I’m planning to transfer from a CC to a state school this fall. The cost to live on campus would be around $1700 per month (including a mandatory meal plan) vs a $1300 off campus apartment across the street. Since this is my first time living away from home, I’m a little nervous as to which option to pick because both involve a large sum of money. I would assume that living on campus would create more opportunities to make friends, but I’m also wondering if it’s worth the extra $400 a month. Living on campus also places more restrictions on students, which include curfews, furniture, etc. Since the off campus apartments are right across the street, I wonder how much of the socialization from the typical “college experience” I would be missing out on.
If you were in my position which option would you choose?
P.S. I am a bit introverted to people I’ve just met, but once I get to know them better I start to open up!
Have you factored in all the expenses associated with living in an apartment? Groceries, electricity, internet, etc.
What percentage of Juniors/Seniors live on campus? This data is typically available from your school. If the % is low, you may not want to be surrounded by mostly Freshmen/Sophomores in the dorm.
If you have an apartment, it would take extra effort to meet people since you wouldn’t be seeing friends in dining halls or on your dorm floor. I guess if I were in your shoes, I’d try living on campus to get the full “on campus state school” experience.
You might consider contacting the Office of Residential Life to see if you can talk to a couple of current Resident Assistants about their experiences. They are typically older, more mature students and may give you a better sense of what your experience in the dorm would be like.
Beyond the social aspects, living in a dorm provides security that an apartment doesn’t.
Campus security is there, and frequently they’ll escort you from place to place late at night, or when you’re simply nervous. Those blue light poles on so many campuses provide an extra measure of security. The RA and RD are there to help settle any issues, from a problem with power/electricity to issues with your roommates. The meal plan means you won’t go hungry, even if other bills come up, since it’s pre-paid. And it also means you won’t live on a diet of PB&J or eggs because you’re too tired to cook, too tired to learn how, or simply don’t have time to go food shopping.
If you’re transferring from a CC, you may find living among a bunch of 18 year olds on campus to be a drag. If you were out of high school, I’d say spend a year on campus first, but I’d suggest getting the apartment and transitioning into a more full (and free) adult life.
Is the $1300 off campus include all your utilities? if not then your are probably going to end up being higher than the $1700 on campus one. If money is at all an issue then i probably would opt for the on-campus for the first year. If both were to be about the same, then I probably would go for the off campus especially since they are right across the street. Chances are the one right across the street are filled with other students so I actually think meeting people might be no different than living in a dorm.
I lived on campus for 1 semester, then moved off campus into the fraternity house for my 2nd semester and my next two years. My senior year I had my own apartment. Being a bit of an introvert myself and being fairly independent I enjoyed finally having my own place. Plus it was a nice transition for me to get used to doing a lot more on my own before I actually was out an on my own. Each school is different so what the dorm experience is like is going to differ from school to school.
I usually would recommend being on campus the first year so that you can meet people and make those connections. Granted, if you are a little older, you may have to deal with the maturity difference as well. However, clubs, frats/sororities, and organizations are a way to meet people outside of dorm life as well so living in dorms isn’t necessary to make friends.
The way dorms are these days, it’s like “resort” living. If you have these nice dorms, I would do that. Often they have dorms or floors for older students so you’re not stuck with a bunch of freshman. Get the lay of the land for a year, then go off campus after that. Good luck.
I would live on campus the first year (assuming you are a sophomore).then if you have a friend group, you would typically live off campus junior/senior year.
I am assuming that you were living at home while at CC, so transferring to a 4-year also means your first time living away from home. Some things to consider:
feeding yourself: doing it without a meal plan can get expensive, and it takes time to acquire, prepare, and clean up
housing costs: the rental price of an off-campus apartment is the same whether you have 2 or 4 roommates, which means a roommate who bails or doesn't pay the rate will be more $$/headache for you if you find yourself having to backfill so you can still afford to live there
security: on-campus housing tends to be more secure than off-campus. If you lock yourself out of your dorm room, getting an RA to get you in is way easier than having to call a locksmith - cheaper, too
furniture: it can cost some $$ to furnish an empty place, and moving and storing furniture can be a pain
meeting people: you will meet a lot more people on campus (even if your off-campus is across the street) - in your room/on your floor/in your building/in the dining halls
utilities: you will usually have to pay for something separately in off-campus housing - someone will have to take ownership of making sure all the roommates chip in and the bill(s) get(s) paid
All of these realities have to be faced eventually, but maybe not your first year away from home. You will be adjusting to a new environment and a more aggressive workload - anything to make that transition easier…