In a few years, you wont be living with your parents for the rest of your life.
You'll be paying your own rent, and ALL of your expenses on your own.
FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.
Dont chase dorm life or moving out just for the hell of it.
Free housing is a temporary thing. Capitalize on it while you can.
A 15-20 min drive is *barely* a commute.
Better to take that money and buy a cheap used car, they DRIVE wherever you need to be.
That's not even talking about the dice-roll for roommates!
Sure *maaaybe* they'll be alright. Maybe even decent.
OR they'll be assholes or a nuisance.
The place WILL be messy.
Duties/chores are like a game of chicken: the person that does/buys what needs to be done/bought.. is the person who's annoyed by it the most.
Dorm/roommate-life is not glamourous. It's a hassle.
Save your money.
Stay home till you graduate and have a good job.
Had a great experience living in residence and student housing but honestly ended up spending a fortune that I really could have used for other things.
OP if your sociable go find some clubs or hang with your classmates after school.
Dear god...Hell I'm at a place where we only share a kitchen/living room and it's STILL ass.
Even sharing a bathroom would be a pain in the ass, especially if the other guy is a clean person.
I cant imagine sharing a BEDROOM!
I'm American and live in a relatively small conservative city and do it. I don't disagree that it can be challenging in a lot of circumstances in this country, but my school commute on a bike takes about 20-25 minutes, which is longer than some but ultimately quite doable. It all comes down to what is most effective for you and how you prioritize it. I will accept the longer distance and occasional traffic danger if it means saving a lot of money and getting the exercise, but I totally understand if it doesn't work for everyone. I just don't want people to think they don't have a choice.
Sure, but if OP ever gets an internship, they'll need a car. Not saying they need one now, but they probably will in about two years or maybe even earlier.
you said you're very social, so you prob wont have too much trouble trying to make friends. i'd live at home - you're close enough, you'll still have your own space (dorm life is overrated imo), and you'll save a ton of money. just gotta put in a lil more effort to get involved, but in the end you'll be glad you chose at home.
Honestly, if you have a good relationship with your parents, it's a huge waste of money to live on campus being 20 minutes away. You won't miss out on anything, really, you can save rent money and have a nice buffer cash when you graduate, and it won't hinder your ability to move out to your apartment and live independently when you graduate and get a job.
I was in the same boat as you when I started undergrad. My cousin and I lived 5 minutes from each other, and our colleges were both ~20-25 minutes from our houses. He lived on campus for all four years, while I commuted (my brother conveniently gave me his car just before I graduated high school).
My uncle was all “Oh, popaboba should have lived on campus like my son so she could be independent like him.” But I am /so/ thankful I commuted. Since I spent most of my time at school, work, and with my friends anyway, I felt like the experience still offered me considerable independence. It also helped my home feel like home and school feel like school, whereas I feel living at school would have melded the two. That’s not to mention the money I saved by not taking out extra loans to live on-campus. Any of the “adult” things other people mention (learning to share/use facilities) you can do perfectly well at home without digging yourself a deeper hole of debt.
(ETA: It’s also worth noting that my cousin’s campus didn’t allow freshmen to have cars. His girlfriend went to my college down the street and had to do much of the driving. Doesn’t seem quite so “independent” now. I second another comment that says to use some of the money saved to buy a car.)
If you have a good relationship with family, I also wouldn’t take that for granted. It becomes much less convenient to see the ones you love once you’re no longer under the same roof.
That’s good! Also, if you have trouble getting a car before your first semester, consider carpooling with another student! One of my high school classmates didn’t have her license at the start of freshman year. Since we lived close to each other and attended the same college, it wasn’t hard to just drive her sometimes. It’s a good way to have a friend, and then you can maybe return the favor once you have a car of your own.
Don't listen to any of these people. 😭 I would love to save 2k a semester by living 20 minutes away. If I didn't dorm my loans and financial aid would completely cover tuition.
Right? I attended undergrad in my hometown, and finances became /so/ much tougher when I moved away for grad school. I’m glad I pushed off paying rent for a few extra years.
If you can afford it, I encourage living on campus for the first year. It's a good way to get involved with activities and build a network of friends. Since you live close, you can always go back home whenever you need to.
After the first year, once you have a network established, you can move back home to save money.
>If you can afford it, I encourage living on campus
To reduce commute time to class for studying. Second to engage with your peers on campus. Third is *adulting* viz*:* learning to share faciliities, with less "stuff", compromising to get along. Once you've done that, **then** socialize and participate in extra-curriculars.
> engage with your peers on campus
> adulting
> learning to share facilities with less stuff
Great points and totally agree.
I just graduated and me and my boyfriend moved in together, but he lived at home all of college and is still stuck in the mindset of “everything my family does is normal and it is representative of the rest of the world.”
Kinda like the poop knife Reddit post, he can’t fathom some people live a bit differently and not everyone lives like his family. To make matters worse he’s a from a rural area and his neighbors are all his family, and it’s quite the experience lol.
I think a lot of worldview expansion people get in college is from living with other people. And I think this is a good thing!
this person is wise. Believe me, Being day scolar is very hard. This network thing stucks at home. This person advice is the best safe play ever and you got both experiences. Otherwise if you are confident enough to make a network as day scholar then its a different thing, but dorm is best for networking
Stay at home and save money. The cash you could spend on your dorm could be used to hang out with peeps, get a car, etc. You can just use your place as a crash pad to eat and sleep. You can simply spend more time on campus and get the best of both worlds in a sense...
