NationStates Jolt Archive

Hey everyone..
Im going off to college this fall and trying to decide between living on campus or at home. Our college doesnt have dorms, but instead on campus apartments that houses 4 each (each with own bathroom) . Itll prob be $500/ month, rents 350 and other expenses prob would total up to 100, and prob 50 in unexpected expenses. I am getting 500 a semester should i choose to live on campus, so one month of every semester would be free. Living at home would save me about $4000 dollars, besides its only 20 minutes away, possibily 30-40 minutes due to the morning traffic. On the other hand, we could always rent out 2 rooms (we have 2 spares) at the house which would cover the 500 a month, and also an hour a day seems to be a lot of time just gone out the window (plus the cost of gas) and finally I ve heard employees prefer students who have lived on campus. So i was just wondering what everyone thought, thanks

What College doesn't have dorms?

I would live on campus, you'll get about 4 years worth of experiences that you can look back on and enjoy! Plus you'll be making friends, and getting the hot chicks!

If you live at home, it'll be like you're still in high school.

Live on campus mate, part of going to university is the experience of meeting new people and enjoying the new environment, 20 minutes away may not seem a lot but from personal experience - I can tell you that it really does make a difference.

the only reason NOT to live on campus is if the extra money would end up putting you in unacceptable debt.

the extra life experience of living "on your own" is worth everything but having to pay for it for the next 20 years.

Live on campus!!!

How else do you reasonably expect to get Laid? :D

Campus, of course. This is the time for you to grow up and learn to live on your own.

from personal experience, if you don't mind going into long term debt, you can always get private student loans that will cover anything the gov't, your parents, or yourself can't. I would say stay on campus - its more of a change of life, you'll get more out of college socially, which may end up doing nearly as much for you as classes ... so I say stay on campus, you can always get more money through loans: bankofamerica.com, or www.salliemae.com (I got a private signature loan each year through them). If you need anything you can't find there feel free to tg with any questions.

Where are you headed btw?

Campus, no contest. It's so much easier adjust to uni if you're surrounded by it.

Do your parents a favor. Live at home for the first year.

I live at home, as the university I attend is approx 25-30 mins away by public bus. I figure that it is completely insane to spend so much more money on housing/school when I already have a roof over my head 25 minutes away (Edit: Especially when the government and bank come looking for me when they want their money back). And I don't buy this idea that one needs to live on campus in order to get the full "college experience:" 1) If your parents live so close to campus, you are not going to miss anything, and 2) you'll be spending all your time studying in the library anyway (having fun is important, but I'm not getting into massive debt so I can party).


If you live at home, it'll be like you're still in high school.


Worrying excessively about one's social life while there are far more important issues at hand (unnecessary debt, one's education) is also like still being in high school.

from personal experience, if you don't mind going into long term debt, you can always get private student loans that will cover anything the gov't, your parents, or yourself can't. I would say stay on campus - its more of a change of life, you'll get more out of college socially, which may end up doing nearly as much for you as classes ... so I say stay on campus, you can always get more money through loans: bankofamerica.com, or www.salliemae.com (I got a private signature loan each year through them). If you need anything you can't find there feel free to tg with any questions.

Where are you headed btw?

University of Texas at Dallas

I'm living at home and going to uni this year. So much cheaper..

dude, a lot of colleges don't have dorms. my friend at university of texas at dallas has no dorms, only campus housing (which IS different).

I live at home, as the university I attend is approx 25-30 mins away by public bus. I figure that it is completely insane to spend so much more money on housing/school when I already have a roof over my head 25 minutes away (Edit: Especially when the government and bank come looking for me when they want their money back). And I don't buy this idea that one needs to live on campus in order to get the full "college experience:" 1) If your parents live so close to campus, you are not going to miss anything, and 2) you'll be spending all your time studying in the library anyway (having fun is important, but I'm not getting into massive debt so I can party).I agree. I live at home - I'm in second year Uni. It's honestly fine. I have as much of a social life as I have time for, and save myself a LOT of money. People still amke me food and do my laundry occasionally - its nice. Sure there's definately things I'm not experiencing that others are, but vise versa as well - besides, I'm not sure I want to experience some of those things (caf food and mold, anyone?). Depends on your relationship with your parents, really.

