Living off Campus Freshman Year

College Life
1

<p>This is going to sound very odd, but I’m a current senior applying for colleges and I’d love to live off campus.
Here are my reasons:

  1. I get very easily distracted.
    I have ADHD and I can get distracted for HOURS on silly trifles; I’m afraid living in a busy dorm environment will just keep me so distracted that I will lose focus on my school work.
  2. I’m not a ‘partier’
    By partier, I mean I’m not into drugs, alcohol, smoking, etc. In fact, I’m a teetotaler and I absolutely cannot stand any of these bad influences (I know about wellness housing, which I’m considering, but it doesn’t follow some of my other criteria)
  3. I can’t stand life without animals. (this is my number one reason, sadly enough :stuck_out_tongue: )
    Ever since I was… born? I’ve had a love of animals. Having an animal (and by animal, I mean rats) in a dorm room is inhumane because of the small room, as well as against the rules of most colleges. I really can’t imagine life without a creature to hug and cuddle and call my own.
  4. FOOD.
    I am a HORRIBLY pick eater. I need variety in my food, as well as I am VERY particular about how my food is made. Plus, I’m pretty frugal so I think it’d be cheaper if I made my own food.
  5. Price
    From what I can tell, living off-campus is cheaper, mostly due to not having to pay for food.
    Obviously, I know that some/most colleges don’t allow freshman off campus, but what do you think? Would it be beneficial for me to live in an apartment off-campus?</p>
2

<p>ADHD aside, my first thought was that it might be beneficial for you to live on campus, just to force yourself out of your comfort zone. It wouldn’t kill you to live without pets for a year or try a different variety of foods, and you might learn a lot about yourself (and others!) in the process.</p>

3

<p>You’re missing out on so much of the experience by not living on campus. As for ADD, well, you can always find quiet places to study if the campus is big enough, just takes some time and exploring. IE: I do most of my early morning work in my house’s kitchen.</p>

4

<p>I’m a freshman living on campus, and, to be honest, I haven’t made many friends in the dorms at all and perhaps haven’t had the stereotypical “college experience.” BUT, I really like living here because of the proximity to my classes, not having to cook and clean, the security, the added peace of mind that comes with having an RA, etc. </p>

<p>1) I VERY rarely study in my dorm. Most universities have many libraries that are open to all students, use them. My dorm also has study rooms. Honestly, I feel like MOST people leave their rooms to study. The dorm environment really just isn’t very conducive to studying if you’re easily distracted. </p>

<p>2) I’m definitely not a partier either but I haven’t felt pressured at all to do drugs or alcohol. As long as you have willpower you can overcome those things (and I’m not a teetotaler either, I just haven’t felt like drinking yet). </p>

<p>3) I know what you mean - grew up in a large ranch house where I was constantly surrounded by all sorts of animals. I’ve definitely missed my animals, but I plan to move off campus next year and I’ll probably get a cat. You could also try volunteering at a local no-kill shelter or something of that sort - I’ve volunteered at mine a couple of times this year and I got to bottle-feed newborn kittens! (d’awwwww)</p>

<p>4)The food thing - I don’t know where you’re considering going, but my university has gigantic cafeterias stocked with pretty much anything you’d want in them as well as a couple of on-campus “markets” that sell produce. I’m a vegetarian and I haven’t had trouble with food at all - there’s always SOMETHING I can eat. Then again, if you’re really that picky, you might have a bone to pick with cafeteria food. </p>

<p>5) Honestly, if you’re a really picky eater, finding inexpensive food might be a bit difficult… BUT, you’re right, it very well could be cheaper. In fact, it would probably be impossible for me if I hadn’t gotten so many scholarships. But that differs from school to school. </p>

<p>Anyway, do whatever you want… there are advantages to both; however, I would highly recommend that you live on campus unless you just can’t stand it. I’m planning on moving off campus next year (fingers crossed) simply because now that I have a good feel for campus and know how to get my work done, I feel like I can take on more responsibilities and all the rest of that self-help-book-cliche stuff. good luck.</p>

5

<p>You basically just listed the reasons for why most people want to live off campus. Some colleges do allow animals, you could live in wellness housing, find somewhere quite to study, and deal with the food. Lots of people have the same problems as you, but part of being a freshmen is dealing with it. There might be a college that will let u live off campuse, but if u rly care commute somewhere then move when u can be off campus</p>