COLLEGE LIFE: WHERE TO LIVE
It’s all about
C I
ost and onvenience
By
Courtesy Copiah-Lincoln Community College
LISA MONTI
T’S SEEMS LIKE SUCH a simple question, but getting to an answer can be complicated. Where are you going to live when you go to college? Should you live on campus, in a fraternity or sorority house, in an offcampus house or apartment? Where
exactly? If you choose a school that’s close to home, then living at home is an obvious, money-saving option. But if you’re going away to college, there are loads of things to consider. And you probably know this already: it’s all about cost and convenience. The decision you make can and probably will affect your overall college experience. Here are some pros and cons to consid? s u p er when choosing m a C Off PROS: the best living d privacy arrangement an m o d ee Fr » oice ch r u Yo for your own t? o n e or » Roommat tchen ki a situation: g in d u cl e, in » More spac own If you live r u yo n o e » Learn to liv on campus, the convenCONS: s u p ience factor is m ca to rth g back and fo us life obvious. You’re p » Commutin ect with cam close to classes » A disconn s st co grocery and probably » Utility and within walking distance of the library, labs, the cafeteria and social gathering places where students meet. Campus parking could be a problem but not one you’ll have to deal with every day. And the dorm fee includes a meal ticket. But living in a dorm comes with some potential drawbacks: a roommate not of your choosing, a shared bathroom and limited living space. Privacy and quiet time can be hard to come by in
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a dorm. Life off campus will provide some welcomed “get away” time away from classes and professors but you may feel that you’re not connected with campus life and activities. And there are added costs off campus such as pus? On CaPRm food, utilities OS: ents and cable that h other stud it w g in iz al ci o S are included » er facilities asses and oth cl to ss ce in the dorm ac » Easy » Meal ticket fees. On the CONS: positive side, g quarters your first se » Clo livin studying apartment or tractions from lidays is d y an m o » To and ho house can be a d for breaks se o cl s rm o »D learning experia premium » Privacy at ence in independent living that you dreamed about in high school. Keep in mind, though, that even finding a place of your own can be a major headache. On the other hand, you won’t have to move out of your place during breaks and holidays. Also, this likely will be your first experience having a landlord. That could be a pro or a con, depending on the landlord you end up with. Check the university’s web site for help finding accommodations. The Ole Miss site http://offcampus.housing.olemiss.edu/ offers a helping hand for the Oxford area. The Department of Residence Life at Southern Miss has 27 residence halls offering a safe, convenient place for more than 3,000 students. The school’s web site (www.usm.edu/residencelife/campus-living ) offers this interesting tidbit on campus living: “Students who live on campus show a higher scholastic performance and are more likely to graduate than those who live off campus.”
www.msnext.com
Mississippi Business Journal