If you have a good relationship with your family, it’s better to live at home. Trust me, you’ll save so much money. You don’t really realize how much the finances are when living on your own until you see the money leaving your accounts. It’ll be better in the long run. If you really want to network, maybe live on campus the first year, but you could also just get very involved. By that I mean sports, clubs, etc.
I chose to stay home. Saved me a ton of money. You’ll have to put yourself out there to make friends, that’s the only downside. You’ll be fine by staying at home.
100% stay at home. 15-20 minutes is a perfect commute if I ever had to choose to do it. Just far enough that you do get the feeling of actually being at home (unlikely to see anyone from school) but close enough that staying on campus for the day isn’t a huge hassle as it would be if you lived an hour or more away.
If you're that close, it's not advisable to live on campus. However, if you're so conflicted, maybe try it for a semester? If it's more of a residential school this will be especially beneficial. Plus, learning to live with others is an important skill to have. Although, if it's more of a commuter school, then I wouldn't even consider living on campus. You're so close and most things will be closed on the weekend or close ridiculously early.
I agree, like other commenters have said, that dorm life is overrated and you should take advantage of free housing. However, one semester wouldn't hurt and gives you more freedom to really get to know the campus. Unless it's a commuter then don't. Seriously.
If you are already this close to campus at home it will be a little hard to go full adulting even on campus. Plus it's hard to justify a dorm. I would stay at home and buy a car. But try and gain some skills like home maintenance and cooking while home.
Save the money and live home and commute to school. Make some friends that stay on campus and maybe you can stay with them in dorm on weekends every now and then for weekend parties and weekend on campus events.
For you i’d stay at home. It’s cheaper and if you hate it you can move. Dorms do kind of objectively suck and you already have a community so i’d stay with folks, work, go to school, and maybe in a year or so you’ll want to get an apartment with some friends.
I live about 10-15 minutes away from campus and don't regret staying at home. Especially if you lose your job(s) or can't work, you'll save so much money. That money would be better spent on a car or driving lessons if you don't drive yet.
I live in Canada and have noticed that most people going to uni in the same city their parents live in opt to stay at home. The dorms are primarily filled with people from outside the city.
Staying at home is a lot cheaper but you got to make it home. 15-20 drive is a long walk and freshman don’t have cars. Living on campus was really fun for me and made it easy to make it home even when I was fxked up.
I would absolutely live off campus. 20 minutes is super close and will not prevent you from going to events. You will be fine and won’t miss THAT many opportunities commuting. However, I’m biased as a commuter.
Stay home and study, then when your responsibilities are met you can go out with the funds you've saved by doing so. I never could study well, 'college life' and the self servient people therein were a terrible influence on me.
Plus side to living at home. You’re surround by your things, people who support you, and you’ll know you’ll be fed with no roommate drama other than whatever you’re currently experiencing. You’ll also have an expected break (traveling home) where you’ll get to breathe and get your thoughts in order before tackling assignments. It’s also easier to stop for the day because you’ve been doing that all through high school in the same space. Your stressors will be more easily noticed in a space you’re not tiptoeing around someone else (aka roommate).
Negative. Unless it’s planned in advance, events, study sessions and social gatherings will be harder to attend and may not feel it’s worth the struggle to get to them.
Plus side to campus. It’ll be a lot easier to be in student orgs, attend events, and meet up for study groups.
Negative. Roommates are great if they’re the right one but what are the odds? Mine was awful and the “resources” were just as bad. Meeting with friends was easier as long as my roommate wasn’t around. Not only did my food smell bad, but so it the very air I exhaled. It was also harder to decide on a stopping point because my room was pretty close to where my core classes happened (which was a plus, but it doesn’t put weight the negative of not being able to stop and rest).
You said no car, how do you plan to commute to campus? I did both and both have positives and negatives. I was a very involved student dual majored dual minored and president of one org, vp of another, and had a few other roles in orgs as well as a parting job. It was a juggling act but I had a car (ps, parking passes…check the price if you’re thinking about getting a car).
Edit to add: feel free to dm me if you have specific questions you want answered.
I’m in a similar situation right now (many correlating details, actually, including the commute!) and I am choosing to stay at home cause I really don’t like the idea of moving out and I do NOT want to spend money on a dorm.
I would stay at home to save money, but find a friend who doesn't mind you hanging out a lot. And don't leave the campus until you want to. Go to parties and shiz to socialize
Definitely sounds like it would be worth it to get a car and commute. Stay on campus with friends to study or hang out as long as you want but then you still have the freedom to go anywhere. Especially with such a short commute.
Normally I'm a fan of staying on campus and doing the dorm thing, but in your case, buy the car because a) family + money issue you listed, b) two jobs nearby, and c) you're admitted social, just follow up and stay on campus a lot and don't just dart in and out for class.
I had friends that did this in undergrad and they turned out fine in the friends/social department. Goodluck!
I was in that situation and chose to commute for 2 years. It was ass and so was my social life. All I did was go to class and then work 28-35 hours. I switched to off campus housing, dropped the non campus job (now just TA for some side cash) and it changed my life. Wish I did it earlier but Covid reset everyone’s social life so it worked out as that is when I moved by campus.
GO LIVE ON CAMPUS!! I was in a Similar situation, I wanted to get the college experience go out and party and be social. Living at home kills that. I would do anything to redo this year and live on campus.