I think if you're outgoing enough to make friends regardless, and are interested in clubs and campus activities, you can stay home and still have a great experience at university. If you're on the shy side, living on campus is a good way to force yourself into a place slightly beyond your comfort zone, and it'll pay off. Just my 2 cents

dude? you're heading to utd? that's badass - i'm up at unt myself.

Living at home is the best option, if you want to succeed academically. No noisy roommates coming in at all hours, or having people over partying and annoying your neighbours until the wee hours of the morning. Plus... FREE. I mean, I could have paid $5000 for residence per year (add up how many years your program is). Or I could pay a couple hundred a year for bus passes. The amount of money I've saved by staying at home for my 8 year university career is mind boggling.
If all you care about is a party, and good time... don't waste your money on college. Just go to the bar and start working.
As for employers preferring those who have lived on campus... I've never heard that before... but maybe it's an American thing.

Live on campus!!!

How else do you reasonably expect to get Laid? :D


So fucking true!

So fucking true!
no, it really isn't. don't be so un-creative.

umm... yeah, haven't you ever been to a bar? now THAT'S the easy way...

couple of things to add: traffic on 75 can be hell, i surely hope you don't think you're gonna take LBJ at 7AM, and George Bush costs money. i'd live on campus if i were you. i've got a couple of friends who live at home in houston and commute to UH every day (also about 20 mins), but houston roads are a LOT better than dallas roads, and even then they don't always get there on time. plus, if you live on campus (i live just off-campus), you can just go back to your apartment in between classes - something that living 20 minutes away you wouldn't be able to do.

my best friend says this about housing:
the housing is very random; it can be just fine or pretty bad

I went to college 7 years and taught in college 8 years.

Live on campus. More than half of what you learn in college is how to get along with people. How to make friends. How to establish yourself in a new community.

This is very difficult for those that live on campus because everyone now has their own TV or other entertainment in their room. It is impossible for those that live off campus. Statistics will show that those that live on campus will get better grades and have a better chance of graduation. This is because it is easier to do all of the above, and the human is not designed to be alone and isolated. Even those that live in the dorms but go home every week-end have a far less chance of making it. They just are not committed to and feel a part of the community.

So what does this have to do with your future? Well, odds are you aren't going to find a lifetime job in your home town. Even if you do you will have to be a part of a new culture of the business. You will have to do the above things.

Will living on campus with new roommates be fun? Well, you're going to hate at least one of the four. You will have difficulty with all of them as they will with you. But years later you will look back on it as the most useful learning experience of your life.

Statistics will show that those that live on campus will get better grades and have a better chance of graduation.


Can I see a list of sources, so that I can examine these statistics myself? I'm highly skeptical as to the actual impact that living a whole 20 mins away will have on the ability to form social relationships, as not all of our friends and associates need necessarily be next door neighbors. As such, I'm also highly skeptical as to any impact on academic performance. (Edit: if anything, I would expect that the added distraction and sudden lifestyle changes involved in moving on-campus would be disruptive and thus harmful to academic performance)


This is because it is easier to do all of the above, and the human is not designed to be alone and isolated.


Well, excepting those of us that are, anyway. Ah, but I forget; being different is to be somehow abnormal or diseased (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schizoid_personality_disorder). Silly me. :)


They just are not committed to and feel a part of the community.


Some of us have noticed the community is awfully good at avoiding committment as well.

It really depends on what sort of home situation you have, and if you need to learn to live on your own, or if you're already kind of independant. Much of college learning isn't in the classrooms, and you'll be shooting yourself in the foot if you neglect it.

