by Anthony MacGregor

Created on: September 01, 2009

Living off campus. It is a dream for many a freshmen, filled with days free of RAs, no hassles with unwanted roommates, no more cramped spaces, no shared bathrooms. It is an important life event for many - it is the next step in achieving independence. However, along with the new found freedom come a new set of responsibilities and issues that one must be aware off.

This first thing to look at when considering living off campus is cost - a lot of times living off campus can be more expensive. Aside from rent, there are many often unforeseen costs to consider, one of such is utilities. In the dorms, utilities are all included, and one can take long showers or leave the TV on all day without major consequence. Living off-campus, every second a light is turned on, the toilet is flushed or the AC is cranked a bit higher, adds up towards the monthly bills, and these can vary greatly from person to person, from season to season. If possible, I would suggest asking peers that live off-campus how much their monthly bills are, so you can get an estimate of costs.

Another expense to consider is that of food and gas. Living off-campus often means no more dining halls, and no more walking to class. Food costs must be considered, as well as the possibility of commuting back and forth.

The final expense that might arise is scholarships and loans - some schools and programs have restrictions, for example, in my school we only had 75% of our scholarship if we chose to live off-campus. This is not necessarily your case, so I suggest checking with college officials before packing your things up.

Now, roommates. More than likely you will be able to get rid of the creepy girl that walks around naked all day or the guy that clips his toenails on the couch. However, depending on your financial situation, a roommate or two may still be necessary when living off-campus, simply because living alone is a lot more expensive. Be careful on who your choose, as this person has to be reliable - don't pick the guy that can't buy his textbook because he spent all his money on beer last weekend, because that easily could translate into not being able to pay the rent or bills, which could result in a bad credit report if they happen to be in your name. Furthermore, try to find a friend with a similar lifestyle to you - if you are a night owl that takes late classes and sleeps all day, it may be a bad choice to room with a member of the swimming team that has an alarm going off at 5 am every

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