As any college student can tell you, living in a dorm can be a stressful time. From dealing with roommates to dealing with cost to dealing with noisy neighbors, living on campus can be a challenge. Many colleges require their first year students to live on campus, but to those who aren’t required to, or to the upperclassmen that want to move off campus, you might be wondering if living off campus is right for you and how to pick the perfect place to live. I know as a first year student starting my second semester that living on campus is tough; I’ve had my share of roommate ordeals. I’ve had friends that were in horror roommate situations that struggled to get out of them, so I’m here to help you decide if living off campus is for you.
1.Consider your location
Sometimes you might really want to live off campus, but you don’t realize the scarcity of available properties.
2. Consider your price range
If you live a bigger city, like I do in Charleston, properties that are available in your area will likely be a little more expensive than the dorms on campus.
3. Consider if you want a roommate
If you are living off campus, you aren’t required to have a roommate, but if you choose to have one, you could split the cost of the room. If you get a group of friends that would like to live together, you could rent a house and split the cost. If you decide to live with friends, make sure it doesn't ruin your friend ships.
4. Consider the distance you would like to be from campus
The farther you go from campus, the less expensive the cost of living is, but you have to decide if living a far distance from campus at a lower cost is something you could live with.
5. Consider how you will commute to campus
Commuting from your home or apartment to campus can be difficult especially during rush hour, so if you decide to commute, I would suggest taken classes in the middle of the day to avoid morning and evening traffic. Some apartments near campuses have shuttles that are open to the students that live there. Other locations might be near a bus stop that can bring you to campus. If you can afford to live close to campus, you might be within walking distance.
6. Consider extra commute expenses
If you need to commute to campus, where will you park your car, if you need to buy a parking pass or park in a parking garage, make sure to include that price in your monthly expenses. If you need to catch a bus or pay for gas, make sure to set aside some extra money for that as well.
7. Living off campus is not for everyone in their college experience
Everyone is different and not everyone wants to live off campus. Some people just can’t afford to live off campus. As expensive as it is to live in a dorm, a lot of apartments around campus are high in price because of the proximity to campus.
Living on campus is typically what first year students do, but living on your own gives you a real sense of freedom. Just make sure that you can find the right living location for you. If you decide to live off campus, make sure you are a good distance from campus for you because you will be the one commuting. Don’t get over your head and try to afford a place you can’t actually pay for.
