world scholar > living on or off campus

By Sherri Ryan

It is no surprise that finding affordable and reliable housing is a sticky situation. And deciding between being a part of a tight community, with all the convenience of living on campus, or the freedom and personal space of living off campus, is only a small piece of the pie that is college life.

Both living arrangements have their advantages, and frankly, their disadvantages as well.

In fact, it may come as no surprise at all that, for the most part, off campus living is more expensive and is not covered by some scholarships. But it also isn’t a surprise that while off campus living provides a bit of isolation, students living on campus are usually at the mercy of other students when it comes to studying in one’s own room.

But don’t let that stop you from looking into either option. In fact, the more prepared and more informed you are as an international student, the better.

When it comes to on campus living, nothing can be more convenient, especially for a student that does not own a car, doesn’t want the hassle of paying for utilities, food, and more importantly wants to make friends. While living on campus, it’s almost impossible to be unable to meet anyone.

And that’s what is so great about living on campus. You’re in close vicinity to everyone, and everyone is in close vicinity to you—and that includes your classes, libraries, the student unions, and friends, friends, and more friends! Most of the time you don’t ever have to worry about finding a ride to the grocery store—unless, of course, you choose to go, because it is common practice for the housing department at college to require those living in the dorms to purchase what is called a “meal plan.”

Which, as it were, could be a positive or a negative reason to live within the dorms (although on campus living is not tied to the dormitories—some universities have apartments, suites, or co-ops for students). Meal plans, however, still tend to be cheaper than buying and cooking your own food, unless you plan on living off of mac & cheese or ramon noodles, and many campuses these days offer fast food choices.

But “privacy” is a little known word to on campus inhabitants, which is why many students choose to live in apartments or houses, and brave the “outside,” off campus world. If, however, you don’t mind trekking to the library on campus late at night just to get a little studying in, then maybe it’s not such a big deal. But to those of us who crave our own privacy, we choose to live off campus.

Off campus housing gets a bit more complicated and for international students, it may seem a bit scary, not to mention a bit more of a hassle. You’re in luck, though! Most colleges have help for American students and international students alike. The people there are great resources, and you should chat with them before you decide on either housing type.

When speaking with the university personnel, the first thing s/he will mention is a lease or contract to rent a property that you will mostly likely have to sign if you decide to live off campus. Normally, a lease runs for a full year, and requires a safety deposit of either one-two months rent, which you will be returned to you given that the apartment or house is in the same condition it was in when you moved in, and that you abided by all the terms in the lease.

Unfortunately, it is not unheard of that a landlord (the person you are signing the lease with) may try to scam you, particularly if you are a student. It is important, then, to retain all copies of anything you sign, and put everything in writing!

And apartments are either “furnished,” meaning the apartment comes with furniture and appliances, or an apartment is “unfurnished,” meaning that it does not come with any furniture for your use, and also may not come with appliances. In this situation, it is important to have a showing of the exact apartment you will be living in and make sure that everything that is included (or not included) is stated in the lease.

And if you’re interested in living off campus in an apartment, it is a good idea to plan ahead. Look online for apartments in the area. Do a little research before actually getting here. Have the university mail a copy of the local newspaper’s classifieds. You’ll want to start shopping around to find the best deal.

But ask yourself—how will you get to class? Will there be a bus system? Will you be able to ride a bike, drive a car? Will your transporation be reliable?

But the most important question of all—can you afford it? Most contracts or leases require rent to be paid every month, and if you cannot pay it, the landlord can and will evict you. So make sure you have the funds each month to pay for the apartment. But rent is not the only issue. Utilities cost, too. The phone, electricity, gas, cable, internet—all these things cost money each month.

To be able to afford these things, maybe it might be beneficial to look into the idea of moving in with a roommate. Roommates normally split everything down the center, but unless you have a contract with the roommate as well, don’t rely solely on him/her to pay his/her half.

Which brings us right back to privacy. If you choose to have a roommate, pick a person you can trust. Pick a person who will respect your privacy—because if s/he doesn’t, you’ve negated one of the reasons you’ve decided to live in campus.

Both options leave a lot to be desired, but what is most important to remember is that your main focus here is to study. You came here because you’re here to learn. Don’t let money issues or a job to pay the bills drag you from your main purpose. Choose the option that will best allow you to study, and choose the option is conducive to that atmosphere.

The rest, remember, is just background.