Dorms or Apts? Which is better?

Apartments hands down. BUT, dorms are an experience you want to have at least once. If you’re new to the college this will help you make so many friends and feel comfortable.Apartments are for students who already made the friends and now want to get a place of their own. Its a slower process making friends after first year but it does still happen.

So…apartments are better by far to live in, but to meet people dorms are great.

I lived in the dorm my first year of college. I had my own room so things went better for me than for many others. I would highly recommend an apartment, however their are pros and cons for both.

Dorm

Pros – If it is your first year, then you have a very good opportunity to make friends and be immersed in the college environment if you live in the dorm. You also usually have access to the dining halls.

Cons – Usually, you have a “lease,” meaning that you are penalized if you try to leave early – you may even have to still pay the full amount (but this will usually not affect your credit history). You have to be out of the dorms for holidays (Christmas, and even Thanksgiving at my university) and the summer, so you can’t continuously live there which could be a problem if you don’t want to go back home for the summer. Keep in mind that if you have to leave you also have to completely clean out your dorm room (and others may be staying there at this time). Also, the dorms are significantly more expensive in many places than apartments (especially if you take those times you have to leave into account. If you room with someone they may make your life miserable, and then you have to deal with them even if they move to another room. You may have a curfew and no pets. You may not have air conditioning or other “normal” amenities (and even if you start out with them, they are often not repaired quickly or efficiently if something goes wrong).

Apartments

Pros – You have complete control over what time you come and go. You can also usually afford to live by yourself for the same price as the cramped dormroom with someone else. You can choose to eat when and wherever you want without feeling guilty about not using your meal plan. You don’t have to leave at certain times of the year. If you choose to eat at home most of the time you can save a significant amount of money over the dorm meal plan and you can eat healthier. You can have a pet if you choose (although this costs more).

Cons – You generally have a LEASE (you must not break this unless you want to hurt your credit historty – although some places will let you rent month to month at a higher cost). You will have neighbors that may have kids or other noisy habits, and it is much more difficult to get these problem neighbors removed or reprimanded. Depending on what apartments you choose there may not be as much security.

I have lived in both, and I much prefer the apartment. It also must be noted that I still have problems with the people who live next to us (me and my husband). I like the freedom to choose my apartment – apartments are usually cleaner and nicer because there is competition, whereas universities own all the dorms so no competition exists. Also, apartments offer specials to lure customers in, so you might be able to save even more. I am tired of renting at this point, so me and my husband are building a house. I highly recommend owning whenever you possibly can – you aren’t just throwing away money, but sometimes you just have to rent. Good luck.

it really depends… here’s an article about housing alternatives to dorms, like apts, house rentals, greek houses:

http://collegesoup.net/dorm-life/housing-alternatives

i’ve lived in dorms and apts and liked apts better, slightly