Living in university dormitories orapartments in the community?

I think it is better for college studentsto live on campus during their first two years, and then move into an apartmentfor off-campus life, while juniors and seniors need the independence ofoff-campus life. Student’s needs change over four years, so their housingshould too.

Living on-campus makes it easier to getoriented to the way things are done. You get the whole university experience.Plus, you interact more with other students. This includes not only yourroommates, but everyone in your dormitory. The older students in the dormitorycan be a big help for the new students. Keeping up with studies in your firstyear is hard enough. You should not have to worry about finding your way aroundand figuring out the university bureaucracy.

Living in the dormitory also makes a studentfeel more a part of the university community. There are more opportunities for becominginvolved in university activities and networking with students and university administration.

Living off-campus, however, is a definiteadvantage for older students. Finding an apartment, dealing with leases and thelandlord’s regulations, cooking meals, and figuring out budgets are all goodpractice for life after graduation. This kind of independence helps olderstudents grow in adulthood.

Off-campus housing also gives students abetter perspective on what is going on around them. Campus can be like littleworlds of their own. There are few children or older people and everyone isfocused on education. Getting to know neighbors who are not students is good forstudents coming from difference places. It is a chance to find out what otherpeople think and feel.

I think a combination of two yearson-campus and two years off-campus is a winning combination for most students.