Is living on campus when you have the option to live at home a smart decision?

There are a lot of pros to either situation, so I understand how that could be a tough decision. The good news is, you can really have the best of both worlds throughout college with a mix of the two. Perhaps you live with your mom for a year and save some money, then try a year living with roommates closer to campus to get more of the college experience. You could always move back in with your mom (permanently or for the summer) if you find that you miss the comforts of home and saving money, but could try it on your own for awhile first to see if you like it.

Saving money and time can be really gratifying, and there's something about the comforts of home that can't be beat! That being said, the social aspect of having roommates, hosting gatherings, and learning about paying bills and being on your own are one of the developmental parts of college that can really help prepare you for the real world and a career after college. If those thing are important to you, it probably makes sense to look for a low cost option to live on campus (or near it) for at least a semester. Or, you could always live at home but do a study abroad semester, or save up to live on your own for grad school, so that you can experience the best of both worlds, without breaking the bank all four years.

Hi Brynna

I am glad that you welcomed us to help you decide on this dilemma.

Lets break this down...
Your goal? - "Be an independent person and would like to experience living away from parents"

Perks alongside? "The University is in the same city and mom's office is down the street from campus." - So you can meet them more often or they can come see you. You would save on travelling nonetheless.

Challenge? - Cost of Dorm. My simple advise would be to talk to your folks. If they got you covered, then clearly this is one less thing to worry about. If not, then you might
pick from options. That would leave us with working alongside studying.

Its really a question about picking an option with least at stake. Education is very important. You could also choose to be an independent person later when you get a job!

I hope this helps you in your decision. Best of luck!!

Living at home is a great way to save you money, but it won't be the same college experience as living on campus or having your own place. I commuted all 4 years of my college experience, but I went to a school where the majority of students were commuters. If you attend a school where the majority of students live on campus, you might feel like you're missing out on certain experiences and bonding with your peers. However, living on campus usually means living with multiple people in a crowded dorm with little privacy. On top of that, you may not get along with the people assigned to your dorm, but you may also live with people who end up becomming lifelong friends. Before making a decision, try to tour the dorms. Seeing what these living spaces look like first hand can help make your decision.

Maybe you can try living on campus your first year and then move back home if it doesn't work or live at home for the first two years and then look into moving out your last two.