What Worries College Students About Off-Campus Housing

By Lorena Roberts on September 20, 2017

As much as upperclassmen hate to admit it, there’s a sense of security that comes with living on campus. Knowing that you only have to wake up a few minutes before your class begins, being close to all the campus activities, and getting to go to the dining hall between every class are just some of the advantages.

But as you progress through your years of college, continuing to live on campus becomes increasingly less desirable. At some point, it becomes important to you to have your own place — where there aren’t any RAs to check up on you, where there isn’t a curfew, and where you can fill your cabinets with all the alcohol you desire.

But there are some worries that come with moving off-campus. It’s a bit more complicated, and there are substantial worries that come with it.

Signing a lease is a pretty big commitment. The length of your lease depends on the complex, but typically, leases last 12 months. Since this is different from the semester term of August-May, by signing a lease, you’re committing to continue to live there when you aren’t in school.

For some people, this isn’t a big deal. For others, it’s a topic of discomfort. If you’re planning to study abroad or move back home during the summer, you’ll either have to pay rent on an empty place or find someone to sublease — which is a whole different can of worms.

Utilities are another part of living off-campus that some students may worry about. In the dorms, it’s easy to shower and do laundry as much as you want. But in an off-campus house or apartment, this becomes another expense. It’s very unlikely that you’re made of money, so adding a category into your budget can be painful.

Parking on campus is most likely a pain in the butt. There never seems to be enough parking spots for all the people who have passes. Living on campus eliminates the stress of having to leave early enough to find a parking spot and get to class.

The social scene is a bit different when you live off-campus. While this could be good or bad, it’s definitely easier to feel lonely when you’re no longer in the middle of the campus action. When organizations have evening meetings, it’s tougher to get to campus. You have to put in more of an effort to be a part of things when you have an off-campus apartment or house.

Responsibility begins to build as soon as you move off-campus. Suddenly, you have monthly rent to pay, groceries to buy, and gas to continuously put in your tank. Living on campus comes with so much convenience, that moving off campus puts all the responsibility on you.

Roommate flexibility can be either a good or bad thing. When you sign a lease with someone, they’re agreeing to hold up their end of the bargain. But of course, this doesn’t always happen.

Having the choice of who you choose to live with can be a great thing — but also a source of anxiety. Will you have separate leases? Will they pay their half of the bills? How do you control their utility usage? You should make sure you really trust the person you’re going to move in with.

Having pets is a part of off-campus living that many college students enjoy. As soon as I moved into an apartment, one of the first things I did was adopt a pup. While they can be a source of happiness in life, it can also be a source of stress. If you’re moving in with someone who’s going to have a dog or cat (or any animal, for that matter), then you should be sure that’s a responsibility you want to take on. Hopefully, they won’t pee in your room or get hair all over your sheets.

Rules and regulations in college student housing off-campus can sometimes be pretty lax. In the dorms, if your neighbors were being loud on a school night, it’s easy to call an RA and get it taken care of. When you live off-campus, things get a bit more complicated. Noise complaints mean calling the police. And it’s not always the easiest conversation to have with your neighbors if you want to handle it yourself.

Living off-campus is a big step in your adult life. Having a lease for the first time and taking on the responsibility of really being in charge of your life is both thrilling and scary at the same time. Paying utility bills sucks and having to drive to campus isn’t the best situation, but all of it is worth it when you have the key to something that’s yours.

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