How big of a difference is college life when you live on campus or stay at home?

[ImmortalNemesis]

More common here for people to go to the local university and live off-campus in their normal homes. Maybe that's because I live in a college town.

Am I missing out if I stay home? Been thinking of even going abroad, to England, or America or something, but that could be expensive.

[Jameerthefear]

that isn't common here.
where i live, university of alabama is a HUGE party college, but i don't necessarily live near that college. both of my sisters didn't even want to entertain the idea of living at home and going to college, and i'd find it really hard to... or maybe i wouldn't.

[Giaodollo]

Don't live on campus. Bunch of hippies and gayboys. But be close so you don't have long travel times.

As a Irishman, won't college in UK be free for you? excluding the cost of living and housing and so on...

[Rake2204]

I think there's a huge difference in college life between living on campus and living at home. That said, the right choice can vary from person to person, depending upon values, the importance of certain factors, and one's available options.

I did not live on campus but still had a thoroughly enjoyable college experience. I wasn't someone who was thirsty to party every night, so I didn't necessarily miss a ton in that regard. Also, living off campus provided its own unique experience - I tended to have a more varied means of fun and entertainment than if I were to have been on-campus - I traveled more, visited other campuses more frequently, etc. That's not to say others don't have varied on-campus experiences though, I just meant only in reference to myself. It was different, but I made the most of it.

That said, the on-campus appeal is undeniable. Most of the positives there are apparent.

[ImmortalNemesis]

Don't live on campus. Bunch of hippies and gayboys. But be close so you don't have long travel times.

As a Irishman, won't college in UK be free for you? excluding the cost of living and housing and so on...
lol fair enough

no not free. if i look at ucl, the tuition fee is the same for everyone in the uk & eu at

[BigNBAfan]

that isn't common here.
where i live, university of alabama is a HUGE party college, but i don't necessarily live near that college. both of my sisters didn't even want to entertain the idea of living at home and going to college, and i'd find it really hard to... or maybe i wouldn't.

no surprise they wanted to gtfo of that shithole your parents created. so you have older siblings and they let you become this loser? your fam is fcked up...

[dkmwise]

I'd say 100% live on campus. That's what college is. Commuting from home is basically high school with more homework. Situations may be different and if you can't for some reason that's fine, but you don't get the full college experience if you don't live on campus. I would say at minimum live on campus your first 2 years.

[DeuceWallaces]

There's a huge difference, but it doesn't matter. Living in the dorms is not real life and doesn't prepare you for shit. Save the money, do better in class, party with your friends when you feel like it.

[Batz]

Don't know what it's like in Ireland, but don't live on campus unless you're a party animal, have a high-tolerance for idiots, have money to throw-away, and don't mind everything being filthy. Good gawd those dorm washrooms... I don't think I know of anyone who is/were glad they chose to live in dorms. Especially girls.

It's just not a good or worthwhile experience unless you fit the type. You're better off living off-campus or at home.

[dkmwise]

Wow, I'm completely shocked to hear people say living on campus is overrated. Maybe things have changed, I've been out of college 10 years now or maybe it's a difference between small school and large university, I went to a pretty small school, about 1200 undergrad

[KyrieTheFuture]

No idea how it is in Europe, but go to America, and live on campus. IF you can afford it. IF. It's an incredible time that isn't replicated anywhere else.

[Lensanity]

Wow, I'm completely shocked to hear people say living on campus is overrated. Maybe things have changed, I've been out of college 10 years now or maybe it's a difference between small school and large university, I went to a pretty small school, about 1200 undergrad
How did you like college?

Mine has about 2000 and I live on campus. Love it.

[dkmwise]

How did you like college?

Mine has about 2000 and I live on campus. Love it.

I loved college, it was incredible. Those 4 years feel like a decade worth of memories. Living on campus is like nothing else you can experience in your life. No, it's not the real world, but that's kinda the point.

At my school they only let a very small amount of people live off campus so over 90% of students lives on campus and it had such a great vibe and community feeling. I'm sure your school with 2000 people would be similar in that you really know, or at least recognize almost everyone on campus.

Now, a lot depends on how strict your college is with rules and security, I went to visit a friend at another college once and upon entering any dorm you have to present ID, visitors have to sign in and they search your bags. That was crazy and I never would choose to live there.

My school was way more relaxed, you could have guests stay with you whenever, no questions asked. And security was cool, you could have a couple hundred people just casually drinking outside in front of the townhouses and stuff and as long as there were no fights or property being destroyed they let you party and hang out.

[dkmwise]

No idea how it is in Europe, but go to America, and live on campus. IF you can afford it. IF. It's an incredible time that isn't replicated anywhere else.

:rockon:

Exactly how I feel

[Lensanity]

I loved college, it was incredible. Those 4 years feel like a decade worth of memories. Living on campus is like nothing else you can experience in your life. No, it's not the real world, but that's kinda the point.

At my school they only let a very small amount of people live off campus so over 90% of students lives on campus and it had such a great vibe and community feeling. I'm sure your school with 2000 people would be similar in that you really know, or at least recognize almost everyone on campus.

Now, a lot depends on how strict your college is with rules and security, I went to visit a friend at another college once and upon entering any dorm you have to present ID, visitors have to sign in and they search your bags. That was crazy and I never would choose to live there.

My school was way more relaxed, you could have guests stay with you whenever, no questions asked. And security was cool, you could have a couple hundred people just casually drinking outside in front of the townhouses and stuff and as long as there were no fights or property being destroyed they let you party and hang out.
Sounds dope

Absolutely agree on strictness. There are a lot of strict schools out there and I crossed several off my list just for that reason. I would never go to a college that doesn't allow alcohol for people over 21. That means your privacy will be much more limited than it would be at a "wet" school.

