself a spot in the dorms and see how things go between now and next August. It is November 1, you don’t have to decide today do you?
If the commute time doesn’t bother you, why not stay at home? How does the boyfriend’s parents feel about you staying overnight there versus just stopping by?
How would you pay the $6000 dorm fee and school tuition? What is your parents opinion?
Living with the boyfriend sounds like a great solution but it has it owns costs. Living with someone can be stressful and it takes time and effort to make it work. There is a world of difference between a boyfriend who lives 40 minutes away and living with him. Do not underestimate the commitment that will be needed to make the living arrangement work. You will also have his parents to deal with. At the same time, you are faced with the adjustment of college life which for many can be extremely stressful. The academic demands are usually MUCH greater. Also there will be the tendency to spend all your time with the boyfriend and not taking advantage of what the school has to offer. That can hamper your ability to plug into the college social scene.
Is living on campus worth 6K? In your situation (definitely transferring after one year and attending a college with a large commuter population), I would learn towards not living in the dorms due to the cost. However, I would consider living at home and maybe spending some nights at the boyfriends as needed. There would likely be less distractions and drama living at home. Also it would allow you to have your own private time. There can be such a thing as too much together time. However, you need to look closely at the cost of commuting also. Is your car reliable? Many professor will only allow limited number of missed classes. Also consider the your relationship with the parents and your boyfriend relationship with this parents. Both will impact how this will turn out.