<p>If I know I'm going to be residing on the college campus, is the percentage of students residing on campus of concern in regards to campus life? To be more specific, I mean does it ever get lonely if only, say, 20-40 percent of the first-year students or undergrads stay in college dorms?</p>
<p>I think that, if fewer people live on campus (yet you do), you need to be a more outgoing person to make friends. In the case of UT-Austin, only about 20% live on campus, so my friends living on campus had to work harder to make friends and most of these people ended up living off campus. Most of the "action" takes place in the city, whereas at a school with most students living on campus, you'll probably have an easier time finding stuff to do with people on campus.</p>
<p>thing is that 20% of UT austin probably means about 7000 ppl reside on campus while other schools have 100% living on campus yet there total could be only around 4000, so which one is better? you decide.....</p>
<p>This turned out to be my D's single strongest criterion when she looked at schools-- she really wanted a school where 90%+ of the students were on campus all four years. </p>
<p>The feeling of community in this sort of setting is palpable. The school also typically does more to entertain the students (beinging in films, lecturers, etc) and the kids are much more connected to one another. There is a real campus life and a social life on weekends in which all participate.</p>
<p>Commuter schools do not have this same familial feeling.</p>
<p>I was considering that some schools I'm hesitant to consider definately have a large amount of people on campus despite the small percentage of the total that are residents in college housing, but I'd still like action concentrated on the campus. Thanks for the info thus far.</p>
<p>Is the school a commuter school? Is so you may want to keep this in mind. Most school run activities will take place Mon-Thurs there will be no one there Fri after class till Monday when class starts.</p>
<p>I went to a commuter school my first year and HATED it. This can make or break that college experience.</p>
<p>Pretty much all of the schools on my list are residential, but some safety alternatives I'm trying to find all seem to be as you described commuter schools.</p>