Varsity is a time of self-discovery. Where you’ll make life defining choices which will have a ripple effect on the rest of your life. And where you choose to live will be part of the many options you’ll be facing. The decisions you make could make or break your varsity experience. You may choose to live on campus, at a commune or at home. And you need to decide which living arrangement will best suit your personality and your pocket.
Living at home (pros)
Cost
Varsity can be expensive. You won’t only have to pay for tuition fees but also textbooks. Added to that you’ll need to consider other expenses such as accommodation, food, furniture and utilities. Living at home can help you cut down on these costs.
Privacy
When you live at home, you’ll be able to avoid the chaos which you’ll encounter at dorms or communes. Student residential areas are always filled with noisy students bustling in and out of the dorm. And this could be distracting when you’re trying to study.
You’ll also have more freedom at home, whereas when you live in a dorm or commune you’ll have to learn to share your space with someone else. You won’t have much privacy there. For example, If you roomie needs the light on at 2am because they need to study, you’ll have to be understanding.
Support from family
Another advantage of living at home is you’ll have the support of your family. There’s nothing like coming home to vent to your mom about the awful day you had. And you’ll feel relieved knowing they are always there to offer a shoulder to cry on.
Cons
No freedom
When you live at home you won’t enjoy the freedom which your peers will have. You’ll still be accountable to your parents and have to let them know about every move you make.
Living on campus (pros)
Independence
When you live alone you’ll have the opportunity to grow up and become more independent. You’ll learn to be more responsible because you won’t have your parents to bail you out of every situation. You won’t have your mom around to do your laundry or prepare meals. And you won’t have access to a fully stocked fridge. You’ll need to learn to be in charge of yourself and to rely less on your parents.
You’ll also learn to make a monthly budget to pay for your groceries and clothes and to also have enough for going out.
Time
You’ll live in close proximity to school which means everything will be just a walk away. You can wake up 20 minutes before class and still get there on time. And you won’t have to deal with being late for class due to heavy traffic. The other benefits of living close to campus mean you’ll have access to computer laboratories, your professors and the gym. When you live at home you can waste hours commuting, which can be time-consuming.
Meet new people
If you’re in your first year, living on campus can be beneficial for you. You’ll get the opportunity to meet a diverse group of people and be part of the varsity community. You’ll form bonds with people who share the same interests as you do and you’ll make plenty of memories. You’ll go to varsity events, study together and attend social gatherings.
Birds of a feather hang out together
You’ll be able to study with other students, whether it’s in your room or the library. Seeing other people who are focused and working hard will likely rub off on you too. Whereas when you’re living at home, the temptation to procrastinate is higher.
24-hour library
Regardless of whether you’re studying a sales and marketing course or finance, you may find yourself seeking out a quiet place to study. And when you’re living at res you’ll be able to study in the school library until late. Most universities offer 24-hour libraries where students can study for hours. And you won’t have to deal with having to drive back home. Driving home by yourself can be quite dangerous and time-consuming.
Cons
Too many distractions
When you’re living on campus, you’ll have countless distractions. You’ll have friends randomly coming over to visit you. And you’ll also be able to pop out your dorm at all hours of the night for a time of fun. When you’re living at home you’ll be more disciplined and won’t have too many distractions.
Choosing where to live during your varsity years is very important and you should choose wisely. Because it won’t only impact your varsity experience but it could affect how well you do at school too.