Really torn between dorm or apartment..

Colleges and Universities A-Z The University of Texas at Austin
1

<p>Hello everyone,
I know the housing contract and advance payment is due this Friday and I have been stressing out about deciding to live between a dorm or an apartment.</p>

<p>As of now I live in Jester (West, thankfully. Most importantly I got a connecting bathroom). So far I like it okay, I didn't have too many problems with after awhile. I'm also rooming with someone I've known since high school. Just Sunday, my roommate, 2 other friends, and myself found an apartment complex on Riverside that would seem cheaper than here. </p>

<p>I calculated that for all twelve months the rent would definitely be cheaper than the payments here, and it's only about 10 minutes away. With food, gas, and a $60 parking permit on campus I'm pretty sure it would still be cheaper (By about $1000-$2000, maybe even a bit more). </p>

<p>I'm not overly obsessed with living outside of the dorm as some people are. It's not even the fact about the savings in money. It would be nice to have my own room though, and it even comes with bathrooms for each room (We have already checked it out and despite being on Riverside, it's pretty nice). I know the most important thing I'd lose is convenience. Not being able to just grab food whenever I want, being able to walk to classes, and also being able to take breaks at the dorm in between. Meaning I would have to cook most of my meals, drive to school everyday, and probably just hang out at the library in between. </p>

<p>Although, staying in the dorms I'm really going to miss that level of trust and comfort that my roommate and I have. Unfortunately, I don't know anyone who is going to be in the dorms next year (Or, don't know anyone I would want to room with specifically). So I'm afraid that I'll get paired with someone that would make my whole experience next year extremely bad. </p>

<p>I've heard many stories about people wanting to live in an apartment, spends a year there, hates it, and moves back to the dorms. I just want to know if it's really worth it, and most importantly, should I go for it?</p>

2

<p>Most undergrads choose a dorm over an apartment . You will get to meet the right aged people in the dorm . You will probably feel isolated in an apartment . My 19 year old D just moved off campus ,into a room in a private house ,and she is very happy . She prefers the quiet of being off campus .She is a quiet girl who loves to read and study .</p>

3

<p>Thanks for the quick response. Well I’m not an anti-socialist or anything, but usually I find that I don’t have enough time to go out and spend most of my time studying at the library. When I do have free time, I’m usually too lazy to go anywhere and just watch TV or browse things on the internet. </p>

<p>The one thing I have to get if I return to the dorms is a connecting bathroom though. I don’t think I can do community bath. Hopefully since this is what I got this year it’ll be the same for next year if I choose to go dorm?</p>

4

<p>You have a lot of preferences and assumptions that not everyone else in this forum will have. For example, I prefer community bathroom over connecting bathroom. So, you’re not necessarily going to get great advice here. It’s a personal decision.</p>

5

<p>If I recall correctly, there is very limited on-campus housing at UT Austin. At a huge school like UT, most students live off campus, especially after freshman year, so living in an apartment will not change your “college experience” the way living off campus at a small school where almost all undergrads live on campus might. If you try to stay on campus, do you have someone to room with? It probably is not a good idea, especially form what you described, to, as a sophomore, leave it to the luck of the draw. You sound like you have a great option with your roommate and friends to live in an apartment. I’d go for it.</p>

<p>** Just checked. UT Austin has on campus housing for only 17% of their students. That is VERY different from smaller schools (lets not mention names) where most students live on campus and there is a strong affiliation with ones house, dorm or residential college. VERY different situations. Not to say students don’t live off campus in these situations, especially if there is not enough on campus housing for all students.</p>

6

<p>Riverside seems really nice during the day, I’ll even admit that, but its awful at night. Most of my friends there don’t have a problem with the commute to campus, but I’ve heard horror stories about gang fights, shootings, robberies in cars and apartments, and peeping toms. I’d invest in a quality security system to install at your place if you live there.</p>

7

<p>Think about the convenience of living on campus and how that will positively impact your studies, time management, and social life. I think those points are important to consider.</p>

8

<p>If you are not sure that off-campus apt is right for you, then perhaps you should live on campus.</p>

<p>Contact the Housing Service to see what your chance of getting a connecting bathroom is for next year. As far as roommate goes, you don’t need to have roommate when you turn in your contract and you have until July to get a roommate (maybe earlier for current students).</p>