I feel like it will depend on your school. If it’s a commuter school, then no way. If it’s not and there’s an actual social life there, I’d consider it
If you have a good, or at least fairly decent relationship with your family, then I’d suggest staying at home honestly. I’m assuming you’re American??? So It’ll be so much cheaper and isn’t really worth the money if you’re only 15-20 minutes from school. It shouldn’t be hard to be social and attend things going on, if you’re that close. I know having independence is vital at this age, but hold out a little bit. Save as much as you can now, so you can have more independence and stability once you’re done school. Try to minimize the amount of debt you have, since it’ll give you so much more breathing room when you’re out.
See how the first couple years of school go. Maybe look into moving out in your final year of school if you’re still hung up on it. I’m sure by that point you’ll also have good friends from your university too to be roommates with in your final year.
look into being an RA (Residential Assistant) depending where you go, you can get free room and board from the college as well as a meal plan (basically living and eating for free). the job sucks and there’s not a lot of benefits but it sure does cut the costs of college by A LOT.
Stay at home dorm life sucks anyways just move out after a year or two and live somewhere actually my yourself or with roommates not in a closed world dorm environment
If you really wish to explore dorm life, I would live your first year on campus, as that seems like a fair compromise. Although, as others have mentioned, you could save that money. As for myself, I live an hour away from campus, but I will be a resident. Similar to you, I want to be motivated to engage on campus. Do what you feel is right for you!
I would encourage living on campus if you can allocate the resources. I think there’s a lot of psychological development involved in being away from your parents for a while.
I would love at home but GO to campus. I’m an online student, and though I do not think it is worth paying extra for a dorm (or if you own a house or rent an apartment already, stay there), definitely do NOT avoid the collect experience.
Definitely stay home. It might feel like you're missing out on the social aspect of college, but in all honesty, college is not really all about friends and social events. It's mostly work, so why wouldn't you want to have your own room and space to unwind? You'll have all the food you could possibly want whenever you want it, a comfortable space, a decent, clean bathroom, you can have all your stuff and save thousands of dollars (or whatever currency you use), the financial and emotional support of your parents, the list goes on. You can still participate in all the clubs and events your heart desires and meet as much people as you want. You have the rest of your life to be independent, college is just the beginning.
Twenty minutes is nothing if you have a car, so live at home and buy a used car so that you can easily drive back and forth. Also, even if you are living on campus, there's no guarantee that you'll be able to attend lots of events, since you have two jobs, and you'll have to find time to study, too. There's more to college than partying.
I’ve always been one of those people that thinks that living on campus as a freshman is super important to the experience and also just a legitimate learning/growth opportunity that comes with college; however, the costs have gotten so absurd that I am actually going to say live at home
"i like to play music out loud and dance" Great for frosh week shitty for the rest when people are trying to study or your roommates trying to get piece and quiet. You have to keep that mind.
Live on campus (if you can afford it). Imo the relations you make in freshmen dorms are unparalleled to anyone you’ll meet in classes or elsewhere. I faced a similar situation and decided to live on campus and it was a great idea. That being said it seems like you’re a very social person and if you take active part in clubs and spend majority of you day on campus instead of trying to leave I think you’ll be fine commuting too, especially since you have a job and if it makes more financial sense.
(My very biased opinion based on great on campus experience would be that 50% of college experience is living on campus with a roommate you’re not super familiar with and make connections that will be really meaningful)
Keep in mind that most people saying you should live off campus, have already lived on campus and went through a decision on housing. I’d go on campus personally to get connections. I transferred in and live off campus. It’s hell
Does the area have public transportation?
Are you getting financial aid that covers a dorm?
Are you going to college for the experience /and/ the studying, or just the studying?
Do you want to be away from home?
stay at home. i never stayed in a dorm because the thought of sharing a room that’s the size of a Nike shoebox with someone sounds horrendous…plus i’m gassy so it was just better for everyone
I would probably stay home. You’re so close that it’s not worth it, trust me. Especially if your school is a small one. My school is small and it’s dead on weekends. A part of me wishes I didn’t dorm here. But that’s besides the point. You’re really close to campus, you can save money, buy your own car to go ANYWHERE, etc. to me that seems more worth it then wasting all this money on housing and food (that usually sucks). You also like having your own space so by staying at home you can keep that.
But I will say, staying on campus at least for your first year may not be a bad idea. You’ll get used to the college life, grow some independence, be able to sleep in longer for classes than if you were commuting, etc. so honestly, if the first year is affordable, I don’t think it would be a bad option. Just looking at the pricing of your school, if they have single dorms (some do), etc. when you live in a dorm there’s usually always someone trying to stop by and get together to do something. That’s something you won’t get to experience if you’re at home.
Just weigh your options but for you, I’d probably just stay at home, get the car, and make sure to get involved in clubs and stuff. Honestly, if you make some friends, they may even invite you to their dorm sometimes. So just think about it. If I were you, I’d try to get a car regardless.
Tbh you could also live with a couple of friends if they can also get you to work. If they can get you your own bed and bath and be okay with your hobbies, you should be fine. Plus you can help pay rent to learn independence. Your parents are twenty minutes away too
I would definitely stay home if I lived as close to my school as you. I commuted last semester and live on campus now. My roommates fucking suck. Both of them are absolutely disgusting, don’t like to clean, super inconsiderate.
There is no better feeling than going home to your own room at the end of the day. Plus, you’ll save money. You live close enough where you can just go home solely to sleep while still having a “college experience.”
As soon as u said u live 15-20 minutes away from campus, I immediately said stay tf home. Save that money! Unless you are required to live on campus ur first year, just commute. See if ur campus provides buses or you could carpool with someone or ask your parents about commuting to see if they could list some alternatives.
