| Your College Housing Options |
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You have a few housing options to choose from while attending college. If you live close to home you might consider commuting from home so you don’t need to spend money on a place to live. However if you are not close to home, you have the option of living on campus in a dorm, a fraternity or sorority house if you join one, or if you want to live off campus your options are usually an apartment or house.
Most likely, you'll live on campus your first year in a dorm or apartment complex. Some colleges require it but others may not. However it’s a good experience and an easy way to meet people that are new to the campus just like you. If you decide to live on campus they usually offer a meal plan where you can pay in advance for the number of meals you plan to eat that way you don’t have to worry about cooking in your dorm room or spending more money of food. Types of Dorms If you decide to live in a dorm, you then have to decide what kind of dorm you want to live in. There are single-sex dorms, chemical or substance free dorms, and special interest dorms. With single sex dorms you might find some restrictions concerning guests of the opposite sex while chemical or substance free dorms prohibit smoking, drinking, and drugs. Choose a dorm that meets your lifestyle. Special interest also known as theme housing is for students with interests such as international students or music majors. Types of Rooms Most dorms are either off a long hallway or a suite with a bedroom and living room. They are usually made where you are sharing the bathrooms with the other people on the floor. The rooms consist of singles, doubles, and suites. Single rooms have their advantages but you miss the opportunity to bond with a roommate, which may be nice, your first couple of weeks at school. Doubles consist of two beds and you get to decide how you want to set the room up with your roommate. Suites usually consist of a couple bedrooms and a shared living space. This way you will technically have 4 roommates although your bedroom may only consist of one other person. Fraternity or sorority houses If you decide to join a fraternity or sorority and they have a house on campus, it’s a great opportunity to become more involved. However you might be hitting up the library more often because you may find it difficult to concentrate. Also with joining a fraternity and sorority you will have to pay dues but if you live in the house, the dues are said to drop immensely making it one of the least expensive places to live. Off campus housing If you decide you don’t want to live in a dorm or on campus you may choose to live in an apartment nearby or house. Expenses will vary but you still have the option of living with other college students. Most apartment complexes will offer random roommate match ups where they will match you up with your preferences. You may find some apartments overpriced but if you search around you are bound to find a decent apartment reasonably priced. Its great to find an apartment that includes all costs from Internet and cable, utilities and water, and fully furnished so you don’t need to buy new things. When looking for your college living arrangements keep your options open. Remember this is only a portion of your college expenses and you have to factor in tuition, books, food and entertainment so you will need to budget wisely. |
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