StudentRoomStay
August 18, 2021
College-affiliated student apartments allow students to live off-campus without sacrificing the best parts of the college experience. Here are five perks of choosing an apartment over a college dorm:
1. More Freedom
Living in a college dorm can sometimes feel like you’re still living at home. In contrast, living on your own in a student apartment is quite different from living with your parents. Student apartments usually have their own rules and guidelines, but are less strict than college dorms. That means you will be able to experience what life will be like outside of college. You will get to fulfill more opportunities and grow more as a person. However, with more freedom comes more responsibility. Unlike college dorms, some apartments require students to pay their bills, such as electricity and WiFi. This responsibility is a fairly easy first step into a more independent lifestyle.
2. Apartments are Usually Cheaper than Dorms
While it may seem surprising, apartments are cheaper than college dorms. This is because dorms require students to pay semester fees for room and board. These fees cover the costs for utilities, laundry, and other services. Some colleges require students who live on campus to purchase a meal plan, while others include meal plans in the room and board costs. At most colleges, students that live off-campus still have the option to pay for a cheaper off-campus meal plan.
3. Ability to Choose Your Roommates
Some college dorms don’t allow you to choose your roommates, and changing college roommates can be a challenging process. In contrast, finding or changing roommates when living in an apartment is much more straightforward. Student apartments also have more space than dorms. This means you can live with multiple friends and don’t have to stress about choosing one roommate. Most student apartment complexes offer 1 to 3 bedroom apartment options.
4. Your Own Room
Unlike college dorms, most student apartments allow you to have your own room. So you won’t have to worry about sharing a tiny dorm. Student apartments also offer spaces that dorms would not. Besides kitchens and living rooms, student apartments sometimes even offer garages and have community amenities such as a pool and a gym.
5. You Become a More Independent Person
Living on your own forces you to make decisions that you otherwise wouldn’t have to. Living in an apartment outside of campus also allows you to find your true identity apart from the college. You will be able to discover which things you like and dislike and shape a lifestyle out of them. All of this will enable you to transition into adulthood more easily. While living in a dorm is a great first step, it often does not allow you the space to build independence.
Finding a trustworthy off-campus student apartment can be challenging, but StudentRoomStay makes things easier for you! Coming soon, our marketplace will provide student housing resources to help you find an apartment and can even help match you with a roommate.