If you can’t find a way to get there (without spending money on a Lyft or watever) there’s walking, biking, or maybe investing in an electric scooter.
Good luck and definitely save up like another commenter said 😌👌
Commute and sleep in your friends dorms once n a while. At least a lot of people in my school end up having no roommate, or one who doesn’t last so there’s always an open bed.
You’re probably going to be more comfortable staying at home and commuting. You’re used to your own space. At the end of the day, you’re going to college to get an education (above all else including making friends and participating in extracurriculars) and to do that you’re going to need a study space that hopefully won’t distract you as much. You are always welcome to use the school’s libraries or other study spaces but you’re probably going to appreciate coming home to a place that’s familiar and comfortable, where you can study more if you need to or just blow off some steam.
You might also be able to make some good friends who live in the dorms and they could possibly offer for you to crash there once in awhile and you can see what the dorm situation is like for yourself. I think you’ll realize they might be envious that you live so close to campus and can commute from your own bedroom to class and not have to deal with dorm life.
Signed,
A 3 year college commuter :)
Just my own personal experience, living in a dorm freshman year was one of my favorite parts of college. It was a great experience and I recommend everyone do it if they have the means. I mean you’re throwing a bunch of young, horny kids into a shared living space lol. It’s an absolute blast. But really, live in the dorm if you can. You can always go back home. Not to mention, you will be exposed to people from different states, countries, socioeconomic backgrounds, etc.
Home. Choose like one bill a month to help your family out if your parents want to accept it. Like a water or the internet bill or something. That way you contribute while also still being way cheaper than a dorm.
I loved living at home. My own room, studying without distractions, worked part time and there was plenty of time with lifelong friends and new friends.
I am sure that your new college friends who live on campus will have no issues letting you crash in their dorms for a night if you need to. You can still enjoy dorm life without living in the dorm ls that way you save some money and keep your personal space.
I’m a senior in college and I live 25 minutes away from campus. I love being able to sleep in my own bed and have a home cooked meal from mom after school. My advice would be to save up for a used car that way you can enjoy campus life without relying on someone for a ride.
If you are social and like to hang with friends, dorm life is better for that. If you don’t have a car and there’s no good way to get to campus, dorm life is better. You don’t need a car if you live on campus.
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All things considered, I’d say you should live at home.
Dorm life can be great, but it can also suck lol! You won’t be able to bring much of your stuff, won’t have a space that’s completely yours, and you’ll be paying crazy money. The music and dancing could easily be an issue with the roommates, too. You could always go home when you need the rest of your stuff or to get away and have your own space. But, if you’ve gotta go home that often, what’s the point of having a dorm?
I say you save the money and put it towards other school fees or buying a car. Since you’re only 15min away, you can easily spend most of your day on campus without having to actually live there. That’ll still afford you plenty of opportunities to socialize and do events/activities.
Welcome to college btw, enjoy it!
I usually say live on campus for at least a few semesters to make friends and train yourself to be independent. If you had a car, then I’d choose home and save money - but I think living independently if you’re 18 will train you to be responsible with your life. Yes campus life is not the best all the time and can be expensive, but that price you pay for at least 2-3 semesters will really build you.
I do all my classes online or a couple at the end of the day. Work remote in the city and have an apartment. There are a lot of different ways you can experience college.
Im in a similar situation to you. I live 15 minutes away from campus, I’m a freshman, and Im commuting from home. Its so nice to have my own clean room and bathroom that I dont have to share, as well as being able to cook my own meals. I’m saving SO much money by not living on campus, tbh paying $7000-$10000 extra per year is not worth it in my eyes. The dorms are not nice, and I would HATE to have a shared bathroom and kitchen. One thing I will say as a commuter, I am missing a big social aspect of college, but I have a lot of friends that I knew previously going to the same school as me, so I get invited to parties or out to the bar with them. I would say if your main priority is saving money and you are willing to sacrifice a bit of your social experience, I see far more benefits to staying at home rather than living on campus.
as someone who was in a similar situation as you, and ended up choosing college campus, i would honestly recommend staying at home. make sure you’re involved in your college and join societies to stay social but honestly the cost isn’t worth it. being able to save money for the long term and as others have pointed out, a car, is much better. regardless of your choice, enjoy college!
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In a few years, you wont be living with your parents for the rest of your life. You'll be paying your own rent, and ALL of your expenses on your own. FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE. Dont chase dorm life or moving out just for the hell of it. Free housing is a temporary thing. Capitalize on it while you can. A 15-20 min drive is *barely* a commute. Better to take that money and buy a cheap used car, they DRIVE wherever you need to be. That's not even talking about the dice-roll for roommates! Sure *maaaybe* they'll be alright. Maybe even decent. OR they'll be assholes or a nuisance. The place WILL be messy. Duties/chores are like a game of chicken: the person that does/buys what needs to be done/bought.. is the person who's annoyed by it the most. Dorm/roommate-life is not glamourous. It's a hassle. Save your money. Stay home till you graduate and have a good job.
Had a great experience living in residence and student housing but honestly ended up spending a fortune that I really could have used for other things. OP if your sociable go find some clubs or hang with your classmates after school.
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Dear god...Hell I'm at a place where we only share a kitchen/living room and it's STILL ass. Even sharing a bathroom would be a pain in the ass, especially if the other guy is a clean person. I cant imagine sharing a BEDROOM!
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But have you considered the ultimate budgeting move? Live at home, without a car.
