Everyone knows Columbia College is not the typical college campus, and one of the reasons is because classroom and dormitory buildings are scattered across the South Loop. Instead of having the experiences of generally being on campus, with buildings connected to one another like at other universities and state colleges, students get the chance to feel what it’s like to be on their own in downtown Chicago in an environment that can combine college living and real-life living encounters all in one.
So the questions always come up: Which option is best for students and their living situation? Is it better to stay on campus? Do students prefer to live off campus? With a roommate or by themselves? Which of Columbia’s dorm buildings seems most suitable for its students: The Dwight, The Buckingham, the University Center or the 731 S. Plymouth Court Building? What area or neighborhood is safest for living off campus? And most importantly, what don’t students like about Columbia’s dorm buildings that factor in the decision to move off campus?
For a majority of students, generally those who are a littler older, more mature and graduating seniors, living off campus seems like the way go.
Katy Nielsen, student-at-large and assistant health and fitness editor at The Columbia Chronicle, says she prefers to live by herself because it can be stressful having a roommate.
“I like to have my space. I am pretty independent,” she says.
Nielsen lives downtown but has always lived off campus. She says she prefers to have her own space.
“I’m older than most college kids being 25 years old, so I prefer to keep my distance from Columbia students when I’m not in class.”
While some Columbia students enjoy the experiences of meeting new people and making new friends, others are not so fortunate with their roommates. Spencer Roush, senior journalism major and editor-in-chief for The Chronicle, says she moved off campus because she had a bad roommate experience and was paying too much for so little.
“Sharing a small apartment with three other girls and two bedrooms is not fun,” Roush says. “I hated living in the 2 E. 8th building [when Columbia owned it.] [It] was gross and overpriced.”
Roush lived on campus her freshman year and has lived off campus for the last three years. She says she loves living alone, but “it definitely depends on what kind of person you are.
“If you aren’t comfortable being alone and constantly needing another person, I wouldn’t try it,” she says.
Privacy can also be an issue many “roomies” face, especially when battling personalities clash.
Unlike Nielsen and Roush, Kristen Franzen, assistant metro editor at The Chronicle and senior journalism major, prefers to at least live with one other person. She says it provides company when needed.
“I chose to live off campus because my roommate and best friend transferred to Loyola University. We lived together in The Dwight last year when she went to Columbia. We wanted to live together, so we compromised and lived an equal distance from both of our schools.”
Franzen recommends The Dwight lofts for students because it’s not only for Columbia students and it’s very modern. “It’s basically an apartment and has a full kitchen.”
Franzen also says she liked living on campus (although she currently stays off campus) because she was very close to Columbia.
“I was able to wake up right before class. I didn’t like it because everything in the loop closes so early.”
Prices can also play a factor in determining whether someone wants to live on campus or off campus. Franzen says she paid nearly $1,300 a month last year when she lived at The Dwight, which seems pretty outrageous for student living. “This year I pay $850 each month,” she says.
“I pay the same amount for a large studio apartment I live alone in compared to a larger apartment I had to share a bedroom with,” Roush says. “Off campus is definitely better.”
“It’s expensive to live off campus,” Nielsen says. “But it’s worth it.”