to dorm or not to dorm?

Question

that is the question. with reasons to back up your answer please!

the college is in a familiar area, and i have a boyfriend/fiancee who wants to live in an apartment with me. im not sure which is smarter

Answer 1

To stay in a dorm provides you with an extra layer of security (sometimes better than other places). But it also provides you with a chance of having some really bad room mates. My sister just graduated from Morehead and her first semester she had the worst possible room mates and they kicked her out of the room on regular basis so they could party. My sister graduated with honors and was a very serious student who wanted to study and rest when she wasn't in classes. They used her computer and her refrigerator and anything else of hers they could get their hands on, without her permission. The night they kicked her out of the room permanently was the last straw - she took her computer and all her stuff (including the toilet paper it seems they didn't think to bring their own and didn't ever buy any while they were there), they then tried to say she was stealing their stuff, but the campus police came and saw that my sister's name was etched into all her things. Since this could not have been done in 15 minutes, they knew that the room mates were the trouble makers. They had to get my sister a new room somewhere else. She ended up in the honors dorm - much nicer area than the other dorms. Staying off campus has its pluses and minuses also. So you would really want to look into both for the area where you intend on going to school.

Answer 2

I would say without a doubt, take the opportunity to live in a dorm. My freshman year would have been hell if I had not decided to live in the dorms. You will make friends that you will keep all the way through school and beyond. I was someone that had a very hard time in school because I changed schools after the first year. I never had the same connection with my classmates in college like I did when I lived on campus. Living off campus makes you a bit more disconnected and if you can make a few great friends that you may share classes with, going to class will be a WHOLE LOT less painful. Dorm life can be a bit of a reality check because you will meet people that you wouldn't ever meet otherwise. I thought everyone in the world was like me and did things the way we did them in my home town and it was such a valuable experience to have that exposure to other people. I couldn't say enough positive things about living in a dorm.

Answer 3

Definitely DORM. My freshman and sophomore years living in a dorm were the best of my life. It is very convenient to campus, so you don't need to get up early to make it to class -- no worries about traffic or parking spaces. Food at the dining hall will be a short walk away and free (covered by your meal plan anyway). And you'll become friends with the others on you floor, which means that you're living with your friends. You will also have more flexibility with your class schedule, because you will always be on camplus whenever. I liked being able to go back to my room between classes for a nap or a quck study break in private. I'd rather hang out in my room than at the student union any day. Living on campus will give you more friends and more things to do in the end than living off campus and commuting.

Answer 4

For me, I had to dorm for a year! If you're moving off to a place far away from home (where you don't know anyone), you may have to dorm. Although dorming was horrible for me, (I'm not a social person and the roommate thing drove me crazy), It actually helped me to make friends in the city, and the campus had all kinds of cool parties at the student center. Now I live in an apartment, no roommate, and it's fun! But I don't get free school meals, rent is high, and I tend to oversleep now. Sorry I'm rambling. All and all, dorm if you want to. But remember, it's fun for some but not for all.

Answer 5

Dorms are convenient housing, especially if you are not local to the area and not familiar with off-campus options. They are relatively safe, you know you won't get screwed by a landlord and it's a great place to make friends.

I think dorm living is the best option for a freshman and even sophomore. Then, once the student is more familiar with the campus and surrounding area the student can branch out to off-campus living if that is a preference. Besides, with grades and everything else to worry about - why worry about rent and utility bills if you don't have to?

Answer 6

Depending on whether or not you can afford an apartment, or if you want a room mate or if you want to live closer apart to the school, then you can see if you want to get a dorm or not.
Because if you want an apartment and you can afford it then you can get an apartment, but you have to also calculate the cost of gas for you to drive from the apartment to the school, also that most apartment have a larger kitchen to where you can cook with out having to worry about your room mate eating your food.
If you want to live closer to school than you can get a dorm, which would save you money, maybe allow you to have or not have a room mate.
So, it is all up to what you can afford and what convenience you would like to received.

Answer 7

Dorms are great if you have a private room or a roommate with the same time schedule and interests. (hard to find) They are more controlled, because they have set rules and usually have a RA to enforce them. Off campus housing is great if you are responsible to handle all the distractions. Its up to the individual, when I went to college, I did both. Dorms in the first year of college and off campus there after. Good luck with your studies...

Answer 8

I would dorm if you can. You can always decide to leave housing, but may not be able to take it if you've already declined it. Plus dorming will broaden your social network. College administrators have the hardest time in the world trying to get new freshmen to actually attend new student mixers rather than talk on AIM and the phone to their old HS friends.

Answer 9

I think you should live in a dorm the first year because it lets you be more involved. After that, maybe move to an apartment.

Answer 10

dorm it provides for a new experience and new surrounds are always good.