 On-
vs. Off-campus: Part 3
Here are some additional items to consider before
making your decision.
Financial Considerations.
Your finances will often be the number one determining factor.
There are those who claim that for most students dorm life
is cheaper, but this is not always the case.
Here's a little task:
Divide a sheet of paper into two columns, labeled "dorm"
and "apartment." Under "dorm" write down figures for both
room and board (comparison will be easier if you do a little
math to determine what these figures will be per month);
add the cost of extra food you will need for meals/snacks
not on your plan; add the cost of any extras like refrigerator
rental, cable TV or Internet access.
Under "apartment" write down your expected monthly rent;
add approximations of monthly utility bills (include phone,
electricity, gas, and cable TV if you will want it); add
an estimate of how much you will need to spend on food.
Ask friends who are off-campus or maybe even current residents
of an apartment you are considering.
There are other Expenses to consider as well.
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Like mileage and car expenses.
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Furniture: just the basics include: desk,
bed, chair, but often there are many more items needed.
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Also other items like cleaning supplies
and kitchen utensils.
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Don't forget appliances like toaster,
microwave, coffeemaker.
Don't forget there are also added responsibilities to consider
in an off-campus apartment.
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Can you cook or willing to do so? Eating
out can get very expensive, very fast and isn't always
that healthy. There is sometimes an option to get an off-campus
dining plan.
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Internet access has become an essential
part of campus life and you're probably going to prefer
the comfort of doing so at home than going to campus computer
labs. So now again you will factor in costs of dial-up
or even high-speed access.
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Transportation is also important. Distance
of your apartment can affect whether you can walk to classes,
if you need a car/permits/etc or even if you need to consider
public transportation.
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