Freshman Living on Campus

Topic: Freshmen should or should not be required to live on campus.

Having a college degree can market a person job opportunity in the workforce. Colleges are schools that offer advance education beyond the high school level. For some students, living in campus housing can be a life-changing and positive part of the total University experience ( http://daytonabeach.erau.edu/student-life/housing/). It can offer a chance to grow as individuals, safely network, expose diversity, and act as a secure indicator for parents. Should a first-time college student be required to live on campus? There are many choices to make when leaving the nest with mom and dad and becoming a full-time independent student. For some, the thought of living on or off campus can be an awesome experience; while at the same time, for others it can be devastating. Making that decision can be critical. Living an on or off campus lifestyle has both positive and negative points depending of a person maturity level. Most students have several factors to consider, some aspects include friends, independence, and cost.

Pros for living on campus

According to my research, living on campus can be a benefit especially while adjusting to your new surroundings. On eCampusTours.com, it listed a couple of positive on-campus facts including: “Accessibility to the school”, “Increased social life”, and “Simplicity”. Having full access helps in maximizing the benefits of living on campus while enjoying the lifestyle of college. Having accessibility allow students to take full advantage of recreation, an option of having three course meals a day, and easy commute from dorms to other desired campus locations. Also I learned throughout my research that living on campus gives awareness of safety, parent independence, and a guarantee place to live as long as you meet Residence Life policy.

Another pro to living on campus includes the balance of having a social life, having connectivity to social networking, and like mentioned on eCampusTours.com living in the dorms gives the security of always having someone around. Today, it is a known fact that having social connections enhances the ability to locate people and activities of like interest. Having rules in place, this environment gives a sense of security to parents while their young live on campus.

Based on a student’s academic eligibility, it is a guaranteed for a student to live simple on campus. As mentioned on Kent State University website, dining facilities are made available to every student, they are given internet and cable access, they have bus access to accommodate special needs; there are open opportunities for employment and growth, and partially furnished dorms.

Cons for living on campus

Just as there are pros living on campus, there is a laundry list of cons also. Regardless of how a person looks at it, living on campus is like a home away from home. It can have advantages and disadvantages small or big. When not giving the proper bedroom, bathroom, or personal time can lead to roommate burnout. A difficult task to face is narrowing down favorite items to carry to school because of limited space or whether or not your space will be invaded in your absence. Due to the ability to have an expanded social life without guideline can cause a person to lose focus of many things including grades. Without maintaining good grades can cost a student his/her ability to lose on-site independency. Having low grades can generate from a lack of privacy especially if roommates do not respect the privacy of the other. When thinking of how close quarters can be demands a high respect tolerance on both campus students.

Pros for Living off Campus

The significance of living off campus is having more freedom (D Mattioli). Living with fewer guidelines always gives the impression of better living until your resources are not available. Throughout the course of my research, I read testimonies of why it is a benefit for living off campus. The bottom line involves young adults wanting to live pre-exposed lives the same as seasoned adults. I also discovered that students have the minimum amount of privacy in dorm settings. They are forced to share tight quarters, showers, and often times personal items like computers, printers, small refrigerator and food. Living off campus gives the freedom of leaving home and locking personal belonging in your assigned space with a less chance for invasion.

Another benefit for living off campus is having the ability to fully select your room-mate. Hopefully, it will be someone of like interest. According to a phone interview with my relative Jarrett, he stated how living off campus gave him a better sense of responsibility. He also compared the cost for living on-campus against living off-campus and said his rent was less and he had more space. He made positive comments about not sharing a bathroom, how it is easier to study, having a kitchen, spacious living room, and a close laundry room.

Cons for Living off Campus

Living off campus can have several flaws including transportation issues and not being surrounding by your peers to learn of on-campus social events. According to Jarrett, rent and utilities are primary by both parties and can cause grief if someone cannot pay their portion. Although, rent on campus cost more with tight quarters there is no issues with collecting bill funds

In conclusion, there are many pros and cons to whether freshman or college age students should be required to live on campus or not. Forcing them to live on campus the first year is a unique experience and I personally believe that they should do so to help them adjust better to the college lifestyle. My reason for sharing that thought is because some students will come from a responsible background and some will come from a dysfunctional one. The person that will pay the ultimate price will be the person that is totally unaware of their room-mates behavior.

Works Cited

"Living On-campus vs. Off-campus." - ECampusTours. N.p., 05 Mar. 2055. Web. 24 Sept. 2012. .

“Housing & Residene Live.” http://daytonabeach.erau.edu/student-life/housing/

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120898005900739107.html#articleTabs%3Darticle

Cited: "Living On-campus vs. Off-campus." - ECampusTours. N.p., 05 Mar. 2055. Web. 24 Sept. 2012. . “Housing & Residene Live.” http://daytonabeach.erau.edu/student-life/housing/ http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120898005900739107.html#articleTabs%3Darticle