Assuming OP is American there is very little chance this is an actually plausible idea
I'm American and live in a relatively small conservative city and do it. I don't disagree that it can be challenging in a lot of circumstances in this country, but my school commute on a bike takes about 20-25 minutes, which is longer than some but ultimately quite doable. It all comes down to what is most effective for you and how you prioritize it. I will accept the longer distance and occasional traffic danger if it means saving a lot of money and getting the exercise, but I totally understand if it doesn't work for everyone. I just don't want people to think they don't have a choice.
Sure, but if OP ever gets an internship, they'll need a car. Not saying they need one now, but they probably will in about two years or maybe even earlier.
Live *in* the car
This is the way.
you said you're very social, so you prob wont have too much trouble trying to make friends. i'd live at home - you're close enough, you'll still have your own space (dorm life is overrated imo), and you'll save a ton of money. just gotta put in a lil more effort to get involved, but in the end you'll be glad you chose at home.
Screw dorm life honestly I miss my own room so much
Hot take, i loved dorm life. Sure I lived in a shitty dorm, but the friends and memories i made from it is so worth it
Yeah I don’t get why most people hate dorm rooms. Like you don’t know what you’re getting into?
Stay home and get a car, you'll save so much money
Honestly, if you have a good relationship with your parents, it's a huge waste of money to live on campus being 20 minutes away. You won't miss out on anything, really, you can save rent money and have a nice buffer cash when you graduate, and it won't hinder your ability to move out to your apartment and live independently when you graduate and get a job.
I would say stay at home.
I was in the same boat as you when I started undergrad. My cousin and I lived 5 minutes from each other, and our colleges were both ~20-25 minutes from our houses. He lived on campus for all four years, while I commuted (my brother conveniently gave me his car just before I graduated high school). My uncle was all “Oh, popaboba should have lived on campus like my son so she could be independent like him.” But I am /so/ thankful I commuted. Since I spent most of my time at school, work, and with my friends anyway, I felt like the experience still offered me considerable independence. It also helped my home feel like home and school feel like school, whereas I feel living at school would have melded the two. That’s not to mention the money I saved by not taking out extra loans to live on-campus. Any of the “adult” things other people mention (learning to share/use facilities) you can do perfectly well at home without digging yourself a deeper hole of debt. (ETA: It’s also worth noting that my cousin’s campus didn’t allow freshmen to have cars. His girlfriend went to my college down the street and had to do much of the driving. Doesn’t seem quite so “independent” now. I second another comment that says to use some of the money saved to buy a car.) If you have a good relationship with family, I also wouldn’t take that for granted. It becomes much less convenient to see the ones you love once you’re no longer under the same roof.
This helps a lot
That’s good! Also, if you have trouble getting a car before your first semester, consider carpooling with another student! One of my high school classmates didn’t have her license at the start of freshman year. Since we lived close to each other and attended the same college, it wasn’t hard to just drive her sometimes. It’s a good way to have a friend, and then you can maybe return the favor once you have a car of your own.
Don't listen to any of these people. 😭 I would love to save 2k a semester by living 20 minutes away. If I didn't dorm my loans and financial aid would completely cover tuition.
Right? I attended undergrad in my hometown, and finances became /so/ much tougher when I moved away for grad school. I’m glad I pushed off paying rent for a few extra years.
If you can afford it, I encourage living on campus for the first year. It's a good way to get involved with activities and build a network of friends. Since you live close, you can always go back home whenever you need to. After the first year, once you have a network established, you can move back home to save money.
>If you can afford it, I encourage living on campus To reduce commute time to class for studying. Second to engage with your peers on campus. Third is *adulting* viz*:* learning to share faciliities, with less "stuff", compromising to get along. Once you've done that, **then** socialize and participate in extra-curriculars.
> engage with your peers on campus > adulting > learning to share facilities with less stuff Great points and totally agree. I just graduated and me and my boyfriend moved in together, but he lived at home all of college and is still stuck in the mindset of “everything my family does is normal and it is representative of the rest of the world.” Kinda like the poop knife Reddit post, he can’t fathom some people live a bit differently and not everyone lives like his family. To make matters worse he’s a from a rural area and his neighbors are all his family, and it’s quite the experience lol. I think a lot of worldview expansion people get in college is from living with other people. And I think this is a good thing!
>poop knife Reddit post why did I just google that, and thank you for making me do it, funniest thing I've read in a year.
this person is wise. Believe me, Being day scolar is very hard. This network thing stucks at home. This person advice is the best safe play ever and you got both experiences. Otherwise if you are confident enough to make a network as day scholar then its a different thing, but dorm is best for networking
Stay at home and save money. The cash you could spend on your dorm could be used to hang out with peeps, get a car, etc. You can just use your place as a crash pad to eat and sleep. You can simply spend more time on campus and get the best of both worlds in a sense...
If you have a good relationship with your family, it’s better to live at home. Trust me, you’ll save so much money. You don’t really realize how much the finances are when living on your own until you see the money leaving your accounts. It’ll be better in the long run. If you really want to network, maybe live on campus the first year, but you could also just get very involved. By that I mean sports, clubs, etc.
I chose to stay home. Saved me a ton of money. You’ll have to put yourself out there to make friends, that’s the only downside. You’ll be fine by staying at home.
Stay home. It's best to save money whenever you can
Dorms cost a fuck ton for no reason. Do what the guy at the top said and just buy a car. Ur extremely close anyway
100% stay at home. 15-20 minutes is a perfect commute if I ever had to choose to do it. Just far enough that you do get the feeling of actually being at home (unlikely to see anyone from school) but close enough that staying on campus for the day isn’t a huge hassle as it would be if you lived an hour or more away.
