Living Off-Campus or On-Campus? One of the most important decision you and your family will have to make!

You went through all the required steps of the application process, submitted all required documents, took all necessary tests, and had your scores and transcripts forwarded to your new school in the USA. Congratulations! Let’s assume you also got admitted! But you are not done yet..! The next step will be to apply for a student visa prior to enrolling at your new school, while going through this process, you will most likely spend a few days even weeks or months thinking about Where you will live when you get to the States? Should you stay in the dormitory, live on campus? Or should you rent an apartment located walking distance to campus? If so, how will you find one, can you afford it? What is involved in renting an apartment? Don’t worry, there are plenty of people who can help you make the right decisions: the admissions officers/counselors of your new school, the residence services staff of the dormitories in your new school, how about your future international student advisor, even Fulbright and educationUSA advisors in your country, or may be your friends who have been through the process before you…

First think you will need to do is to go over your finances! How much can you or your family (or your financial sponsor) afford to spend each month for the first year of your studies in the USA for your living expenses (rent, food, utilities and other miscellaneous expenses..)

Check with the website of your new school, look at your I-20 Form and see how much your school estimates the cost of living? Your school will be able to provide you with general information on how much it usually costs to rent an apartment, studio near the campus. They will also be able to give you the cost of living on campus dormitories.

Once you know how much you can afford to spend to live on each month and once you find out how much you will need to spend (estimated) to live on or off-campus your decision making process will be easier.

Now let’s say that you are able to afford to live both on and off campus! In other words, the financial situation will not be a deal breaker when making a decision on whether you should rent an apartment or whether you should stay in a dormitory at the comfort and safety of your campus. Can you live in a dormitory? Can you live by yourself in an apartment? Do you want people around you? Can you handle the chores associated with renting an apartment such as paying bills on time?

Living on-campus vs. Living off-campus

While renting an apartment quite advantageous when/if your immediate relatives are accompanying you to the States, finding the right apartment may be challenging: Amount of Monthly Rent, how close/far to/from the campus, safety issues etc.

The right apartment can provide you with a safe and most importantly quite shelter to focus on your studies.

While safety is one of the most important advantages of living on-campus, the college students tend to be quite noisy in the U.S. this may keep you from being able to focus your attention on your studies, even may cause you to have many sleepless nights due to noise. You may also not have the same level of privacy if you choose to stay in the dorms as if you had your own apartment.

While lack of privacy (are you sharing your room with other students, how about your bathroom and kitchen etc.) and the amount of noise you may need to put up with on campus residences can be seen as inconvenience for many, others may actually appreciate these factors. Being surrounded by university/college students and their friends from all over the states and the world will help you experience the U.S. culture in a different level while making it easy to adapt to this new culture with the help and support of your new friends.

Although we cannot generalize, on-campus residences will be most likely to be safer than any other apartment complex you may find outside the campus as the campus police may be patrolling the area to keep it safe.

Another alternative of living on campus is of course the amount of responsibilities you will have: You do not need to remember to write a check to make a utility payment. You do not need to remember when to write the check for your GAS company, for your Cable company or for your electric company, you do not need to worry about the additional travel/commute expenses you may have if you choose to live off campus, and of course you may not even need to worry about what you will cook tonight..! ALL these are taken care of for you when you choose to stay on campus.

Regardless what your decision is please make sure to inform and consult to your international student advisor, ask for his or her advice and make sure to carefully read and understand the housing contract you are about to sign either with the landlord of your apartment or with the office of residence services before signing it. DO NOT commit to a long term contract if you are unsure whether you may change your mind soon and wish to move out of your apartment or dorm room soon. Remember you may be asked and made by law to continue paying the rest of your monthly rent if you choose to terminate your lease/contract too soon.

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International Education
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