Living on campus is a common experience for many college students. Some colleges require first year students to live in an on-campus dormitory as a way of inculcating the college culture in their student populations. Often the on-campus living units are in high demand, with many colleges resorting to room lotteries to determine room selection priority.ย For many other students, living off-campus is their preferred choice. In this article we explore the advantages of living on campus for college students.
On Campus Living Options
The types of on-campus living options available on college campuses vary depending on the specific college or university. However, some common dorm options include:
Traditional dormitories: These are typically shared living spaces with multiple students living in a single room, although there may be a number of single occupancy rooms as well. The dorm may have communal bathrooms and shared common areas, such as kitchens, study rooms, and lounges.
Suite-style dorms: These are similar to traditional dorms but have typically provide a single room for each student in a suite, or a double room. Then each suite also has a shared bathroom for the suite, and a common area, such as a living room or kitchen. Typical suite style dorms have 4-10 students in each suite. Some suite-style dorms may have two single rooms separated by a shared bathroom, and then a common area for each floor of the dorm.
Apartment-style dorms: These dorms typically have individual bedrooms and a shared living space, kitchen, and bathroom. Often these are married students housing, accommodating families in one apartment.ย They may also include amenities such as a washer and dryer, and may have more independence and privacy than other dorm options.
Theme or specialty housing: Some colleges and universities offer dorms that are specifically designed for students with similar interests or backgrounds. Examples include ethnic or nationality focused housing, LGBTQ+ housing, honors housing, language immersion housing, or housing based on interests or majors.
Off-campus housing: Some colleges and universities may offer off-campus housing options for upperclassmen, such as apartments or houses. These may be owned or managed by the college or university, or students may need to find their own off-campus housing options.
Benefits of Living on Campus for College Students
Living on campus can offer several benefits for college students:
Convenience
Living on campus is convenient for many reasons. Students are typically within walking distance of their classes, the library, dining halls, and other campus resources. This saves time and money on transportation and allows students to easily access all the resources they need to succeed academically.
Lower Cost
Typically living in a dormitory on campus is a more economical housing alternative, as compared to off campus apartments. This is especially true for colleges located in urban areas, where off-campus market rate apartments can become very expensive.
Sense of Community
Living on campus provides the “college experience.” This is a sense of university community that is difficult from living away from campus. Students become intimately familiar with the college life, and have the opportunity to meet and interact with all kinds of students, which tend to be very diverse – with students from a variety of ethnicities, backgrounds, interests and outlooks on life.ย Living on-campus also provides opportunities to participate in a wide range of extracurricular activities, and to develop friendships that can be long lasting. This sense of community can help students feel more connected to their school and more engaged in their academic and social lives.
Safety
Living on campus typically provides greater safety and security for students. Most campuses have security personnel and safety measures in place to promote the safety of their students. This may include numerous police call stations, increased on-campus security, and general protection form a lot of the crime or other dangers attendant in many communities. Additionally, many dorms have security features such as keycard access or on-site security personnel to ensure the safety of their residents.
Academic Support
Living on campus also provides easier access to academic resources such as tutoring, study groups, disability resources and academic advising. Living on-campus also provides easier access to the school libraries and other study spaces or quiet areas.
Increased Social Opportunities
Living on campus can provide many opportunities to socialize with other students and make new friends, especially for people living away from home for the first time. In and on-campus dormitory or other living unit, you are in closer and easier proximity to other people in your age group, and often this makes it easier to connect with others in a shared living space.
Independence
Living on campus can provide students with a sense of independence and responsibility, especially for students living away from their families for the first time. They are responsible for managing their own time, budgeting their finances, and taking care of their own living space. This can be a valuable learning experience and help students develop important life skills that will serve them well in the future.
Diversity Exposure
Living on campus can expose students to a wide range of cultures, disabilities and backgrounds. This can broaden their perspectives and help them develop a greater understanding and appreciation of people who may be different from themselves. Exposure to diverse perspectives and experiences can also help students become more capable of succeeding after college, since workplaces and communities are increasingly diverse and the ability to enjoy life and succeed in the real world, is a basic goal of the college experience.
Overall, living on campus can provide many benefits for college students, and for the university community. From convenience and community to academic support and safety, living on campus can help students succeed academically and personally.