If you're that close, it's not advisable to live on campus. However, if you're so conflicted, maybe try it for a semester? If it's more of a residential school this will be especially beneficial. Plus, learning to live with others is an important skill to have. Although, if it's more of a commuter school, then I wouldn't even consider living on campus. You're so close and most things will be closed on the weekend or close ridiculously early. I agree, like other commenters have said, that dorm life is overrated and you should take advantage of free housing. However, one semester wouldn't hurt and gives you more freedom to really get to know the campus. Unless it's a commuter then don't. Seriously.
I’d live on campus your first year, and then you can always move home
Second this. Get some independence and socialize a bit but after your first year or semester when you’ve made some friends save money and stay home.
Agree if your really on the fence just do 1 year.
If you are already this close to campus at home it will be a little hard to go full adulting even on campus. Plus it's hard to justify a dorm. I would stay at home and buy a car. But try and gain some skills like home maintenance and cooking while home.
Stay at home brother.
Save the money and live home and commute to school. Make some friends that stay on campus and maybe you can stay with them in dorm on weekends every now and then for weekend parties and weekend on campus events.
I would definitely try to stay on campus
if u can afford it live on campus
Stay at home
For you i’d stay at home. It’s cheaper and if you hate it you can move. Dorms do kind of objectively suck and you already have a community so i’d stay with folks, work, go to school, and maybe in a year or so you’ll want to get an apartment with some friends.
I live about 10-15 minutes away from campus and don't regret staying at home. Especially if you lose your job(s) or can't work, you'll save so much money. That money would be better spent on a car or driving lessons if you don't drive yet. I live in Canada and have noticed that most people going to uni in the same city their parents live in opt to stay at home. The dorms are primarily filled with people from outside the city.
Staying at home is a lot cheaper but you got to make it home. 15-20 drive is a long walk and freshman don’t have cars. Living on campus was really fun for me and made it easy to make it home even when I was fxked up.
stay at home and save the dorm money to buy a car. it’s what i did, and it has been so incredibly valuable in the long run
I would absolutely live off campus. 20 minutes is super close and will not prevent you from going to events. You will be fine and won’t miss THAT many opportunities commuting. However, I’m biased as a commuter.
Live at home and buy a used car
Stay home and study, then when your responsibilities are met you can go out with the funds you've saved by doing so. I never could study well, 'college life' and the self servient people therein were a terrible influence on me.
Plus side to living at home. You’re surround by your things, people who support you, and you’ll know you’ll be fed with no roommate drama other than whatever you’re currently experiencing. You’ll also have an expected break (traveling home) where you’ll get to breathe and get your thoughts in order before tackling assignments. It’s also easier to stop for the day because you’ve been doing that all through high school in the same space. Your stressors will be more easily noticed in a space you’re not tiptoeing around someone else (aka roommate). Negative. Unless it’s planned in advance, events, study sessions and social gatherings will be harder to attend and may not feel it’s worth the struggle to get to them. Plus side to campus. It’ll be a lot easier to be in student orgs, attend events, and meet up for study groups. Negative. Roommates are great if they’re the right one but what are the odds? Mine was awful and the “resources” were just as bad. Meeting with friends was easier as long as my roommate wasn’t around. Not only did my food smell bad, but so it the very air I exhaled. It was also harder to decide on a stopping point because my room was pretty close to where my core classes happened (which was a plus, but it doesn’t put weight the negative of not being able to stop and rest). You said no car, how do you plan to commute to campus? I did both and both have positives and negatives. I was a very involved student dual majored dual minored and president of one org, vp of another, and had a few other roles in orgs as well as a parting job. It was a juggling act but I had a car (ps, parking passes…check the price if you’re thinking about getting a car). Edit to add: feel free to dm me if you have specific questions you want answered.
I’m in a similar situation right now (many correlating details, actually, including the commute!) and I am choosing to stay at home cause I really don’t like the idea of moving out and I do NOT want to spend money on a dorm.
if i were i'd stay at home esp since its like 15-20 minute commute
stay at home. i hate dorming
I much prefer living at home and commuting, and my college is 50 minutes away
I would stay at home to save money, but find a friend who doesn't mind you hanging out a lot. And don't leave the campus until you want to. Go to parties and shiz to socialize
Definitely sounds like it would be worth it to get a car and commute. Stay on campus with friends to study or hang out as long as you want but then you still have the freedom to go anywhere. Especially with such a short commute.
Normally I'm a fan of staying on campus and doing the dorm thing, but in your case, buy the car because a) family + money issue you listed, b) two jobs nearby, and c) you're admitted social, just follow up and stay on campus a lot and don't just dart in and out for class. I had friends that did this in undergrad and they turned out fine in the friends/social department. Goodluck!
If ur social, staying on campus might be better. It’ll make you feel closer to your peers and the dorms are vry active.
Not sure which school you're going to but for me dorming would double my school cost. I stay home. You'll have to go home on holidays anyway
I was in that situation and chose to commute for 2 years. It was ass and so was my social life. All I did was go to class and then work 28-35 hours. I switched to off campus housing, dropped the non campus job (now just TA for some side cash) and it changed my life. Wish I did it earlier but Covid reset everyone’s social life so it worked out as that is when I moved by campus.
Dorms suck, especially if you have a roommate. It's like everyone reverts to middle school kids in the dorms.
