The Pros & Cons of Living on Campus

Here are some things to consider as you figure out where you’re living next year:

Pros

1. Location, Location, Location

Since you’re already on campus, you can easily walk to a bus stop or walk to class if need be. You don’t have to worry about traffic or finding a place to park and potenially being late to class. 

2. 24 Hour Staff Available to Help You

If you need emergency help, you won’t have to look far. It can be comforting to you, and your parents, that you have access to help at all hours of the day. 

3. No Worries About Utilities

Lucky for you, you don’t have to worry about paying for water or power because it’s all included in the cost of your dorm! If there are any problems with your utilities, then it is the responsibility of University Housing.

4. No Parking Worries

Like I said before, you could easily walk to class or take a bus instead of driving yourself. You can park your car and leave it for days without having to worry about driving to class or paying for gas.

5. Better Access to Campus Life

Resident assistants often have programs that allow you to make friends with the people on your hall. In addition, you can walk to events held on campus and therefore have better access to it, rather than having to come all the way back to campus for an event. 

Cons

1. Sharing a Room with Someone

Sharing a room with someone is my least favorite part of living on campus. Oftentimes, miscommunications can arise and it can become an uncomfortable living situation. You can talk to your roommate to try to make the best out of it, but it’s still less than ideal to share a room.

2. Not Having Your Own Kitchen (In Most Places)

Not having a kitchen means that you can either be extremely inconvienced and try to cook for yourself, or you must have the meal plan and incur other costs. 

3. Less Freedom

Living on campus has greater expections than having your own place. If you live on campus, you have to adhere to university policies. 

4. Cramped Living Quarters

Last year, my roommate and I called our room a shoebox because it was so small. Oftentimes, you have to be extremely creative with space in order to fit not just one person’s things, but two person’s things as well. 

5. Less Independence Having to adhere to university policies certainly limits the things you can do. You aren’t the owner of the building so you can’t put holes in the walls or have parties. 

Good luck on house hunting for next year, whether you decide to live on campus or not! 

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