<p>I can think of a few plusses and minuses to living on campus (I lived in Reynolds last year).</p>
<p>Plusses:
- You’re literally a 10 minute walk away from the furthest building away from your dorm and don’t have to worry about parking.
- You never have to worry about paying utility bills or managing your own rent payments.
- You are “forced” to socialize with people via your floormeetings and (if you’re in a good dorm) meal plans.
- There is always something going on, so you’ll probably never be bored.</p>
<p>Minuses:
- Rent is expensive… ridiculously so.
- Having a roommate, suitemates or hallmates that don’t clean up after themselves or may be selfish.
- Having to compete for parking in overnight parking garages and on sidewalks with commuters who don’t use commuter garages.
- Being forced out of your room unnecessarily due to weather or school breaks (thanksgiving, winter, spring)
- Having to pay for a meal plan that nobody ever uses to it’s full use.
- Having to leave your room to use the kitchen.
- Living with people who you don’t know.
- It’s less secure than most people think.
- Lack of locks that you can control, fire alarms at 6am, and not being able to have your complaints heard out. </p>
<p>Personally, I had a scarring experience last year with my roommate so I avoid the idea of ever living on campus again. Off campus, I’m paying less than half of what they’re charging on campus and am not obligated to have a meal plan. </p>
<p>The key, for me, is not living in a community that advertises to students. It is those communities that also charge you a lot to just live there.</p>