Most new students prefer to stay on campus. It is where you get the traditional college experience, meeting tons of new people and making friends for life. Your responsibilities are taken care of and you can focus on your studies. Living off campus is generally seen as a cheaper but inferior option.
However, that is not entirely fair. While many people who choose to stay off campus do so to save money, there are other really good reasons to rent your own apartment.
Here are 5 reasons to rent off campus that aren’t money-related.
1. Learn about finances
Life after college packs some unpleasant financial surprises for the majority of graduates. They leave with their degrees, ready to face the world, and find that they have no idea what they’re doing. They have to figure out the whole ‘adult’ thing while trying to get their careers started.
When living off campus, you get a head start. You have to protect your stuff with student renters insurance, giving you an understanding of the ins and outs of insurance policies. You need to pay for your own utilities. You have to deal with things like security deposits.
Instead of waiting until you’re finished studying, you begin your financial life immediately. By the time you are ready to start your career, you already have some know-how for navigating the financial world.
2. Learn basic life skills
It’s not just the financial world you need to figure out when living off campus. You also need to learn basic life skills. Don’t let the word ‘basic’ fool you. We’re talking about fundamentals, but they’re not always easy.
For example, feeding yourself is about more than buying groceries and cooking. You need to learn how to stock a pantry. You also need to learn about food hygiene so as to avoid getting salmonella poisoning.
If you leave college without these skills, you may feel at a disadvantage. Although you’re supposed to be an adult, it can feel like you still have a long way to go to becoming independent.
3. Build communication skills
Communicating with people as an adult is very different to doing so when you’re younger. There is no longer a strict hierarchy. The rules you learnt as a child simply don’t apply. If you treat other adults as if you are not equals, they will take advantage of you.
When renting off campus, you need to communicate effectively with landlords, service providers, neighbors, and potential roommates. It can feel like a trial by fire, but it is better than having to do so when you start your first full-time job.
When living on campus, on the other hand, it is possible to continue treating authority figures as ‘adults’, rather than people you need to communicate with on a level playing field.
4. Get time off
Campus living can be relaxing and fun. However, when you stay on campus, you spend almost all your time at the university. Instead of going out for entertainment or to meet friends, you do everything on campus. This is a great way of saving time and money, but it can lead to burnout.
Off-campus renters, however, get to disconnect from the university every single day. Instead of going from one side of campus to another, you go home after classes. Your free time is entirely yours, and you get a more diverse experience.
5. Find balance
The fact that you get time off makes it easier to find balance. When you’re in school and in college, everything can feel like one big experience. Even when you exercise, for example, you may be doing so in the context of college sports.
Living off campus gives you the chance to find balance on your own. It is not easy compartmentalizing your time and figuring out how to take care of every part of your life. However, it is yet another skill that is crucial to learn. It contributes to your physical and mental health, giving you a foundation for living a balanced, healthy life.
Many students live off campus purely for financial reasons. But there are other advantages to living off campus, and it can be the perfect way to get your adult life started.