Plus, you have to take gas into account, as well as hours worth of hassle driving, and such.

I'd lean towards campus unless you have a really great home situation with parents who already have helped you learn to be independant and adult.

and i think most of y'all replying are forgetting the main issue here:

NEVER UNDERESTIMATE DALLAS TRAFFIC

Hey everyone..
Im going off to college this fall and trying to decide between living on campus or at home. Our college doesnt have dorms, but instead on campus apartments that houses 4 each (each with own bathroom) . Itll prob be $500/ month, rents 350 and other expenses prob would total up to 100, and prob 50 in unexpected expenses. I am getting 500 a semester should i choose to live on campus, so one month of every semester would be free. Living at home would save me about $4000 dollars, besides its only 20 minutes away, possibily 30-40 minutes due to the morning traffic. On the other hand, we could always rent out 2 rooms (we have 2 spares) at the house which would cover the 500 a month, and also an hour a day seems to be a lot of time just gone out the window (plus the cost of gas) and finally I ve heard employees prefer students who have lived on campus. So i was just wondering what everyone thought, thanks
How 'bout couch-surfing, and a ghost writer? *nods*

Can I see a list of sources, so that I can examine these statistics myself? I'm highly skeptical as to the actual impact that living a whole 20 mins away will have on the ability to form social relationships, as not all of our friends and associates need necessarily be next door neighbors. As such, I'm also highly skeptical as to any impact on academic performance. (Edit: if anything, I would expect that the added distraction and sudden lifestyle changes involved in moving on-campus would be disruptive and thus harmful to academic performance)


Well, excepting those of us that are, anyway. Ah, but I forget; being different is to be somehow abnormal or diseased (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schizoid_personality_disorder). Silly me. :)


Some of us have noticed the community is awfully good at avoiding committment as well.

http://dana.ucc.nau.edu/~jlw28/paper6.html

According to Terenzini, Pascarella, & Blimling (1996), the content of the outside of class activities is what has an effect on academic achievement. By content they mean what is involved in the students outside of class experiences. Academic and cognitive learning are positively shaped by a wide variety of out of class experiences. Activities that had a positive influence on academic achievement were living in a residence hall, working part time on campus, discussing racial and ethnic issues, and socializing with others of a different race or ethnicity. Activities such as having an internship, studying abroad, and interacting with other students and faculty in an academic way also had a positive influence. The activities that had a negative effect on academic achievement were living at home, belonging to a Greek organization, and participating in intercollegiate athletics. Activities such as working full time, spending more time socializing with friends, and having fewer academically related out of class encounters with faculty and staff also had a negative impact on academic achievement. The activities that had a positive influence required the students to be actively involved in school. The most powerful influence was a student’s interpersonal interactions with peers or faculty. If the interactions were of an academic nature there was a positive effect on academic achievement. If the interactions were of a social nature, such as a party, there was a negative effect.



Conclusion
There are a lot of different activities that affect a college students’ life. The way a student lives is the basis for a good experience or a bad experience in college. A student must participate in activities other than class to be well rounded. If a student does not do anything except study than the student will burn out. Although participation is important, these activities need to be done in moderation. If a student works too much or volunteers too much it will negatively effect their academic achievement. Time management skills are very important in college. A student should learn study skills as well. There is not anything wrong with consuming alcohol while in college, a lot of students’ party, it just has to be kept under control.

References
Cheung, C. K. & Kwok, S. T. (1998). Activities and academic achievement among college students. Journal of Genetic Psychology, 159, 147–162.
Gerald, C. (1997). Living and Learning. California: Wadsworth Publishing.
Hoekema, D. A. (1994). Campus Rules and Moral Community. Maryland: Rowman and Littlefield Publishers.
Shalala, D. E. College students and drinking. http://alcoholism.about.com/health/alcoholism/library/naa29.htm?iam=mt&rf=mt.
Terenzini, P. T., Pascarella, E. T. & Blimling, G. S. (1996). Students out of class experiences and their influence on learning and cognitive development: A literature review. Journal of College student development, 37, 149-162.
Wheeler, J.L. (1999) Questionnaire.