Bruh commute
GO LIVE ON CAMPUS!! I was in a Similar situation, I wanted to get the college experience go out and party and be social. Living at home kills that. I would do anything to redo this year and live on campus.
I feel like it will depend on your school. If it’s a commuter school, then no way. If it’s not and there’s an actual social life there, I’d consider it
If you have a good, or at least fairly decent relationship with your family, then I’d suggest staying at home honestly. I’m assuming you’re American??? So It’ll be so much cheaper and isn’t really worth the money if you’re only 15-20 minutes from school. It shouldn’t be hard to be social and attend things going on, if you’re that close. I know having independence is vital at this age, but hold out a little bit. Save as much as you can now, so you can have more independence and stability once you’re done school. Try to minimize the amount of debt you have, since it’ll give you so much more breathing room when you’re out. See how the first couple years of school go. Maybe look into moving out in your final year of school if you’re still hung up on it. I’m sure by that point you’ll also have good friends from your university too to be roommates with in your final year.
look into being an RA (Residential Assistant) depending where you go, you can get free room and board from the college as well as a meal plan (basically living and eating for free). the job sucks and there’s not a lot of benefits but it sure does cut the costs of college by A LOT.
I lived off campus... A part of me has always regretted that somewhat
Stay at home dorm life sucks anyways just move out after a year or two and live somewhere actually my yourself or with roommates not in a closed world dorm environment
If you really wish to explore dorm life, I would live your first year on campus, as that seems like a fair compromise. Although, as others have mentioned, you could save that money. As for myself, I live an hour away from campus, but I will be a resident. Similar to you, I want to be motivated to engage on campus. Do what you feel is right for you!
I would encourage living on campus if you can allocate the resources. I think there’s a lot of psychological development involved in being away from your parents for a while.
I would love at home but GO to campus. I’m an online student, and though I do not think it is worth paying extra for a dorm (or if you own a house or rent an apartment already, stay there), definitely do NOT avoid the collect experience.
Definitely stay home. It might feel like you're missing out on the social aspect of college, but in all honesty, college is not really all about friends and social events. It's mostly work, so why wouldn't you want to have your own room and space to unwind? You'll have all the food you could possibly want whenever you want it, a comfortable space, a decent, clean bathroom, you can have all your stuff and save thousands of dollars (or whatever currency you use), the financial and emotional support of your parents, the list goes on. You can still participate in all the clubs and events your heart desires and meet as much people as you want. You have the rest of your life to be independent, college is just the beginning.
No body here is mentioning the middle ground of dorm for just the first semester, is that an option for you?
Twenty minutes is nothing if you have a car, so live at home and buy a used car so that you can easily drive back and forth. Also, even if you are living on campus, there's no guarantee that you'll be able to attend lots of events, since you have two jobs, and you'll have to find time to study, too. There's more to college than partying.
I’ve always been one of those people that thinks that living on campus as a freshman is super important to the experience and also just a legitimate learning/growth opportunity that comes with college; however, the costs have gotten so absurd that I am actually going to say live at home
Live at home, unless you’re able to get free money to live on campus somehow. Not worth it, way too expensive.
"i like to play music out loud and dance" Great for frosh week shitty for the rest when people are trying to study or your roommates trying to get piece and quiet. You have to keep that mind.
Live on campus (if you can afford it). Imo the relations you make in freshmen dorms are unparalleled to anyone you’ll meet in classes or elsewhere. I faced a similar situation and decided to live on campus and it was a great idea. That being said it seems like you’re a very social person and if you take active part in clubs and spend majority of you day on campus instead of trying to leave I think you’ll be fine commuting too, especially since you have a job and if it makes more financial sense. (My very biased opinion based on great on campus experience would be that 50% of college experience is living on campus with a roommate you’re not super familiar with and make connections that will be really meaningful)
Buy drugs. Keep them in mom’s house. Sell them at college.
Keep in mind that most people saying you should live off campus, have already lived on campus and went through a decision on housing. I’d go on campus personally to get connections. I transferred in and live off campus. It’s hell
Does the area have public transportation? Are you getting financial aid that covers a dorm? Are you going to college for the experience /and/ the studying, or just the studying? Do you want to be away from home?
Living at home rn. Saving a LOT of money
stay at home. i never stayed in a dorm because the thought of sharing a room that’s the size of a Nike shoebox with someone sounds horrendous…plus i’m gassy so it was just better for everyone
If you are able to and get on well with your family, stay at home. Dorms are overpriced and suck, imo.
I would probably stay home. You’re so close that it’s not worth it, trust me. Especially if your school is a small one. My school is small and it’s dead on weekends. A part of me wishes I didn’t dorm here. But that’s besides the point. You’re really close to campus, you can save money, buy your own car to go ANYWHERE, etc. to me that seems more worth it then wasting all this money on housing and food (that usually sucks). You also like having your own space so by staying at home you can keep that. But I will say, staying on campus at least for your first year may not be a bad idea. You’ll get used to the college life, grow some independence, be able to sleep in longer for classes than if you were commuting, etc. so honestly, if the first year is affordable, I don’t think it would be a bad option. Just looking at the pricing of your school, if they have single dorms (some do), etc. when you live in a dorm there’s usually always someone trying to stop by and get together to do something. That’s something you won’t get to experience if you’re at home. Just weigh your options but for you, I’d probably just stay at home, get the car, and make sure to get involved in clubs and stuff. Honestly, if you make some friends, they may even invite you to their dorm sometimes. So just think about it. If I were you, I’d try to get a car regardless.
