Three months into my first semester at the University of Idaho, I was done with the dorms. While I didn”t mind my living situation, I just knew that it wasn”t right for me. Not only was the small, dark space that was my room difficult to study in, it also lacked privacy. Sharing a suite with three other people, few doors and thin walls created an environment I was uncomfortable living in. My dorm room felt more like a transitory space than a home and I knew moving into an apartment was the right decision for me.
Corrin Bond
Argonaut
There are some clear benefits to choosing an off-campus lifestyle.
First and foremost, the majority of off-campus living options cost less than living in the dorms. While certain apartment complexes, like The Grove, are slightly more expensive than living on-campus, most rental agencies around town offer quality, inexpensive places to live. Renting a house with multiple people is also a less expensive alternative to on-campus housing.
Off-campus living eliminates the expense of a food plan as well, which can cost far more than shopping at a super market.
With most apartments, students can choose either a nine or 12-month lease. This means students who are interested in staying in town for the summer can do so with relative convenience, while those who leave for the summer don”t have to pay rent while they”re gone. Some agencies, like Palouse Properties, will even cut rent in half over the summer for three and four bedroom apartments.
While off-campus living is relatively less expensive and provides more individual freedom and space than on-campus options, not all situations are the same. As a transfer student living on a non-first year floor in Wallace, I didn”t feel like I was receiving the social benefits that dorms usually provide. I had many friends living off campus, which meant I spent most weekends trekking back and forth between the dorms and apartment complexes around Moscow.
Moving into an apartment was the right decision for me, but that doesn”t mean it”s right for everyone.
Even apartments located on the outskirts of campus aren”t as close to the heart of the university as on-campus housing options are. Going grocery shopping, making every meal and packing food to go also takes up a large chunk of time every week.
It”s not as easy to deal with noisy neighbors when there isn”t a residence assistant living a couple of doors down from you and when your fridge breaks down late at night, there”s no 24-hour maintenance hotline at your disposal.
On-campus housing provides more convenience for students, but living off-campus prepares students for life after college, as it prompts them to understand leasing agreements, cook their own meals and budget out monthly expenses.
While living on-campus is something every traditional incoming student should experience, experimenting with housing options isn”t a bad idea. There”s nothing wrong with students staying in the dorms after their first year, but it”s also a good idea for students to consider transitioning into a different on-campus living environment, like the LLCs, or give off-campus apartments and houses a chance.
Corrin Bond can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @CorrBond