People may think that living off campus makes life so much harder in terms of getting to class, but it really doesn’t. Yeah, it feels like I live so far away and have to “walk barefoot 20 miles in the snow to get to school,” but it’s really not that bad. I leave my house about 20 minutes before my class starts. If I have a class at 10, I leave the house at 9:40 and make it to class right on time. I used to live in Willow and I would leave my room 15 minutes before class started—so living off campus did not impact how early I have to leave. The reason the distance feels so much longer is because instead of walking through campus I have to walk to campus. I am no longer located conveniently in the “Tulane bubble” I’ve mentioned.
However, even though the walk is a bit longer than what I’m used to, I wouldn’t trade living off campus for anything. Like I’ve said before, I feel like a real person. I get up, make breakfast, and leave the house. On the walk I listen to my iPod, or study flashcards if I have a test; I have a moment to myself and it’s peaceful. Also what comes in handy is the fact that my two roommates both have cars (I didn’t bring my car down because driving is scary to me, especially in New Orleans) and we can drive to dinner or to the grocery store. If I have a late class and don’t want to walk back home in the dark, I can call my roommates and see if they will come get me. There are other options besides just walking.
Because I live a little bit farther away, I am more motivated to stay on campus and do work. I have hour breaks between my classes and rather than going back to my room (which I would’ve done freshman and sophomore year) I stay in the LBC and do work. Walking back would be useless because I’d have 20 minutes at home before I’d have to leave again. I stay on campus and finish all of the work that I have for later in the week—it’s really great and I feel much more organized this year!
Overall, living off campus is great. Living farther away may be different, but because I live so close, the experience is wonderful. I get good exercise, I’m on top of my schoolwork more than I have ever been, and I feel like a real person.
If you have any questions or comments feel free to post below or email me at bgrief@tulane.edu. Thanks!
–B.