<p>I'm really conflicted as to whether I should stay on campus or off campus. I want to have my own place I can go to to collect my thoughts and relax and then I can leave the place and socialize and do stuff at school if that makes any sense (a bubble essentially) and also somewhere quiet where I can study and have peace. I also want to socialize so I don't want to be cut off from that. I'd rather be alone for housing because of this but I'm open to any ideas. Any insight would be appreciated. Thanks.</p>
<p>Also if there's any student with advice from a perspective of actually living there that would be awesome.</p>
<p>P.s. i have my own car if that's substantial</p>
<p>Are you an incoming freshman? If so, then I highly encourage you to live on campus for at least your first year. Dorm life is really important in adjusting to the social scene in college. Many of the people you meet freshman year can become friends that you will have for your entire college career. You will be significantly disadvantaged in meeting new people if you live off campus immediately. I can understand wanting to have your own room, as sometimes living with a roommate isn’t always the most ideal situation, but you can always move off campus sophomore year. The year of living with other freshman all in one building is worth having to put up with a roommate (or maybe you’ll actually like your roommate lol). If having a place to study is an issue, there are always the many libraries on campus and most dorms have study lounges. The dorms also typically aren’t that loud during the day and weekdays so you should be able to study in your own room (obviously the noise level varies by dorm and year depending on who is living there).</p>
<p>When you live on campus, by default your future grades are in jeopardy. It’s too noisy and social. Want to study for that big test? You might have to go to the library, when you would much rather study in your own room. You can still make plenty of friends living off campus. However be mindful that living off campus is much more expensive.</p>
<p>See, here’s what my college counselor told me: (this is a general tip and not something she said specifically for rutgers) “when you go to your college, the first thing you want to do is find the library because your room will be too loud to study in.” I don’t like studying in a library I don’t know why. I just prefer to study in my home; it’s awkward for me. I also feel that if I can simply leave my room to socialize I won’t focus.</p>
<p>Also once again, how is a car handled if you have a dorm?</p>
<p>I categorically disagree with just about everything in the post above. Living on campus shouldn’t jeopardize your grades. In fact, it is probably better for you both academically and socially. By being on campus, you are closer to your classes, the people in those classes, and your professors’ offices. It is much easier to get together to study with someone from your class, do homework together, or go to your professor/TA office hours when you are living on campus. Personally, in the two years that I have lived on campus, I never studied in my own room. I always went to a study lounge when I really needed to sit down and study hard. Homework I usually did in my room, but for exams and such I always went elsewhere. It wasn’t because of noise, I just felt like it was too easy to goof off when I was in my own room. I know that the common belief is that college dorms are noisy parties 24/7, but it is just not true. You can accomplish work in a dorm. I understand it can be awkward to study in a public area, but it’s something that you can become accustomed to pretty quickly.</p>
<p>The cost of off campus living can vary greatly depending on where you are renting. I am living off campus next year and my 12 month lease is actually $2k less than what I would have paid for the academic year in a dorm, so I’m saving money. Typically, it ends up being around the same as on campus, but it definitely can be more or less depending on your food costs and rent.</p>
<p>As far as campus suggestions go, what major are you interested in? I can give you an overview of the campuses in another post, but having an idea of what you want to study can help.</p>
<p>Parking on campus is by permit. You purchase a resident permit which allows you to parking in certain parking lots on your campus. Depending on your campus choice, the lot can be right next to your dorm or farther away.</p>
<p>If your a first-year student, I definitely suggest you live on campus. It’s a great way to meet new people, adjust to college life, and the campus. If you aren’t though, I can see benefits on both sides. If you stay on campus, all of the above still applies. If you move off campus though, it’s cheaper. From a financial standpoint, I think that’s a better option. Living off campus though, you’ll have to worry about getting around campus and issues with the apt/house. At least living on campus, certain maintenance is taken care of quickly.
As a student, I lived on campus my entire time there and loved it especially when I got a single. I graduted (work at RU now), but now I live off campus. I’m saving money, but honestly the hassle I’ve experienced isn’t worth it. Every situation is different though. Let me know if you have any specific questions.</p>
<p>I’m interested in Computer Science. Money is a pretty big factor. If I were to stay on campus, I think BEST hall would be best (no pun intended) but it’s full… is there anyway to still get a spot?</p>
<p>BEST Hall typically fills up pretty quickly, so at this point I don’t know if that res hall is an option. Are you an incoming first-year student or transfer?</p>
<p>Have you actually looked at any off-campus housing yet? By this time, a lot of the choice units may be gone, but there are always things opening up. The important point is, you have to be ready to make a decision quickly. So go look at things now, just to see what is available and what it costs. Then if you see a good deal, you will be able to jump on it.</p>
<p>You can check out ResKnights fb page and also your ‘accepted class of 2017’ page on fb.</p>
<p>I am conflicted about the importance of on campus housing, even freshmen year. It can be good, but it can be horrible, depending on your roommate. You are in a smallish room for an entire year with one person: you have to be compatible or willing to compromise.</p>
<p>My two sons both lived in dorms as freshmen, both hated it, for different reasons. Noise and lack of privacy would have to be up there though. Luckily, both were able to get apartments the next year (on campus for my Rutgers student). </p>
<p>Also, I think that on campus is a little safer than off campus. Recent crime alert delivered to son’s email box: "The New Brunswick City Police Department is investigating a robbery which was reported to have occurred on Friday, June 7, 2013 at approximately 6:59 PM. The incident was reported to have occurred within 40 Union Street, which is a multi-tenant dwelling, unaffiliated with the University on Union Street on the College Avenue Campus, New Brunswick.</p>
<p>The unaffiliated victim reported that three unknown assailants entered his apartment though an unsecured door, threatened him with a handgun and demanded he turn over property. When the victim did not immediately comply with their demands, the assailants assaulted the victim and then fled the apartment after stealing property from the apartment. The victim received non-life threatening injuries."</p>
<p>I usually see these types of alerts for off campus rather than on campus housing.</p>
<p>btw I think people tend to romanticize the freshmen dorm experience. </p>
<p>The new housing that is going up on various campuses (in addition to Rutgers) is more along the lines of suites, where you have a few rooms around a central living area, and a bathroom or two that is only shared by these residents. </p>
<p>No one is building old fashioned dorms now. There is a reason for it.</p>
<p>@pacmanprince - Okay, good to know. I stand by what I said - I still think it’s better to live on campus for your first year. Weigh your options though, you can find affordable off-campus housing on ruoffcampus.rutgers.edu.</p>
<p>pacman, at this point, you might not be able to pick your campus. I am guessing that if you apply for freshmen housing right now, you will end up on Livingston in the Quads. </p>
<p>Housing apps opened in March and are due in by mid June. You are at the end of the selection process.</p>
<p>@pacmanprince - People love College Ave! Livingston is giving it some competition though, especially after the apartments were built. I prefer Livingston. I started there and lived there for 2.5 out of my 3.5 years here. Have you been on a bus tour of the campus?</p>
<p>fwiw both my sons lived in dorms freshmen year. 1 studied in his room, the other went to the library. Your situation can vary depending on the mix of people on your floor. </p>
<p>Since you are far away and can’t view housing in person (?) I would just take a dorm assignment until you get a feel for the area. If you decide to move off-campus I would wait until your fall housing assignment ends so you don’t lose that money that was already paid. You will lose your deposit if you cancel your housing for the next semester (about $200) because it is a school year contract (Sept-May).</p>