How important is 4 years of campus housing

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid wanted 4 years of campus housing.

My older child yes, my younger child no. Eager to experience apartment living.

[Anonymous]

For many students four years of on campus housing is stifling. And the idea that you need to be on campus to have a good social life is complete bullshit all of the fun is off campus.

[Anonymous]

Christopher Newport and WM require two years on campus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Depends on the student the family - also on the school. Some schools have serious housing issues, IMO - Berkeley for example, or UMich. When we toured Mich, the tour guide really underplayed the housing issue (I think they only guarantee freshman year), but everyone I know who has gone there complains about it. At other schools, the option of off campus is often more attractive and cheaper. For my dd, she was attracted to SLACs for many reasons, but the fact that 99% of the student body at her school lives on campus was very appealing to her. It centers the community and social life, which she loves. I know other kids who want to live in an apartment, leave campus often, and would hate to be in a dorm all four years.

This is my daughter. On campus housing for 4 years wasn’t something she knew was important to her until she started touring and assessing the various college communities that fit her. Some schools do offer on campus housing for juniors and seniors that are apartment-style. So they can get the feeling of independence while retaining the community. I do agree it depends on the kid (some thrive at a school with a strong off campus culture) and is why fit/your kid knowing themselves is so important.

[Anonymous]

It's a huge help to have this as an option. My youngest was very stressed about finding housing mid-way through the first year. It worked out, and I think the calm of living in a shared house is good, but he's much further from campus.

My oldest lived on campus all four years including and senior year had a single within view of the library. This was certainly easier, and I think helped focus studies. It also changes the character of the campus and the dorms.

In both cases off campus housing was pricey but available with some leg work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It depends what off campus housing looks like. Do students live in apartments with other students at the edge of campus? That might as well be dorm life but with a private landlord. Do students live scattered throughout the city and drive/bus long distances to get to class? That would disqualify a school for my child.

I agree with this. I lived off campus my last year & the housing was exclusively served the university so it was much like an extension of campus. It didn’t feel much different especially since I had established friend groups, activities, etc.

But if housing is more general, serving locals & students, I can see how that might be less ideal for some.

While 4yrs on campus is ideal to have the option, I’d personally be ok if there’s plentiful, student-focused nearby off campus options for upperclass years

[Anonymous]

It’s a factor but not a disqualifier for DC’s search. DC would like the option to not have to worry about housing, so schools that can guarantee all four years are a plus. The ideal is that they guarantee four years but only require two, so that DC can decide what they’d prefer when the time comes.

But housing is just one factor among many.

[Anonymous]

We have a rising Freshman and I was a little worried about it when we toured South Carolina. My son isn't much of partier and probably isn't interested in joining a fraternity. At South Carolina, most sophomores live off campus. We were aware of the housing time frame but didn't bring it up or make it a big deal. I think most state schools have the same housing issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's a great way to ease into real life.

Most kids are sharing space for the first time in a dorm. Then they are managing the logistics of a home in their first apartment.

Unless you're the kind of parent that micromanages and does this all for them.

And just saying, that when I was in college, we were itching to get out of the university-owned buildings because of all the rules and regs.

My son told me about a big fight his friends had who were living off-campus for the first time. They had ants and cockroaches. Dishes were left in the sink for days. Someone poured oil down the sink and clogged it. It culminated in them getting a whiteboard and assigning chores. My son then thanked me for always nagging him to wipe down the counter, etc. at home. He likes not living in filth. This also reminds me of a funny skit Jimmy Fallon did with Bill Burr who acted as an advice columnist. Jimmy asks for help about a roommate who leaves dishes in the sink. Bill advises him to leave them on the roommates pillow, only if he is bigger and strthan the roommate.

[Anonymous]

*stronger*

[Anonymous]

The size of the school and other factors were far more important to my DCs then 4 years of housing. I would not limit colleges based on this factor as many have apartments very close to campus or offer upperclassmen housing. DC #1 is headed into 3rd year at a school where first 2 years are on campus and will be on campus for the 3rd in an apartment style building. DC #2 is headed to Berkeley (I mention it because of the responses above) for their 2nd year and we had no issues securing an apartment that seems closer to the area of campus they take classes than some of the dorms.

[Anonymous]

My kid was guaranteed 4 years of campus housing - BUT the building they were in for the first year was the pits - mold and no AC!!

Next year, off-campus apartment in a huge new apartment building and my kid was happy as a clam. Does he cook? Some. But, he lives 30 minutes from home and if he wants something he can cook, or order, or pick it up from home.

Yes, super priviledged kid.

[Anonymous]

The benefit of going in-state, 40 minutes from home college - is that you are happy regardless of if you are in campus or off-campus housing. You have a huge group of friends from the get-go. Logistics of any housing situation is easy. Food, laundry, cleaning, transportation, studying, partying, shopping...

[Anonymous]

They found it stressful? Oh dear, we better smooth anything away that might be stressful. God forbid we allow some stress to get in the way of them preparing to be adults…

[Anonymous]

If your kid is concerned and doesn't want to have an apartment, you might want to find someplace with housing for all four years, or at the very least two years.