I say campus. The convenience alone is worth it, and it's something I didn't realize until last semester, when I commuted. This semseter, being on campus allows me to do a lot more work because I can spend a lot less time getting ready in the morning and a lot more time doing the things I need to do- like party (oh, and get that random essay in :D).

While dorm life is tough and dorm food is....well.....boring. It is the better option.

Having said that, the biggest factor is your personality and how committed you are to a goal. College is not really how smart you are but how tough you are. Do you have the guts? Are you going to show up? Are you going to ask questions and participate in class? Are you going to lean on others and allow them to lean on you? Are you a team player? Do you keep going when you are wading through a sewer? Can you time manage? Do you understand moderation in all things? (Both partying and studying can destroy you if not regulated.)

It is because of these factors that some employers don't really care what the degree is in as long as you have one. It shows what your personallity is when the heat is on.

There was a thread not long ago where a young man got upset with his parents and decided to get a GED and drop out, leave home, go to college. I advised him to save his money. If you can't take a lot of crap, don't go to college. It's all about survival when others quit.

I advised him to save his money. If you can't take a lot of crap, don't go to college. It's all about survival when others quit.

This is definitely true to a certain degree. My engineering class started out with 40+ people in it. By second year, that number was more than cut in half. By third year, there were 8, and I was not among them. I switched to psychology, because it was more interesting for me. :)
It's definitely a growing experience, and like all of those, they are accompanied by growing pains. "If you can't take a lot of crap" college/uni might just be the place to learn how, because, trust me, there's a ton of it there. Whether it's stupid administration giving you the run around, or apathetic prof's, or really annoying fellow students... perseverance can be difficult.
It's a challenge, but the rewards for completion are worth it...
Whether you stay at home, or live in a dorm.

For my first year at Uni (if I do good enough in the next two years :)) I'll be staying at a "hall". A dorm pretty much.

For my first year at Uni (if I do good enough in the next two years :)) I'll be staying at a "hall". A dorm pretty much.


Pissing off down south?

http://dana.ucc.nau.edu/~jlw28/paper6.html

...Activities that had a positive influence on academic achievement were living in a residence hall, working part time on campus, discussing racial and ethnic issues, and socializing with others of a different race or ethnicity. Activities such as having an internship, studying abroad, and interacting with other students and faculty in an academic way also had a positive influence.


Other than "living in a residence hall" and "studying abroad," I see no reason why living at home should make it excessively difficult to accomplish these activities. Especially when that home is located close to campus. At any rate, "living in a residence hall" appears to be only one of several factors.

Actually, I'd be interested in see a study of the effects of the length of commute. I see no reason why someone living at home 20 minutes away should have excessive trouble socializing, discussing issues, or interacting with others academically. Now, having to commute an hour or more probably does have an effect, as long commutes become too inconvenient. (This would have been the case with my 2nd choice of university, in which case I would most likely have been living on campus. Then again, I know someone who lives in the next city over who did regularly commute to that same campus).

At any rate, I don't mean to argue that living on campus is never preferable, only that other factors (cost, distractions, lifestyle changes) outweigh the benefit of living on-campus when the length of the commute to campus is relatively small.


The activities that had a negative effect on academic achievement were living at home, belonging to a Greek organization, and participating in intercollegiate athletics. Activities such as working full time, spending more time socializing with friends, and having fewer academically related out of class encounters with faculty and staff also had a negative impact on academic achievement.


Living at home appears to be only one of many possible factors.

Again, I would suspect that living on-campus would increase the occurrence of such non-academics related socializing and distraction, thus multiplying the apparent negative effects of such socializing. If surrounding myself with the "positive" college experience enhances the positive/benefit, surely surrounding myself with the "negative" college experience also enhances the negative/harm. Living at home may have a negative effect, but, if my suspicion is correct, living on campus is hardly without it's own risks.

