A Guide for On & Off-campus Living

Choosing between on-campus and off-campus living is a very personal preference that is influenced by your own priorities.

In many instances, college is the very first time a student will be away from home and their parents or other family members. Selecting the appropriate place to live and the kind of accommodation to move into is vital for a smooth transition from high school to university. 

When so many choices are available both on- and off-campus, it may not be easy to choose the best location to live. The information provided here may assist students in gaining the knowledge they need to make a sound decision on where they will reside during their college years.

On-Campus Living

Consider All the Options

Campus living choices can differ considerably from one institution to another. Learn about the different resident halls available at your institution, taking note of any characteristics that may affect your overall campus experience for the better or worse. Certain rooms may only cater to specific interests on an official basis. Others may have an unofficial reputation that you should be aware of as well. Bear in mind that certain institutions, especially for freshmen, may enforce residence requirements on their students.

Think Before Making a Decision

Do not bring everything you have to your new campus home if you move into a 10 by 15-foot room that you will share with another person. Even if your living quarters are bigger, only carry what you absolutely need with you. If you own a vehicle, think about whether you really need it or not. Coordinate your packing with any roommates to avoid having two or three of anything in your residence.

Gather Knowledge About Your New Surroundings

If you have the opportunity to visit the location where you will be living before class starts, do that as soon as possible. An early visit can assist you in determining what you will need and how you will prepare for your new routine. Student Accommodation Leicester provides support like that. If that is not an option, make use of any resident hall orientation activities available for you. Campus launch festivities are also excellent chances to navigate your way about the campus and acquire a sense of where you are supposed to be.

Understand the Rules and Regulations

Whether you have to live in a residence hall, an apartment maintained by the university, or another kind of campus housing, it is quite possible that there are regulations in place to safeguard students. Many institutions, for example, prohibit drinking in residence halls that accommodate students under the legal age. Individuals who break student housing regulations suffer the consequences of being kicked out of their residence, having their academic records suspended, or worse. Typically, rules and regulations can be found on the website of a particular institution.

Be Polite

Most college students who live on campus throughout their academic careers share a room with at least one person. If you have decided to share a home with another person, making an effort to be polite and helpful will likely make things go a lot more smoothly. Keep everything as organized as possible. Participate in tasks that are shared. Please respect the privacy of others. In a nutshell, do things for yourself that you would enjoy people doing for you.

Participate in On-Campus Activities

Do you want to get away from your roommate for a little while? Participate in various events, whether they are organized by your resident hall association or by other groups on campus. There is no need to remain indoors when there are so many student groups and activities. Even if you get along well with the individuals you live with, participating in campus events can give you a chance to meet various people you may not have otherwise met.

Get Some Air

Student clubs and events may assist in making college life a memorable experience. However, it is also a good idea to spend some time outside of the campus environment. The campus may begin to seem like a confined space, and you may start to feel claustrophobic as a result. Instead, make your way into the city and look for cultural and entertainment activities that pique your curiosity. If you need to get away from college, look for a zoo or a park that you can visit.

Maintain Contact with Other People

You are at college to study, have fun, and develop into someone you have always wanted to be. However, that does not mean that you must forget about everyone from your previous life. Using the support structure you established before coming to college can be highly beneficial if any problems arise. Friends and family members may provide guidance and a different point of view on difficult situations.

Keep Yourself Protected

This is the last point to address, but it is unquestionably the most important. Basic safety measures must be taken, including the following: Always remember to keep your door locked. No one you do not know should be permitted entry into your home. Never give your key to someone else. Propping open communal doors which should be closed is not acceptable. Traveling with a buddy at night is recommended. Additional ideas can be obtained from the employees of the residence hall or the campus security department.

Off-Campus Living

Landlords

While living on campus, you were most likely assigned a RA/HA (Resident Assistant/Housing Advisor) who served as your main point of contact for any problems. When you move away from campus, your landlord will become your primary point of contact for any matters, and they may not be as pleasant and helpful as the on-campus housing personnel was during your time there. Although some landlords are responsive and cautious, others are not really concerned that your faucet is leaking as long as you make your monthly rent payments.

When it comes to your landlord, it is a good idea to create a polite and professional connection to get things started on the right foot. Suppose you discover that they are uncooperative or untrustworthy before the contract is signed. In that case, you may want to consider looking for another place to reside. This may be a sign of future difficulties.

Utilities

Water, heat, electricity, and Internet service were very certainly included in the price of your dorm room. Similarly, certain utilities may be included in your monthly fee; however, this varies from property to property. Make sure you understand what utilities you will be accountable for before you move into the home. Keep track of how much of each service you use every month to avoid having your utility bills become absurdly expensive.

Security Deposit

To reside in the dormitories, you may have been required to pay a security deposit. A security deposit for a rented property may also be comparable to what you paid to live on campus. However, security deposits can be expensive in some instances, and some landlords are pretty particular about how they deduct money. In general, you should take precautions and do your best to maintain the property while living there, but accidents may happen.

Furniture

Although it is possible to locate furnished homes and flats off-campus, you will most likely need to purchase some furniture for yourself. The majority of on-campus housing is fully equipped. However, it is unusual to find a home that does not need you to purchase a bed, sofa, or other pieces of furniture that are absolutely essential for a functioning living area.

Roommates

In most cases, unless you were given the option to select your dorm roommate, you will have your first opportunity to customize your living conditions after you leave campus. Consider carefully whom you want to reside with, and be sure that you live with individuals you will get along with. While there may be procedures in place to cope with roommate problems in dormitories, you will be on your own once you move out of student housing.

Comparison

For students, living on campus is a beneficial and pleasant experience that they will never forget. Suppose students participate in student activities, make friends in resident halls or flats, take advantage of programs, or do not have to worry about transportation to and from class. In that case, campus housing may relieve a great deal of stress and enable them to concentrate on their academics. On the other hand, there are certain disadvantages, such as less privacy and greater expenses. Take a look at our list of advantages and disadvantages to obtain an insider’s perspective on on-campus living.

Students who live off-campus enjoy various advantages, including more independence, cheaper expenses, greater flexibility, and larger space. Whether they live alone or with family or friends, some students find it helpful to leave campus every day to relax away from academic demands. In contrast, others want to remain as connected as possible to their classmates and their institution.

Conclusion

Now you have a basic idea about on and off-campus living along with a comparison. Use this knowledge to make a decision that is perfect and suitable for you. Good Luck!