Going away to college for the first time is exciting but may seem a little daunting. One of the biggest choices that you’ll have to consider your first year is where you’re going to live. That means looking for on-campus housing or Ohio University Off Campus Apartments. Weigh these pros and cons of both to help you determine the right choice for you.
Campus Housing
Pros:
- Convenient—Close proximity to campus makes you within walking distance of your classes, the cafeteria, the library, computer labs, and more.
- Fixed price—With dorms, your rent, utilities, and meal plan are usually all added together in one payment for you.
- Social—With lots of people always around the dorms, you can get to know lots of people. Then there’s always someone around to hang out with at any time.
Cons:
- No privacy—Sharing your bedrooms and bathrooms makes it difficult to get any privacy or time to yourself.
- Minimal space—Dorms tend to be small. That can force you to limit the amount of things that you bring and utilize space efficiently.
- Hard to focus—The social life can also make it hard to focus, which can affect your grades and overall GPA.
Ohio University Off Campus Apartments
Ohio University Off Campus Apartments Pros:
- Independence—Dorms tend to have rules that you have to follow, so Ohio University Off Campus Apartments are less restrictive.
- Privacy—With most apartments, you have your own room with quiet space to hang out and study.
- Responsibility—You’ll have bills to pay and cleaning to do. Don forget about shopping to complete and cooking to enjoy.
- Diverse neighbors—Your neighbors will probably be a mix of students and non-students for you to get to know.
- Year-round option—If you plan on staying for summer classes or working through the year, off campus housing will allow you to do so.
- Rental history—When you move to an apartment, you also need to have rental history to get accepted. Ohio University Off Campus Apartments can make it easier for you to get an apartment once you graduate and move away.
Cons:
- No Meal Plans—Ohio University Off Campus Apartments can be cheaper than on-campus housing. You need to make a budget and shop around for the right apartment. Plan to also pay for meals at restaurants or to buy groceries and cook meals at home.
It’s important to make your choice as soon as possible, so you can shop around and reserve your housing. Choose the option that will be the right choice for you. That can help you have a successful first year at school. If you’re looking for housing close to Ohio University, we recommend Bobcat Rentals as an option.
