Should you live on-campus or off-campus? Pros and Cons

If you are looking for student accommodation, then you are thinking about what to choose. Living on-campus or off-campus has its pros and cons of its own. On-campus living provides you with a convenient life, social opportunities, and easy access to the campus. On the other hand, off-campus living comes with freedom, privacy, and potentially lower costs. But it is totally your decision to make which life you prefer for yourself.

Here is the guide which shows the pros and cons of both lives. Choose the life which feels right for you: -

ON-CAMPUS LIFE

On-campus life means that you will live in the student rooms, which are located on the university grounds. It includes dormitories, residence halls, and student apartments owned by the institute. Many students who have just got out of their homes mostly choose on-campus life.

Pros of On-Campus Life:

1. Convenience: It is convenient because it will be closer to your campus, your libraries, labs, and campus cafes. And if you do not want to wake up early, you will still be on time. You don’t have to travel that much when you are living on campus.

2. Social Opportunities: It is easier to make new friends or meet new people when you are living on the campus. You will have the opportunity to join a club or make your own new friends' group. You will be surrounded by your seniors who had the same campus life. It will make your student life transition easier.

3. Included Amenities: Plenty of universities include electricity, water, and Wi-Fi in their housing costs. They also provide you with food. You don’t have to pay for these essentials separately. You will not have to manage bills or your budget. This will make your life a lot easier.

Cons of On-Campus Life:

1. Higher Cost: On-campus student housing can be expensive. But it varies from university to university. Maybe this includes many essentials, but it can be more expensive than renting a place off-campus.

2. Limited Privacy: You will be sharing a room with another person, so there will be less privacy for you. You will have to share a common bathroom, too. At some points, we all need our own space. But it will be difficult to get that. It can affect your study too.

3. Rules and Restrictions: We can all agree that rules are not made for fun. Universities have their own rules and restrictions for students. The freedom will be so less with the curfew at night and no guests for an overnight.

OFF-CAMPUS LIFE

Off-campus life means that you are living on your own. Renting flats, rooms, or student accommodation near your university. If you want to live freely, where you can live your own life. Students mostly start to live off-campus in their second year. But some first-year students who are way more independent also start their lives off-campus.

Pros of Off-Campus Life:

1. Greater Freedom: The Best part of the off-campus life is that you will have plenty of privacy and independence. There is no one to make your decisions for you. You are the one who makes your decision. Do whatever you want to do in your personal space.

2. Cost Savings: Off-campus housing is more affordable than on-campus housing. You can rent a shared student apartment and share with a roommate. And with your roommate, all costs will be 50-50. You can also find a place that fits your budget and also cosy.

3. Privacy and Independence: In off-campus life, you control your own space. You can decorate your room as you want. You can even cook for yourself. Off-campus teaches you how to be an independent person.

   Cons of Off-Campus Life:

1. Commute Time and Cost: This means you will live away from the campus, then you will have to travel a lot. You will have less access to the library, campus cafe, or other university facilities. This will consume your time and savings, too.

2. More Responsibilities: You will have more responsibilities while living off-campus. You will have to manage bills, do maintenance, and pay on time. This will be your responsibility to keep your space clean. It is a great way to know how to take responsibility.

3. Isolation: It is nice to have your own privacy, but sometimes you crave human interaction. This means you will have less contact with people on campus. And it will be difficult for you to participate in other activities of the university.

Tips for choosing the right place for you

• Visit your campus in person and see the options of off-campus options.

• Take feedback from the current students.

• Ask for both types of students, then you can compare yourself.

Conclusion

Both lives have their pros and cons. Where on-campus is more convenient, on the other hand, the on-campus life offers more freedom. You cannot get that much privacy in on-campus life, but off-campus life gives you plenty of privacy. You are more reliant on on-campus life, whereas you learn to take responsibilities in off-campus life. You can prepare to understand what you want. Like, visit campus and see other options (rooms, flats). Students of the university can give you feedback. But this will be your decision to make, which kind of life you want.