By: Jamal Carswell
Living accommodations are something that is essential to any and every college student.
Where you live and how you live are 50 percent of your life as a college student.
There are a lot of variables that determine the state of living, such as the pros and cons of the housing, the cost of the housing and the waiting list for living at any given place.
There are a slew of reasons that students want to begin living off campus.
Jessica Long, a freshman English major from Ozark, said, “I want to have independence from my parents and I would never live on campus due to the lack of room, high prices and ban on pets. So, for me, living off-campus is the only option.”
This is just one of the many reasons that some students decide to live off campus.
Many students, both incoming and current, want independence from their authority figures, especially when they enter into college.
Living off campus literally throws the student into a situation of independence and responsibility.
Another ‘pro’ that comes with living off campus is the sense of home that it can bring.
Being away from home, for students of any age, can be a disheartening experience. Coupling that feeling with living in a dorm can become an increasingly negative aspect of a student’s college career.
Living in a place off campus, a house more specifically, can bring a sense of home that could potentially help a homesick student.
Now, no decision comes without some downsides.
Traveling to and from your off-campus abode can prove to be a great expense, depending on your social or academic life.
The farther away you live, the farther you have to drive each and every day to and from school.
With gas prices being the way they are, so much driving can become a hindrance, especially for the surviving college student.
Maintenance can be another hang-up for students aspiring to live off campus.
Cleaning and maintaining a dorm room is one thing, but doing the same for an entire house or apartment can be a much bigger task.
If a student doesn’t have a good sense of responsibility, having to clean a house or apartment will be too much and may even lead to a loss of residency.
The price of lodging is a prime factor in figuring out where to live.
Prices vary from cheap to “daddy’s money” expensive.
In the area of Troy, here are a few openings and varying prices:
• University Corners
From $285.00 / Month
250 University Avenue | Troy, AL 36081
• Village Apartments
From $450.00 / Month
816 S Brundidge St | Troy, AL 36081
• Bradford Court Apartments
From $450.00 / Month
528 S Brundidge St | Troy, AL 36081
Other notable listings include Forest Acres, where rent ranges from $350 to $550 a month.
Prices like these can look daunting by oneself, but with the help of roommates these prices can look much more affordable.
Lastly, when it comes to finding a house, trailer, apartment or even trying to live on campus, students should try to attain it as soon as possible.
Being on a waiting list is often looked at in a negative way, but this should not be the case.
The waiting list is the first step to attaining a house or a position, etc. Without that starting point, there is no way of getting what is desired.
The names there are the first ones considered, because those are the people that took the time and effort to try.
There are many factors and possibilities to consider when thinking about moving.
Living off campus can bring many different opportunities and levels of independence that living elsewhere does not offer. As stated before, living off campus can be a heavy burden to bear.
But, with the right sense of responsibility, enough ‘pros’ and an affordable price, living off campus can cause your college life to thrive.
