Starting life as a university student brings many new experiences. For some students, it could be the first time they live independently without their parents or guardians. Housing is a common concern for prospective university students. With a variety of on-campus and off-campus choices accommodation options to choose from, which should you choose?
Costs
Costs are a big consideration when choosing where to stay. Depending on your choice of rooming arrangements, students could be paying thousands of dollars more per year when they opt for on-campus housing.
A quick look at UCLA off campus housing on offer shows the difference. Off-campus, a private room in a four-bedroom house rents for about $1,100 a month ($13,200 a year). Meanwhile, single occupancy rooms with a shared bathroom between five people at the UCLA Residential Plaza cost over $16,000 a year.
And while many off-campus rentals allow you to renew your lease from month to month, on-campus housing is contracted for the full academic year. In addition, on-campus housing contracts require students to sign up for mandatory meal plans that cost between $4,700 to $6,000 a year.
That said, there will be utility costs when you rent a room off-campus. Electricity, water, gas, cable television, and wi-fi are some of the utilities that will have to be paid for separately from your room rental if you live off-campus. For those staying in a house with multiple rooms, the costs will be split between housemates.
Food
If you have no interest in preparing meals for yourself, then on-campus housing works because it comes with a meal plan. However, dining hall food quality and variety can be mediocre and most dining halls are only open during fixed hours, meaning that you have limited flexibility about when you take your meals.
If you like to cook or have specific dietary requirements, then living off-campus is the only way that you will have access to a kitchen. Aside from being able to eat healthier and having the freedom to choose the food that you like, having a kitchen can also help to save costs because you can prepare lunchboxes for yourself instead of having to dine out on school days.
Accessibility
Accessibility and convenience are big benefits of staying on-campus. There is no need to commute to campus, spend money on public transport or fuel for your car, or worry about parking. On-campus students can also get more sleep because they only need 10 minutes to walk to class in the morning.
Sprawling campuses have a myriad of facilities and shops such as laboratories, libraries, exercise gyms, and hairdressers. The UCLA Westwood village even has a Target. With utilities and food taken care of, students in on-campus housing have more time to rest and study.
Independence
While some students love the sheltered life of the on-campus bubble, others are eager to start living as independent adults. Living off-campus with other students is a great way to learn to be self-reliant and pick up the skills that you will need as a mature member of society.
Living off-campus also allows you to be in command of your personal liberties. While most campuses are dry campuses with restrictions on visitors and mandated quiet hours, renting a room off-campus means that you can enjoy the occasional drink, smoke, and party (within reason.)
Space
It can be overwhelming to live on-campus if you like your privacy and personal space. The majority of on-campus facilities are double or triple-occupancy rooms, and they can be quite small and cramped compared to off-campus apartments.
Having roommates and lots of activity in the hallways can be distracting and disruptive to your studies. On top of this, your schoolmates will constantly be aware of your activities and movements, whether you like it or not.
In addition, the most affordable residential dorms have community bathrooms for entire floors or wings. Sharing a bathroom with heaps of people not only means that there could be a wait during peak hours such as mornings before class, but also that some users may not be responsible enough to keep the environment clean.
Social Life
An off-campus location will likewise allow you to meet and interact with neighbors and friends of different ages. Being in the community, you will be able to fully experience the local environment—I mean, one does not move to LA just to hang out on the UCLA campus!
Some students can feel distanced from their classmates when they live off-campus. For international or shy students who face challenges making connections, staying on campus can be an easier way to meet people and find common ground.
Given the numerous pros and cons of studying on-campus and off-campus, the best choice for accommodation is the one that suits your personality. If you are confident and capable of looking after yourself, then off-campus housing will provide you with flexibility and freedom. If you prefer security and simplicity, then on-campus housing is best for a carefree term.