Campus Chronicles: The Perks and Pitfalls of Living on Campus

If you are a student, then there is a high probability that you are faced with the challenge of where to live, and rightly so, since you’re leaving the lovely comfort of your home for a literal warzone. A place of residence has been said to be one of the important elements of success for a student and now, you are faced with two options: whether to live on-campus or off-campus. Your decision can be based on several factors like your personal preferences of lifestyle and your financial situation, but to lessen the rigour of your decision process, and because of our generosity, we are providing you with some perks (advantages) and pitfalls (disadvantages) of On-Campus and Off-Campus living. This might be a long read, so grab your popcorn and enjoy the ride.

Perks

• Convenience: One of the reasons why students choose to live on campus is because of the convenience it offers them. On-campus housing is always ready to go, and you do not need to rack your head on the interior decorations and sometimes even furniture. It also often includes amenities such as reading rooms, and recreational and health facilities.

  
  

• Security and Safety: University campuses consider the safety of their students very highly, and so they put security measures in place, like providing well-equipped security guards and surveillance systems to ensure that the students are always safe. This, therefore, provides a safer environment compared to some off-campus locations.

• Proximity to Classes: Living on campus means you are proximate to classrooms and other academic facilities like the library and resource centres. This might just be one of the major advantages of living on campus as you get to save a lot of time and money by being closer to the academic buildings, and heaven knows you’ll need all the extra cash you can get.

  
  

• Cost: Depending on the university you are attending, particularly Federal Nigerian universities, on-campus housing is usually less expensive than off-campus housing. This, once again, will enable you to save some money.

  
  

• Community and Support Services: Being on campus provides you with the opportunity to meet and interact with other students, thereby building relationships and a sense of community and making it easier for you to seek help.

  
  

Pitfalls

• Limited Space: On-campus living means you have to share already small rooms with roommates, and these rooms have limited storage for all your belongings. This leaves you with less personal space, and this may hinder your reading and studying flow. We wouldn’t want that now, would we?

  
  

• Lack of Privacy: Sharing rooms and bathrooms with other students can be extremely challenging as your privacy is always tampered with. So, if you’re very big on your personal space not being interfered with, then you may not opt for an on-campus hostel.

• Strict rules and regulations: Now, as a university student, you want all the freedom you can get but assuredly, living on campus will not grant you the freedom that you want. You must adhere to the hostel's rules and regulations on guest policies, noise policies, and a lot of other things. Some restrictions are placed on movement, granting you less freedom to come and go as you please.

  
  

• Availability: Deciding to live on campus does not exactly come easy, and this is because a lot of people always want to secure on-campus accommodation. The number of people who want campus accommodation is not always proportional to the available space, and so not all students can secure this accommodation as it is limited.

  
  

In conclusion, the decision between living on-campus and off-campus should be thoroughly considered. It's important to weigh the pros and the cons carefully before making a decision. Ultimately, the choice should be made based on what best suits your lifestyle and goals.