In the middle of one of my college tours they told me that I couldn't have a girl in my dorm room at any time unless the door was open at a 45 degree angle or more. Went from my #1 option to off my list just like that.

The only problem with my college isn't the college but the police. It is a tiny old people town so cops have absolutely nothing at all to do at night. Therefore they roll every party in sight and chase kids down for MIP's. Pretty ****ing pathetic but they are American pigs so what do you expect.

[fsvr54]

There's a huge difference, but it doesn't matter. Living in the dorms is not real life and doesn't prepare you for shit. Save the money, do better in class, party with your friends when you feel like it.

Where I grew up a lot of people didn't go to college. If they did it was the local community college so they just stayed at home anyways and worked.

I agree with the guy that said living in the dorm is not real life. I don't know why anyone would want to live around a bunch of kids 24/7.

But then again, I live in a major urban area, maybe it'd be different coming from small town America.

[dkmwise]

I agree with the guy that said living in the dorm is not real life. I don't know why anyone would want to live around a bunch of kids 24/7.
.

If you're a 19 year old guy you wouldn't want to live with 20+ 19 year old chicks right down the hall from you ?????

[dkmwise]

Sounds dope

Absolutely agree on strictness. There are a lot of strict schools out there and I crossed several off my list just for that reason. I would never go to a college that doesn't allow alcohol for people over 21. That means your privacy will be much more limited than it would be at a "wet" school.

In the middle of one of my college tours they told me that I couldn't have a girl in my dorm room at any time unless the door was open at a 45 degree angle or more. Went from my #1 option to off my list just like that.

The only problem with my college isn't the college but the police. It is a tiny old people town so cops have absolutely nothing at all to do at night. Therefore they roll every party in sight and chase kids down for MIP's. Pretty ****ing pathetic but they are American pigs so what do you expect.

Haha, I hear ya, I had exact same experience with a school that had that girl policy.

Sux about the police there. Unless people are getting hurt or something, no idea why they'd want to break that up

[fsvr54]

If you're a 19 year old guy you wouldn't want to live with 20+ 19 year old chicks right down the hall from you ?????

No, i'd rather sleep in my bed under my roof.

Plenty of hos in the streets or community college.

[FreezingTsmoove]

Wow, I'm completely shocked to hear people say living on campus is overrated. Maybe things have changed, I've been out of college 10 years now or maybe it's a difference between small school and large university, I went to a pretty small school, about 1200 undergrad


Same here. These ****ing kids dont know how to communicate with each other. Always on their damn phones, or listening to music. Im pretty sure the campus life now is somewhat like that. Thank god I didnt grow up in this shit youth era full of electronics

Dorm life is fun as ****. If your a dude whos always on your phone stay at home

[Lensanity]

Sux about the police there. Unless people are getting hurt or something, no idea why they'd want to break that up
Because every store closes before midnight so they have nothing at all to do and since they are pigs they desperately want to feel big and powerful so they take it out on college kids that aren't harming anyone.

Murica

[dkmwise]

Same here. These ****ing kids dont know how to communicate with each other. Always on their damn phones, or listening to music. Im pretty sure the campus life now is somewhat like that. Thank god I didnt grow up in this shit youth era full of electronics

Dorm life is fun as ****. If your a dude whos always on your phone stay at home

Good point, didn't think of the technology aspect. When I started if people had cell phones they were just used as a way to call home. And the only social media was AOL instant messenger.

You would just go out into your hall and hang out with whoever was there

[Lensanity]

The best advice I can give to anybody is go to an American college that has a lot of enthusiasm when it comes to sports. That can be anything from a high major D1 school to a D3 school. Nothing like the entire school getting pumped up for a basketball or football game.

I play D3 basketball and not only are the bleachers packed but the standing room is too. I'm obviously biased since I'm actually on the court but it really brings the entire school together.

[lil jahlil]

Huge

[FreezingTsmoove]

Good point, didn't think of the technology aspect. When I started if people had cell phones they were just used as a way to call home. And the only social media was AOL instant messenger.

You would just go out into your hall and hang out with whoever was there

Ive been told from the youth of my community that most college classes they take are full of silence. Almost everybody is on their phone waiting for the teacher

Times have changed

[NBAplayoffs2001]

I lived on campus and it was awesome. Best bud lives on campus in grad school and didn't live on campus in undergrad. He regrets it. If he lived on campus in undergrad, we would have been roommates.

[GimmeThat]

I think this is a matter of whether or not the city council CAN and is interested in getting the best talents available.

[bdreason]

It's completely different. I spent my first 3 years at a JC, commuting from home. I spent the next 4 years living near campus (with friends), and it was amazing. I never lived in dorms so I can't comment on that.

[fiddy]

Did not live in dorms during my university years, cant say i have any regrets about that.

[Bosnian Sajo]

Ive been told from the youth of my community that most college classes they take are full of silence. Almost everybody is on their phone waiting for the teacher

Times have changed

Actual class, yea. What college did you go to where you could talk whenever you wanted to during class? People aren't paying tuition to hear you/other classmates speak. Outside of class is a different story, shit is the same as it has always been living on campus, if not better. I decided to go to the local state college for my AA but I'll be switching to a uni once I'm done. I think I wanna go to UCF and move to Orlando, shit is wild over there...and I'm in need of a change, been in the same area all my life.

OP, if you have the financial capability, definitely go for at least the first year to see if you like it or not, it is easy to return home.