Living on campus can help students gain independence, develop networking skills, and encourage involvement in the college community.
If you ever wonder, “What are the benefits of living on campus? or, “Is living on campus worth it?”, here are seven reasons you should consider moving into student housing.
1. Community
The most important factor to consider when moving to a new living space—well, besides how close you will live to the nearest coffee shop—is the community around campus.
College is where many make lifelong memories. When students immerse themselves in the community around their schools, studies show that they will flourish in their career paths.
Whether it’s a shared love for the college teams, a mutual interest in little-known historical facts, or the need to bond over a classic board game, the community on campus is irreplaceable.
2. Convenient access to knowledge
If you love to learn, you’ll definitely want to live on campus. Between on-campus libraries, visiting a professor, and joining a study group, living on campus means easy access to educational resources.
Having trouble with a pesky math assignment? Just check your professor’s office hours or find a group of fellow students and study together. Need one more source for a paper? Simply run over to the college library.
Having knowledge at your fingertips is one of the pros of living on-campus.
3. Get to classes on time
One of the pros of living on campus is that it makes it easier for you to attend class. The last thing anyone wants is to fail a class by being absent. Some professors have very strict attendance policies, and being late could take away a significant percentage of your grade.
Showing up on time isn’t always easy for commuters. A small traffic jam or severe weather conditions could make you late for class.
4. Networking
Spending time with your professors is one of the best ways to gain insight, inspiration, and knowledge for your future career path. They have mountains of information to offer if you just ask. One of the best ways to get to know your professors is to be on campus with them.
Forming friendships with people who are familiar with your career ambitions will come in handy down the road. Getting to know some of your professors well is a great way to add a few references to your resume, too. If you study hard, you could even receive recommendations for future job openings or internships.
5. Independence
If you’re still living with your parents and hope to have a place of your own someday, living on a college campus is the perfect next step for you.
Fully independent, you’ll have a lot of the same responsibilities and freedoms you would have if you were living on your own. You’ll also have the advantage of a Resident Assistant and other resources ready to guide you in your transition into adulthood.
6. Cost Savings
In most cases, living on campus is going to save you money. With everything centrally-located, you will save on gas and car expenses. Plus, dorm rentals are usually more cost-effective than renting an apartment off-campus and paying bills.
When you live on campus, trash, water, electricity, internet, rent and everything is all bundled into one, and you get your choice of meal plans that fit your budget.
Bonus: you save the time you would normally spend grocery shopping and making meals when you eat in the cafeteria.
7. Safety Measures
Key card entry, security guards, automatic building locks, and strict visiting hours in dorms are some of the ways most campuses maintain the safety of their residents.
At Crown, our Campus Safety staff conduct rounds of the entire campus regularly during the overnight hours. All public areas of the Main Building (except the Storm Café seating area) are closed from 1:00 a.m. until 6:00 a.m. And Campus Safety staff are available for safe escort assistance.
There are many advantages to on-campus living. As you weigh the pros and cons of living on campus, keep all these reasons in mind. From engaging in awesome communities to learning both inside and outside of the classroom, living on campus is an unforgettable experience.
