When I first began my college search, I found colleges that were only $20-25,000. Yes, now I realize that that's a lot of money, but I figured I would get enough financial aid to cover some of it. That $25,000 is just the tuition. That doesn't cover room and board or meals. I've always wanted to move out my house and live at college for a few reasons, but now I'm wondering if it's worth it.
First, I'll talk about the benefits of living at college.
1. You make friends. It's a fact that those who live on campus make more friends than people who don't. You live in close quarters with someone who can become your friend. My friends who commute say that they go to class and when it ends, they leave right away to get home. Since it's my first year, I know it will be easier to make more friends if I'm there all the time. I'm shy, so it's going to be difficult to make friends, but wouldn't it be harder to if I only showed up for class and left?
2. Dorm and campus life. You live away from home and learn to live on your own. You're mom and dad no longer tell you to get up for school. You have to learn to manage your time. It's a good experience. Sure, you might get a bad room mate, but you can always change that later on. You can get involved into more activities, because you won't have to drive back and forth.
3. You don't have to commute. (I'm stating the obvious.) Think about it, it's raining and you're stuck in traffic. Some schools say that if you're late to class, it counts as an absence and if this happens a few more times you'll automatically fail. That sucks. If you live on campus, you're able to roll out of bed and walk over to your class and be there on time.
Another scenerio: My friend goes to community college a few days a week. She has class all day, but each class is spread out by 2 hours. It's pointless for her to go home, but she doesn't want to stay. She ends up being stuck at the college with nothing to do. If you live on campus, you can always go back to your dorm and sleep or do something productive with your time.
Bonus: With the price of gas, you also save a few dollars.
Now, the cons. Room and board adds up to $10,000 more to your college bill, sinking you further into debt. The college I want to go to was $26,000. I have to live there, since it's out of state. Now, I'm going to have to pay $37,000 a year.
Another school I want to attend is in my state, New Jersey. It's orginal tuition was $28,000. To live there it's $43,000! It's not an Ivy League! Why is it so much to go there? My option would be to commute, but as I've stated above I have my reasons to live on campus. I could commute, work at my current job, and try to save a few extra dollars. but I would like to live on campus at least the first year if I go there. If it's worth it, I'll continue to dorm there, but if not, I'll move back home.
Isn't this rediculous?
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Living on campus is great, trust me. It may cost more, but in the end it is more than worth it.
And just remember...naps between classes!
=)
It's a lot easier to live on campus, especially if you're in a school that gets a lot of snow. I personally love walking on snowy days. Besides, sometimes schools will require you to live on campus for your freshman year.
By the way, you're probably going to need those naps between classes.
Living on campus really does have its pluses. And it's minuses. For example, good point are being able to use campus wireless internet in between each class! Bad point---PUBLIC BATHROOMS! (dunn dunn dunn).
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Not all dorms have public bathrooms. I have my own bathroom in my dorm.
Just something to check into before you decide to move there or not.
I am trying to figure out how to pay for college too its not going to be easy but I believe in faith and where there is a wil there is a way. But im thinking about staying home or not too because of the money and beuse moving away from home can be tough too. But i think you should move in the dorm I heard its really great and I think it would be worth it I'm a shy person too and by forcing ourselves in situations where we have to make friends will be a great opportunity.
I'm going to Eastern Michigan University; room and board is only about $5000 or so there, at least for Ohio and Michigan residents. In total, with tuition, room and board, and other fees, it's less than $18000 a year. :] Steep price, but it's not too bad.
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Especially if you are shy. You'll enjoy school more if you can build a posse by living in the dorm. It's also a time saver, as you noted. and eventually (as you also noted), you'll wnat to be independent. The dorms are the cheapest way to do that.
But that's all easy for me to say. I got my bachelors at a state school ten years ago. It was under 25,000 for the WHOLE career. And I changed my major and had to take a fifth year! It's crazy how inflated tuition is now! I'm feeling the squeeze for grad school, but it's only two years.
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/ediblewoman
one of the other benefits of living on campus is that you have a bigger chance of actually going to class.
I lived on campus 4 out of 4 1/2 years I went to school. Another benefit of that was that my parking was incredibly cheap (for residential, as opposed to commuter parking), compared to what I would be paying driving from somewhere else.
I also made friends and stuff. And public bathrooms (which I only had during 2 years living in dorms) are not that bad. I don't know about other schools, but our community bathrooms were cleaned twice a day. I am a big fan of not having to clean out my own bathroom. ;-)
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/sawaboof
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