Also, what is the relationship between the extra cost of living on campus and the need to have a job, perhaps even a full time job? If my living on campus (or simply not at home) requires me to take on a job in order to meet costs, such living arrangements would apparently have a negative effect. Is it a good idea to risk this negative effect if other suitable living arrangements (with one's parents) are easily available nearby?


The activities that had a positive influence required the students to be actively involved in school. The most powerful influence was a student’s interpersonal interactions with peers or faculty. If the interactions were of an academic nature there was a positive effect on academic achievement. If the interactions were of a social nature, such as a party, there was a negative effect.


Again, I suspect that living on campus among other college students would increase the occurrence of being distracted by "interactions...of a social nature," thus increasing the negative effects. At any rate, living on campus may make interactions with peers and faculty more convenient, but it is hardly impossible to do so living close to but off campus. I wonder if having to exert extra effort might actually build organizational skills and the resulting responsibility, especially since this paper identifies "time management skills" as being "very important in college."


There is not anything wrong with consuming alcohol while in college, a lot of students’ party, it just has to be kept under control.


Correct. Some of us may choose to keep our drinking under control by not surrounding ourselves with others suddenly consuming alcohol legally for the first time, not to mention alcohol itself. Perhaps some of us accomplish this by living at home.

Who wrote this paper?

Who wrote this paper?
I just went to google and took the first paper I came to. I doubt if you will find anything contrary. Since every Master's and Doctorate has to do a research paper and what better thing to research than the college you are at, these things have been studied to death. This is very common knowledge among those trying to halt the drop out rate of colleges. (Generally 30% the Freshman year. Another 20% the Sophomore year.) They spent a lot to recruit you, they hate to take the loss. (What they want is for you to graduate, get a great job, and donate to the alumni fund.) And it's why many colleges require Freshmen to live in dorms. (Notice I never said dorm life was going to be fun, but VERY educational.)

The choice is yours. As I said in an earlier post, it's more guts than anything else.

I just went to google and took the first paper I came to. I doubt if you will find anything contrary.


Ah, such wonderfully rigorous and academically sound research methods. :D


Since every Master's and Doctorate has to do a research paper and what better thing to research than the college you are at, these things have been studied to death. This is very common knowledge among those trying to halt the drop out rate of colleges. (Generally 30% the Freshman year. Another 20% the Sophomore year.). They spent a lot to recruit you, they hate to take the loss. (What they want is for you to graduate, get a great job, and donate to the alumni fund.) And it's why many colleges require Freshmen to live in dorms. (Notice I never said dorm life was going to be fun, but VERY educational.)


Ah, so is the concern for the academic and social well being of the students, or for the well being of the university? Should I be surprised that a university would produce studies encouraging me to live on-campus when doing so is percieved as benefiting the university? Even if, in certain situations, my benefit is minimal or non-existant? Living off campus means spending less money on the university, after all.

</tin-foil hat (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tinfoil_hat) mode>

As I said in an earlier post, it's more guts than anything else.

I would have thought it was about the pursuit of knowledge.

Pissing off down south?
Yessir. Hopefully to do Med at Otago. We'll see. Did well enough in 5th form. I guess this year and next year will be the real deciders though.

Well, since the college I am going to in September is less than 3 minutes from my house by car, I think that I would choose to live at home.

Stay on campus. Met some great gals in the dorms. My wife was one of them! :)

If you notice the only people telling you to live off campus are people who don't live on campus. Don't stay at home, maybe you won't notice what you are missing but seriously it would be an unbelievably huge mistake. You only live once when else are you going to be totally free of your parents with little responsibility beyond selfishly educating yourself?

Also, every friend I know that stayed at home has not been as invovled in their University and thus has not taken full advantage of all the academic and extracurricular activities an University can offer.

