<p>Hello :) I'm 18 years old and moving to an out of state school in August. I'm currently thinking about where I should live.</p>
<p>Dorm info:
(Cons) $7,500- 9,000 a year (!! so expensive) including cafeteria food 3x a day, could be loud depending on what dorm I get assigned, have to live with a stranger.
(Pros) I could make friends easily, it'll most likely be safer, no car needed because I'm right on campus.</p>
<p>Apartment info:
(Cons) Off campus- need a car, more lonely, more responsibility.
(Pros) About 400-500 a month, at most $6,000 a year, would be splitting costs with boyfriend of 4 years, more privacy, more space, kitchen so I'm able to cook my own food (which is a big deal for me).</p>
<p>I'm sure there are more pros and cons to each, but these are the basics...I would be paying for either with loans because my parents can't help me out. I thought I might as well put the loans to a nicer place to live in than a dorm, which I don't like the idea of...I'm not a social person at all, not into drinking or partying, and I like my privacy. Also, I would not have to move in and out of an apartment when the semesters end, like I would with a dorm. I also feel like it would bring me more responsibility so I could learn how it is to live on my own. I have money saved up from work and will also be working during college, but no matter where I live, the bulk of it will be paid with loans.</p>
<p>Well a car will not be cheap. Also what happens if you break up with your boyfriend. (I know you are in love and will not break up, but everyone says that)</p>
<p>If we break up, which I know is possible I am not naive, I think we could handle living together until the semester ends. We will discuss this before, of course. And he already has a car, so we’d probably share it until I could afford my own.</p>
<p>on a practical note…Does your school require freshmen to live on campus? does your boyfriend have sufficient credit to qualify to sign the lease on an apartment, or will his or your parents co-sign with you?</p>
<p>Well if you do break up can you get back into the dorms at the end of the semester? I know some colleges it is hard to get into the dorms if you don’t start there right off.</p>
<p>I am sure that you know-moving in with your boyfriend is a really big step. You obviously know each other pretty well after dating for four years. 4 years is like forever at your age. So that means you have been seeing each other exclusively since you were 14? Maybe it is time for a change?</p>
<p>You wrote all these pro’s and con’s but reading it makes the choice of living with the bf sound so much better. Even though you have known each other all this time, it is totally different from living together. </p>
<p>Have you considered getting a roommate that is just a friend? Maybe you should start out at school and then you can find a friend to room with. The only problem that i have with you living with the bf is the fact that you have already spent so much of your life dating each other. Give yourself a chance to possibly meet some new people and go to the dorms.</p>
<p>hehe nowhere did she say living with her boyfriend was a con (actually she had it as a pro). Stop judging. </p>
<p>Honestly, based on your pro’s and con’s, it is a pretty easy decisions. Dorms and school food is waay overpriced. Might as well put that money to good use; especially since you don’t think you would even enjoy the dorm environment (drinking,partying,lack of privacy). </p>
<p>And the good think about college cities, is that there are always students looking for roommates, so if ever you need to find a new roommate, there’ll prob be options.</p>
<p>I don’t suggest living with a bf at that age. I lived with a boyfriend during my sophomore year. College really changed me, and we ultimately broke up near the end of the semester and he moved out (had the apartment in my name). It was a terrible experience. You might like to think that if you broke up you could handle it, but break ups do not usually happen in a mutually understanding way. And what if you break up this summer or early in the fall semester? That will put you in a tough position of where to live.</p>
<p>If you do decide to live with your bf, have the apartment in your name if you can so that if the worst happens, you have a guaranteed place to live and he would have to make the move if you cannot continue living together. </p>
<p>I don’t want to sound so negative, but you really will change a lot in college as you learn more about yourself and the world, and not all relationships make it through that phase. I would plan for the worst, but hope for the best, that way you are covered no matter what happens in your relationship.</p>
<p>Like you said, you will be able to make friends more easily living on campus, and usually by junior year you can start finding roommates to get your own apartment with your own kitchen and other benefits. It will be a bonus not to have to commute to college, and the cost of a car may offset the extra dorm costs (insurance, gas, car maintenance, tires, etc.). You also mentioned it would be safer on campus - that is a big plus depending on where your apartment would be located. You do not want to live somewhere you don’t feel safe.</p>
<p>Too many transitions at once. You should move on campus if you can swing it. If not, live in an apartment away from the bf. You need to adjust to one thing at a time.</p>
<p>Wow, bball, that was harsh. No need to lose the bf. The relationship will likely fizzle out on its own. I do agree with living on campus though.</p>
<p>I still agree with my above comments, but I think moving in with a bf would make the whole transition a lot easier than moving into a tiny room shared with a complete stranger and knowing no one there. That’s the main reason I moved out with my bf sophomore year. So although I agree to live in a dorm or her own apartment, it is not because the transition would be easier (would likely be much harder), but it would be a more secure decision with better long-term outcomes.</p>
<p>First of all, does your boyfriend have transportation? Although you have your own money, will you like the idea of depending on your boyfriend for transportation? </p>
<p>I suggest you live on campus for a semester and see how you like it. If it doesn’t work then move in with your boyfriend or find a roommate.</p>
<p>Or you could try becoming a resident assistant at your college.In most cases you get a paycheck, free dorms, or both.With the money you have saved up, you should be able to afford a car.</p>
<p>Ok I’m not sure if anybody will read this, but I will respond to some of the comments made…thank you all by the way!</p>
<p>1) No, my parents are not supporting me because of my boyfriend, but because they cannot.
2) People are saying I will change in college…but I’m already in college, I’m just transferring to an out of state school. I know what the adjustment is like and I still am not into the social-party-college life. It’s just not me.
3) Cost is a HUGE issue for me. Again, I grew up poor so I do not want to just take out loans and loans when there are better options to save money. I need to start being smart about money now.
4) Dorms are way overpriced, I have found apartments for 450ish/ month per person. The dorm with food is about 800/ month.
5) While a breakup is possible (I’m not naive!), I am not going to dump him to discover myself, sorry. If the relationship fizzles on its own, than so be it.
6) He already lives alone, and I’m in his house often. I spent a month on vacation with him so I know his living style, etc.</p>
<p>Oh yeah, his parents would have to co-sign because mine have bad credit. The apartment I am looking at is a few minutes away from my university, so bike riding or maybe even walking is possible if he cannot drive me every day.</p>
