To dorm or nah

Student Lounge College Life
1

Hey,
I just got into Cooper Union, and I was wondering whether I should dorm or not. WIthout dorming, the cost would be 26,000 but would be 40000 with dorming. I live 1 hour away by a single train ride. What are the pros and cons.

2

26k/40k a year? Financed through cash flow, savings, or loans?

3

Im not sure but I just want to know what the pros and cons are of dorming and not dorming.

4

The financial aspect is pretty important - any pros of dorms are trivial if you’re going to be 160k in debt for them.

5

If you dorm some years but not others, frosh year is probably the one to dorm.

Don’t forget that commuting costs and cost of food and utilities at home are nonzero, although less than dorm in general.

6

@ucbalumnus‌ - OP said in another thread that he is an international student from Korea so I’m not entirely sure what he even means by commuting.

7

OP did mention being an hour train ride away. Being an international student could mean that the OP currently lives in the US as a dependent of someone in the US on a visa (not permanent residency).

8

Yea im international student who has been living in new york for 17 years now… Im pretty sure we’re paying everything through my parents savings and income… Can someone tell me the pros and cons of dorming and not dorming? Thank you

9

It can be a lot more convenient to take a short walk to class than to take an hour train ride. If your classes are at scattered times through the day (e.g. 8-9am and 4-5pm), then your choices for what to do in between are greater if you live a short walk away than if you live an hour train ride away. Dorming as a frosh can give you a better connection to the school and other students.

However, it is usually more expensive than living with your parents and commuting, although you need to take into account the cost of food and utilities at home and commuting costs when making the comparison.

10

Living in a dorm you will find the class work easier. Forming study groups and scheduling. If you commute you will find it harder to fit in. The math doesn’t seem right. Almost twice as much to dorm?