The choice between on-campus and off-campus living is an issue that every college student must address during their education. The reality is that on-campus living provides many advantages not found in off-campus apartments or houses.
Apart from living in close proximity to classes, students living on campus have an easy connection to campus life and the opportunity to live with students from a diverse range of backgrounds and experiences. The opportunity to interact daily with groups beyond one’s immediate social circle is a valuable part of the college experience and is best achieved through on-campus living.
Other benefits of residing on campus include the lump price. Rather than having to worry about separate bills for water, electricity, cable and Internet, students can pay one fee covering all of these living essentials. Furthermore, on-campus residents are not bound by the terms of yearlong leases, which off-campus students must honor even if they are not in permanent residence.
Students who live off campus may advocate the benefits of increased independence or privacy, but these benefits come at the cost of convenience.
An obstacle to living off campus also exists when trying to find suitable means of transportation. Driving to campus requires parking permits, and restrictions on purchasing passes apply to students who live within a two mile radius of campus.
While public transportation is an option, off-campus residents may find it difficult to plan around the city’s limited bus schedule. These residents are also faced with less convenience when it comes to easy socialization with their peers.
On-campus residence is the perfect time for students to branch out and engage with individuals whom they otherwise wouldn’t have the opportunity to meet. It’s important that students preserve this for as long as possible because after graduation, independence won’t be just an expectation, but a necessity.
Nurturing independence should continue to be a priority for universities, but the process of becoming independent is a gradual one.
Whether students follow the path to graduate school, fellowships, or work after graduation, the time spent during undergraduate study should be spent on-campus in order to maximize the college experience.
