awesome sauce

The university that I'm attending in the fall is about 15-20 minutes away from my house, and now that the school year is approaching I'm feeling kind of guilty about deciding to live on campus rather than commuting. My parents aren't super wealthy, but it's not like they would have to take out a new loan to have me live on campus. Still, that's an additional $5000 per year that they would be paying to let me live on campus, and I can't help but think that I would be burdening them or something.

Should I change my plans and live at home? I'm really lost right now.

greensam88

I'd still live on campus, at least for your first year.

The friends you'd make would be different as you can spend nights hanging out with them and not be worried about going home right after class. It would also be nice to wake up and be able to walk to class instead of having to drive every single day. I'm sure it might be costly, but it is a nice experience. You'd have that bond that would be different from your classmates.

leah377

you'll regret it if you don't live on campus for at least your first year. it's invaluable socially.

muzicgirl89

don't the stats say that people who live on campus tend to do better academically? Not sure if that would be true for you, but it kinda makes sense given that you have better access to academic resources if you live there.

thirdfloor

Why not get a part-time job while you're in school and use some of the money to go towards paying the loan? It wouldn't be hard to work 8-12 hours a week, and your parents would probably appreciate the gesture even more so than the money.

ADad

There is a lot to be said for living on campus, you'll benefit both academically and socially and many people feel that those benefits are worth the additional cost. I'm interested, though, to learn how you arrived at that figure of $5000. Did you consider that there will still be a food expense, and a substantial commuting expense, if you live at home?

xybciba

I'm sure your parents won't mind if you truly appreciate what they are doing for you. Plus, living on campus is a huge part of college.

i_wanna_be_Brown

your parents probably want you to live on campus (not because they want to get rid of you, but because they know it's best for you)

tango14

Remember you'll be saving some money by living on campus. Gas and wear and tear on the car if you don't have to commute every day. Extra food that your parents won't have to buy if you're not eating at home. Water/electricity you're not using. You'll be eating meals on campus (included in the $5000) rather than paying to eat out while you'd be commuting.

I'm sure your parents would let you know if they weren't happy to see you enjoying your college experience.

jasonshah

just talk to your parents. Tell them how you feel. Thank them for everything thay have done. if u express honestly, u'll never have to feel guilty.

RacinReaver

My dad considers one of the worst decisions he's ever made to be living at home while going to college. When I was doing my college applications he didn't let me apply anywhere within an hour's drive, because he didn't want me coming home on weekends since he felt I should become as independent as possible (though my mom didn't want me to apply anywhere that was farther than a day's car ride away, so that narrowed down the schools quite a bit!).

~maru~

Campus life for most IS statistically more beneficial, both socially and academically, as alluded. This was your conscious-decision, and I think that if it was influenced with the aforementioned pedestal as incentive, you chose correctly for one very important reason:

Your parents care. They've for years been spectators to your scholastic propensities and possibilities, and are concurrently willing to make the faithful financial leap. Your perpetual effort to in turn demonstrate an appreciative, hard working lifestyle could only make them more proud of you. It's a fulfillment of their highest accrued expectations. And on top of that, if you feel like this path will make any of the above easier for you, your parents will also embrace that.

Just let it be known! = )

proton

live on campus and pay them back when you graduate and have a job

jpell

I can attest to this. I commuted my first year, and I didn't meet anybody. It's extremely important to live on campus your first year! I did relatively badly my first semester, and I attribute it to being completely out of sync with school and classmates. I'm a rising senior now, and I lived on-campus apartment my junior year and in an off-campus complex the next. I still wish that I could have lived on campus in a dorm my freshmen year, though. Hope that helps!

nontraditional

I'm with jasonshah and proton.

Thank them now, convey your appreciation for this opportunity repeatedly while you're living on campus, and start paying them back as soon as you can.