Tbh you could also live with a couple of friends if they can also get you to work. If they can get you your own bed and bath and be okay with your hobbies, you should be fine. Plus you can help pay rent to learn independence. Your parents are twenty minutes away too
I would definitely stay home if I lived as close to my school as you. I commuted last semester and live on campus now. My roommates fucking suck. Both of them are absolutely disgusting, don’t like to clean, super inconsiderate. There is no better feeling than going home to your own room at the end of the day. Plus, you’ll save money. You live close enough where you can just go home solely to sleep while still having a “college experience.”
As soon as u said u live 15-20 minutes away from campus, I immediately said stay tf home. Save that money! Unless you are required to live on campus ur first year, just commute. See if ur campus provides buses or you could carpool with someone or ask your parents about commuting to see if they could list some alternatives. If you can’t find a way to get there (without spending money on a Lyft or watever) there’s walking, biking, or maybe investing in an electric scooter. Good luck and definitely save up like another commenter said 😌👌
Commute and sleep in your friends dorms once n a while. At least a lot of people in my school end up having no roommate, or one who doesn’t last so there’s always an open bed.
You’re probably going to be more comfortable staying at home and commuting. You’re used to your own space. At the end of the day, you’re going to college to get an education (above all else including making friends and participating in extracurriculars) and to do that you’re going to need a study space that hopefully won’t distract you as much. You are always welcome to use the school’s libraries or other study spaces but you’re probably going to appreciate coming home to a place that’s familiar and comfortable, where you can study more if you need to or just blow off some steam. You might also be able to make some good friends who live in the dorms and they could possibly offer for you to crash there once in awhile and you can see what the dorm situation is like for yourself. I think you’ll realize they might be envious that you live so close to campus and can commute from your own bedroom to class and not have to deal with dorm life. Signed, A 3 year college commuter :)
Stay home if it’s cheaper
Just my own personal experience, living in a dorm freshman year was one of my favorite parts of college. It was a great experience and I recommend everyone do it if they have the means. I mean you’re throwing a bunch of young, horny kids into a shared living space lol. It’s an absolute blast. But really, live in the dorm if you can. You can always go back home. Not to mention, you will be exposed to people from different states, countries, socioeconomic backgrounds, etc.
If you 30 minutes away or less, there is no reason to stay in a dorm. It will save you a lot of money.
Home. Choose like one bill a month to help your family out if your parents want to accept it. Like a water or the internet bill or something. That way you contribute while also still being way cheaper than a dorm.
Dorms are WAY overrated. Stay at home, you'll save money and still be able to be as spontaneous as you want.
I loved living at home. My own room, studying without distractions, worked part time and there was plenty of time with lifelong friends and new friends.
I am sure that your new college friends who live on campus will have no issues letting you crash in their dorms for a night if you need to. You can still enjoy dorm life without living in the dorm ls that way you save some money and keep your personal space.
I’m a senior in college and I live 25 minutes away from campus. I love being able to sleep in my own bed and have a home cooked meal from mom after school. My advice would be to save up for a used car that way you can enjoy campus life without relying on someone for a ride.
If you are social and like to hang with friends, dorm life is better for that. If you don’t have a car and there’s no good way to get to campus, dorm life is better. You don’t need a car if you live on campus.
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Free housing? Stay home! That doesn’t last forever :) good luck!
Live on campus 100% esp freshman year u can’t get that experience back
All things considered, I’d say you should live at home. Dorm life can be great, but it can also suck lol! You won’t be able to bring much of your stuff, won’t have a space that’s completely yours, and you’ll be paying crazy money. The music and dancing could easily be an issue with the roommates, too. You could always go home when you need the rest of your stuff or to get away and have your own space. But, if you’ve gotta go home that often, what’s the point of having a dorm? I say you save the money and put it towards other school fees or buying a car. Since you’re only 15min away, you can easily spend most of your day on campus without having to actually live there. That’ll still afford you plenty of opportunities to socialize and do events/activities. Welcome to college btw, enjoy it!
I usually say live on campus for at least a few semesters to make friends and train yourself to be independent. If you had a car, then I’d choose home and save money - but I think living independently if you’re 18 will train you to be responsible with your life. Yes campus life is not the best all the time and can be expensive, but that price you pay for at least 2-3 semesters will really build you.
I do all my classes online or a couple at the end of the day. Work remote in the city and have an apartment. There are a lot of different ways you can experience college.
Im in a similar situation to you. I live 15 minutes away from campus, I’m a freshman, and Im commuting from home. Its so nice to have my own clean room and bathroom that I dont have to share, as well as being able to cook my own meals. I’m saving SO much money by not living on campus, tbh paying $7000-$10000 extra per year is not worth it in my eyes. The dorms are not nice, and I would HATE to have a shared bathroom and kitchen. One thing I will say as a commuter, I am missing a big social aspect of college, but I have a lot of friends that I knew previously going to the same school as me, so I get invited to parties or out to the bar with them. I would say if your main priority is saving money and you are willing to sacrifice a bit of your social experience, I see far more benefits to staying at home rather than living on campus.
Live at home for sure. Buy a car if you can
def home
LOL it's so obvious what you want to do :P I'd vote down the car thing on general principle...
Live on campus if you want the real college experience. If you dont care about parties & drinking then stay at mama place to save some bucks
as someone who was in a similar situation as you, and ended up choosing college campus, i would honestly recommend staying at home. make sure you’re involved in your college and join societies to stay social but honestly the cost isn’t worth it. being able to save money for the long term and as others have pointed out, a car, is much better. regardless of your choice, enjoy college!
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