One of the biggest decisions college students have to make when starting school is whether to rent an apartment or live in the school dorms.
While both have their pros and cons, the right choice will depend largely on your own tastes and goals for your college life.
Here are four considerations you should keep in mind when choosing between a dorm and an apartment.
Budget
Needless to say, your ability to pay out of pocket for your living arrangements will play a major role in your choice. While grants, scholarships, and student loans can help you cover the cost of most living situations, you’ll most likely need a provable source of income to rent an apartment, such as those like Doral apartments for rent.
This means working a job while you attend school, which can cut into your time to study. If your parents are willing and able to pay for either an apartment or dorm, though, you may be able to get around this requirement.
Your View on Roommates
Living in a dorm necessarily entails being in very close contact with your roommate (or roommates). While it’s still a good idea to have a roommate in an apartment in order to reduce your living expenses, apartments offer more privacy and space.
If you get a two bedroom apartment, for instance, you can split the rent and utilities with one other student and still enjoy the benefits of having your own private room. If you love the idea of living closely with other people, though, the dorms may be the right choice for you.
Age
Needless to say, not all students will attend college right out of high school. If you’re a few years older, you may find living in the dorms with a group of 18-20-year-olds socially awkward.
Students attending school later than their early 20s almost always prefer living in an apartment. If you’re still in your early 20s, though, you may still be able to enjoy dorm life without too much difficulty.
The Value of Immersion in Your Studies
If you want a fully immersive college experience, living in the dorms is likely the way to go. Dorm living puts you in nearly constant contact with other students and gives you far more opportunities for group study than living in an apartment will.
other related articles of interest:
4 Things You Need In Your Dorm That You Probably Didn’t Think Of
There are also benefits to living on campus since you’ll never be far away from the school library and other study spaces.
At the end of the day, the choice between a dorm and an apartment is deeply individual. While both will have their strengths and drawbacks, choosing the right one for your personal situation is an important first step for getting your college life off to a great start.
Image Credit: choosing between a dorm or apartment by envato.com
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