Hi!
Got a tough decision I need to make, ideally today. I’ve been living in university halls for the first two years. Got really used to it, they’re super nice and it’s so easy to meet a lot of new people. They are en-suite style dorms so I have got my own room and toilet, only sharing the kitchen. However, with 4 others and I have been kinda annoyed as no one wanted to clean it last year so it was always me. Everyone I know is moving off campus for next year and I’d be living with new people. I could get a studio flat instead which is just down the road and a bit cheaper but I am a bit worried it could get lonely or that I will miss campus housing. While I imagine it being nice having my own flat, I feel like I will for example miss being able to knock on my flatmate’s door for a chat or having a spontaneous party. The studio might end up being a bit cheaper. I am really not sure what to choose so I am tending to stay in halls just not to make a mistake. Then again some people had horrible flatmates who were inconsiderate and left the shared areas in a horrible state. Any advice please??
This is an interesting situation, but I’m going to try my best:
- Look at all of your options and pick the cheapest off campus apartment.
- You may or may not have a choice of having a meal plan if you decide to live off-campus.
- You may be closer to the party scene at your college.
- Think of the pros and cons: What will you miss about living on-campus? Are there any benefits of living off-campus? Will this lower my housing bill? etc.
At my college, several people prefer living off-campus rather than on-campus. It’s just a personal choice, but IMO, I think that you should just try it out and see what happens. If you don’t like it, then you can always move back on-campus and meet more new people…
Would it be possible to get a single living situation on campus? My school has a few single studio-style apartments that were meant to be for RA’s but are not occupied. This might be more expensive than the same thing off-campus but your utilities will be paid for, it’s furnished, you won’t have a landlord, there’s a security staff, and if something breaks they’ll repair it for you. These are all things that are usually extra costs with living off-campus.
What’s more important to you:
having suitemates around or having to clean up after them?
if you stayed on campus, would there be other juniors/seniors around?
Could you move off campus with some of those friends?
Thank you guys that’s actually really helpful! Most people are living off campus, in shared apartments though. So people would usually share a bathroom whereas I have my own in dorms. I would be living with 3 sophomores and 1 freshman I think. Few students stay there beyond their junior year.
I think the main issue with having my own place would be that I might be bored at times and with staying in the dorm that it could be messy and noisy at times.
At this point I don’t think it really matters which one I choose and I should be focusing on work anyway next year.
You will have to share a bathroom at some point - if not while in college, certainly while out. It is the reality of modern life for many, many college graduates. So, do you want to learn how to deal with the full roommate experience now, or later?
I think whatever you decide, you could always make friends. For instance you could invite your old friends to a housewarming party or host events yourself. It sounds like you will meet new people and still have sharing responsibilities either way.
Decided to stay in halls as it is nicer there, thanks everyone!