When our parents went to college, the process was simple. They filled out a short application, sent it in the mail and waited until receiving their acceptances back by letter. The typical college student life was an undergraduate degree completed in four years, possibly a graduate degree, and then onto a job and a family.
Now, in the age of smartphone-equipped ten-year-olds and a tremendous amount of high school Advanced Placement courses, the standard college lifestyle is far different than the older generations might have experienced, especially when it comes to living situations.
This year more specifically, college students had to make an important choice regarding housing. More options are available than there were for previous generations, but COVID-19 has affected students’ housing decisions. Will students be missing out if they don’t live on campus?
St. Thomas has a diverse array of living options: on-campus dorms and apartments, off-campus university owned housing or off-campus apartments or houses. Students can also remain at home and take online courses.
Off-campus sophomore Dylan Monahan said he was concerned about losing that connection and home-feeling to campus if he chose to live off-campus, but felt at home in the community he’s built living off-campus.
It is very important to choose what will benefit you as a student and what will best fit your lifestyle habits. Very involved and social students may opt to stay on-campus, while some more reserved and routine based students may opt for off-campus. As someone who likes personal space for my lifestyle choices, an off-campus living situation would be more suited to what I like, but the dorm life community is also very fun.
Especially with COVID-19 affecting the school year, students must consider safety and financially friendly options. Splitting the cost of an apartment between a group of students is much cheaper than over-paying for the university’s dorm residence halls. On-campus housing at many colleges in the U.S. prove to be a bit pricey, especially as tuition prices inflate.
The priority of safety this year is especially a factor to consider with the COVID-19 pandemic. Choosing to live on-campus puts students at risk to spread and contract COVID-19 with all the students living within small quarters. Off-campus housing allows students to choose who they are building their COVID-19 safe bubble with and can determine comfort levels with their roommates, which is something not very accessible with the dorm residence.
Despite some of the financial and safety cons, there are still pros to living on-campus. Facilities like the Anderson Athletic & Recreation Complex, createspace, library or Anderson Student Center are convenient and provide students with services that are within walking distance. Ready-made meals are available throughout the day and technology-equipped study rooms are open for student use.
On-campus events and the environment are not completely inaccessible to off-campus students, but students living on campus can participate more easily. Many events and activities this year are virtual, allowing students from anywhere in the world to connect with fellow peers and participate in the St. Thomas community.
Living on-campus is a great way to build community and gain connections through residence hall peers, and it provides easy and quick access to many facilities. Off-campus living is another great way to build community and form deeper connections with peers in a lifestyle habitat that works best for you.
Macy Berendsen can be reached at macy.berendsen@stthomas.edu.