<p>I currently attend a community college. The commute to the college is about 25 miles each way, but I live with my mom and have no bills to pay.</p>
<p>I would like to go to SLO Fall 2012.</p>
<p>Everyone I’ve ever talked to told me NOT to live on campus. Why is this? What are the pro’s and cons??</p>
<p>I live about 30 miles from Cal Poly, decided to live on campus freshman year, but this year I’ve been commuting, and I’ll say this much: DON’T COMMUTE</p>
<p>The commute is killing me (and my car for that matter), and you’ve always got to make sure your schedule is as compact as possible. It’s a huge pain, and honestly, I don’t really think it’s saving enough money to make up for the hassle.</p>
<p>Have you seen the brand new dorms at Cal Poly? They are nice. </p>
<p>Living on campus will also enable you to make friends much easier, which is crucial to a happy college life. Commuting also deeply cuts into your studying and social activities time. </p>
<p>I think people tell you not to live on campus mainly due to the sub-par dorm food. Otherwise, I think you will enjoy living on campus.</p>
<p>no, I haven’t seen the new dorms. Are those the ones built in 2001? I just didn’t know if it would be more expensive to live on or off campus. I’ve lived away from home before, so I know what it’s like. I was reading th dorm rules on the cal poly website and it said things like “no decorating you dorm” and you have to keep quiet by a certain time, have to get guests approved, etc. I don’t know…I kind of like the freedom you get by living in your own place, but I’m not sure…</p>
<p>Nobody listens to those rules, and nobody really enforces them either. Especially if you are in the apartment style dorms.</p>
<p>The ones referred to are actually apartments. The newest ones are Poly Canyon Village–the last phase completed in 2009. These are designated for sophomores and upperclassmen if they have space for the latter (I believe). Cerro Vista is primarily for freshmen and transfers. They’re also, apartments, but not a “village set-up”. With Poly Canyon you don’t have to have a meal plan. Cerro Vista–a pared down version.</p>
<p>[University</a> Housing - Cal Poly](<a href=“http://polycanyonvillage.calpoly.edu/]University”>http://polycanyonvillage.calpoly.edu/)</p>
<p>[Cerro</a> Vista Apartments](<a href=“http://www.housing.calpoly.edu/cerro_vista/]Cerro”>http://www.housing.calpoly.edu/cerro_vista/)</p>
<p>Pros: convenient- close to campus, quick and easy walk or bike ride to classes, easy to meet new people, have study groups, etc., sense of community, easier to get involved with clubs and activities, house cleaning included, the apartments (both cerro and poly canyon) are really nice and new. you get your own room except for a few doubles in pcv, fully equipt kitchen, living room, and only share a bathroom with 1-2 other people.</p>
<p>cons: less freedom especially if you’re legal and would feel restricted not being able to drink living on campus, CA’s (community advisors) enforce rules so if you’re too loud or something you may get a violation</p>
<p>Also, only freshman living on campus have to eat the nasty food and have a meal plan, so you won’t have to suffer through that. Poly Canyon has a jamba juice, peet’s coffee, and einstien’s bagel which are all actually good food options and extremely close by if you live there.</p>
<p>Oh, and if you live in the apartments, it’s a ton easier to get away with stuff. Sneaking in guests is super easy cause there’s no front desk or anything where they have to sign in, so no one will know…And a lot of people do get away with drinking and stuff in the apartments if you’re careful</p>
<p>Real quick correction on NTKS17’s post; if all of your apartmentmates and you are over 21, you can have some alcohol in your apartment.</p>
<p>I knew that actually, but I forgot to include it. Thanks for adding it!</p>
<p>I didn’t know that. Learned something new! I just thought Cal Poly was a dry campus, although they served us beer during Parents Day at the Tailgate BBQ. 
So, you’re saying that it’s only dry for underage drinkers? And, what does “some alcohol” mean? A certain type? Hard vs. beer/wine?</p>
<p>**tenstringer09 said:</p>
<p>Real quick correction on NTKS17’s post; if all of your apartmentmates and you are over 21, you can have some alcohol in your apartment**</p>
<p>It’s an unwritten rule that apartments with all residents over the age of 21 can have alcohol in their apartments. My theory is that they allow it in order to try and get more older students to stay on campus.</p>
<p>“Some” alcohol means that you cannot have an exorbitant amount of alcohol in your apartment considering the number of people that live there. If it looks like you have enough alcohol stockpiled in your apartment for a massive party, you’ll probably be having a meeting with the CSD.</p>