Chances are you’ve heard plenty experiences from those who lived both on and off campus, but what’s best for you? It’s important to weigh the pros and cons in order to determine which lifestyle will best suit you!
When preparing for college, there’s a laundry list of things to tackle before heading to campus. Believe it or not, your residential situation is one of the most important things to consider. Knowing the place you’ll call home for the next year will play a big part in your college success.
There’s incredible value to living on-campus during your college career, especially during your first couple of years. By living on-campus, you and your classmates are in the same situation, creating plenty of opportunities to make new friends and foster community right in your own residence hall. The practical benefits are numerous as well, including:
- Furnished rooms
- All utilities included
- Expanded cable service
- High speed Internet access
- Customer service desk
- Housekeeping in public areas and lounges
- Campus maintenance service
- Assistance from live-in professional staff
- Convenient dining centers (no dishes to wash!)
- Close to campus events and activities
- Free, unlimited access to laundry facilities
- Opportunity to move out in case of internship or early graduation
As you can see, living on-campus gives you immediate and unlimited access to some of the best resources Southeast Missouri State University has to offer. This level of convenience typically can’t be found living off-campus. Between your homework, extracurriculars, job, and social life, you’ll have plenty to worry about, but your housing situation shouldn’t be one of those things.
Many find several benefits on living off-campus, but remember that it also may bring the weight of added responsibilities, including:
- Buying your own furniture
- Paying for utilities in addition to rent
- Paying separately for cable services
- Paying separately for high speed Internet access
- No cleaning staff
- Limited maintenance staff
- Buying groceries separately
- Cooking and washing all dishes yourself
- Paying for laundry services or your own washer and dryer
- Paying to break your contract in case of moving out early
We know there’s a lot to consider when choosing where you’ll live, and you can see that we are partial to living on-campus, especially if you are a new student. We are certain that you can find a residence hall you'd be proud to call home.
Keep in mind, however, that you need to make a decision that best suits your lifestyle and personal needs.