Almost every college offers its students the option to live on campus, particularly the fresh ones. Some students accept this offer, while some turn it down and choose to stay off campus.
Some say, “Living on campus is an important part of your college experience.” How true is this statement?
We’ll be discussing the benefits of living on campus in this post.
What Are The Benefits Of Living On Campus?
Does staying on campus have any benefit at all? Yes, it does!
There are many academic and social benefits to living on a college campus. First, on-campus residences give you easy access to classrooms, academic resources, faculty offices, libraries, and many other facilities and amenities.
Also, living on campus will give you more opportunities to socialize with your peers, and it’s certain that you will have greater access to various campus activities, which will add to your sense of community.
Talking about the benefits of living on campus, below are some:
Building Of Relationship
Making new friends and networking is very easy when you live on campus. Some schools provide an environment designed to help students from different backgrounds build relationships with each other and extend their personal and professional networks.
Involvement On Campus
You get involved by attending numerous hall programs or becoming a student leader. Participating in these programs, you start to develop leadership and teamwork, time management, and organizational and administrative skills. You will also gain experience with event planning, advertising, problem-solving, and management.
Proximity and Convenience
Living on campus eliminates the daily drive to and from home. This makes it easy to devote more of your time to studying, relationship building, relaxation, and getting involved in campus activities.
Independence
The college experience and living on campus provide you as a student with an opportunity to learn to live independently. You can maintain relationships with family and friends while also discovering how to appropriately manage their schedules, academics, finances, relationships, and physical and mental well-being.
Security
On-campus residents benefit from 24-hour surveillance provided by the campus security management as their primary assignment is to secure the campus and its residents.
Enjoyment
Once you stay on campus, you can easily attend sporting events and join clubs and organizations. These are among what make school life.
Access To Resources
There are a plethora of resources that students can make use of on-campus. They include workout facilities, 24-hour computer labs, study spaces, art rooms, counselling and health services, peer tutoring, a library, academic advising, and the Career and Experiential Education Center.
Academic Success And Good Grades
To crown it all, students who live on campus have easy access to the network of educational support; the library is within walking distance, as are the student union and classes.
Why Freshmen Should Stay on Campus
As a freshman in college, do you think staying on campus is the best idea for you?
Well, Living on campus offers a chance to feel connected to the heartbeat of college life. You will be more in touch with what is happening and have a greater chance to make close friends you would have never met.
Attending college is not just about going to classrooms and getting a degree. It also involves learning life lessons and enjoying experiences outside the classroom.
If you intend to live on campus as a freshman, I highly encourage you to do so.
Living On Campus Vs. Off-campus
Living on or off campus is one of the biggest choices new students make, which is determined by personal preference.
Below is the comparison:
Transportation
As a student who lives on campus, there is little need for transportation due to the proximity. You could easily track the 3 or 5 mins distance. But otherwise is the case for those who stay off campus.
Privacy
Privacy is one of the benefits of staying off campus. Those staying on campus will have to share a room with at least one other. Privacy may still be limited when living with roommates off-campus in an apartment, but there is no curfew, rules & regulations, or communal bathrooms.
Food
Another advantage of living off campus is that you have more food options. Students on campus have access to microwaves or hot plates but do not typically have full kitchens.
Work And Social Commitments
Students who have side hustle find it easier to live off campus. Some students prefer to live alone and work more, which gives them the benefit of coming home to relax without any disturbance.
Finances
Most times, it is cheaper to live on campus. However, the cost may be the same as living off campus with some roommates in an affordable apartment.
Roommates
By living on campus, you rarely have a say in who your roommates will be. However, students who live off campus and wish to share/her room can choose their roommates or at least have some more options.
Living Expenses
One of the biggest benefits of living on campus is that most expenses are covered. You do not need to pay for cable, Internet access, and utilities. All these will be provided to you by your college. But as an off-campus resident, you must pay as you use those mentioned above.
Security And Medical Care
Not all students can afford private apartments with 24-hour security, but every campus has security guards on duty at all hours of the day and night. Students also have free access to medical services on campus, but driving to a medical facility is necessary if you stay off campus.
What Is Living On Campus Like?
Living on campus is a good idea as it has many academic and social benefits, but everything has its advantages and disadvantages. Let us take a quick look at the advantages and disadvantages of living on campus.
Advantages
Proximity
The first and the most obvious advantage of being on campus is the proximity to activities.
You can easily walk the 3 mins distance from your hall to your classroom, library, and faculty. And If there’s an event being held on campus, you’ll be able to get to it quickly.
Safety
Every college has security management to ensure their students are safe during the day and at night. In addition, some halls do have surveillance cameras outside, and their entries are always secured.
Convenience
Living on campus also comes with a variety of amenities. Your room is furnished, and you’re free from the burden of paying monthly rent or utilities. In most cases, the common areas are cleaned regularly, especially if there are shared hallway bathrooms.
Disadvantages
Rules and Lack of Control
Curfew, quiet hours, visiting hours, kitchen hours; there are a lot of rules in the college dorm. Failing to abide by the curfew and other rules can result in expulsion. You’ll have to adjust to your roommate’s living style and room temperature—most colleges don’t have individual thermostats in the dorm.
Shared Space and Distractions
For introverts, living in a dorm may prove particularly challenging. You’re not guaranteed peace, and you never know if your roommate will be a social butterfly who brings the party home. Resident socials and campus activities can make it difficult for the first-year student to focus on studies.
Conclusion
The benefits of living off campus are quite numerous. However, they come with some cons as well.
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