::snip::

Did you live at home during college or at the university?

Yessir. Hopefully to do Med at Otago. We'll see. Did well enough in 5th form. I guess this year and next year will be the real deciders though.


Yeah, 5th to 6th form is a bigger jump than 4th to 5th and 6th to 7th, although it might be different under ncea.

Yeah, 5th to 6th form is a bigger jump than 4th to 5th and 6th to 7th, although it might be different under ncea.
Indeed. It seems as though English might be pretty hard and the jump in maths is meant to be a large one too. Chem/Physics look to be fine.

Did you live at home during college or at the university?

Yes, I currently live at home while attending university.

See also: http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=10467225&postcount=45

If you notice the only people telling you to live off campus are people who don't live on campus.


So?

People who live off campus are obviously going to provide reasons why they believe living off campus is a good choice, and people who live on campus will provide reasons for why living on campus is a good choice. It would make sense that I would try to provide reasons for choosing the living arangements that I did. Am I somehow "biased" because I chose the unpopular option? Am I "biased" simply because I advocate the option you don't like?

Edit: And besides, this statement essentially adds up to an ad hominem fallacy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ad_hominem):

1) X claims living off campus is the better choice
2) X lives off campus
3) Therefore, X's claim is suspect/wrong.

Using this tactic is to attack X and X's circumstances, when one should be attacking X's argument instead.

The obvious solution: Live at home, but go to so many house parties that you're never there.

Live on campus, take from someone who knows. It is far better than home, except for the food, but whatever.

I think everyone should add where they are in the college/uni process. There seems to be a difference between those who have ran the course and those starting or considering starting.

I went to college 7 years and taught in college 8 years. I'm no longer in that field and have no need to encourage students to stay on or off.

If it's a money thing, stay in the dorm the first year, then live at home or off campus after that. Not only does research say that the dorm is better, but my observation of student behavior and success tells me that a commuter (under the age of 25) has less chance. I use the 25 because, believe it or not, people change dramatically between 18 and 25. The best students are returning military. They have learned to discipline themselves and have a goal. They have been through sh-- and survived. An 18 year old really doesn't have a clue. I admit when I was 18 I thought I was pretty hot. I knew all and could do all. Going through college, and survival in business taught me a lot. As I look back, I remember hating every minute of the dorm. I remember choking down the meals at "Slater's Slop Shop". But all of my lasting friends over the last 30 year, I met in the dorm. When I'm presented with food, I eat it. In business I've been given all kinds of food, squid, octopus, goat, whole fish and some I won't mention at dinner time. I just thought, if I can eat dorm food I can eat this. Those that insulted the host didn't get the business. When I had a client or boss that was passing the sh-- I just thought, this isn't anything compared to some of the guys in the dorm.

It really isn't if living in the dorm will get you better grades or get you a degree. Putting up with less than ideal living conditions will help you appreciate that first house you own. Putting up with dorm slobs will teach you that you can live and work with the worst of people. Eating dorm food will teach you to appreciate anything edible, and appreciate that meal your spouse didn't quite get right.

And speaking of spouse, living in the dorm will make you a better partner. You will have had experience living with people with strange idiosyncrasies. And you better believe your spouse will have a lot of them.

Wow lots of contrasting opinions.. thanks for the help

It seems like most of the campus supporters live on campus and
the home supporters live at home

Is there anyone that has done both? which do u like better and whY?

The same question went through my mind when I stareted college two semesters ago and I chose to live at home to save the money... IT WASN'T WORTH IT, not only is it annoying to drive to school and back everyday, but it is a lot of gas money, it hurts the re-sale value of your car, and most importantly you aren't expierencing college life. If your parents are anything like mine then they will be against you going out really late and that kills any hopes of good parties on weekdays but not only that, its much harder to make good friends at school if you only see them during classes. I whole-heartedly regret my decision to live at home and hope that you will not make the same mistake I did