Compare and contrast living in a dorm on campus with living in an apartment off campus.

Students attend higher education institutions such as colleges and universities to further their education and, since most of these institutions are far away from their homes, they need lodging. Most campuses have dorms where students can live, but they can fill up quickly, forcing students to search for other choices such as renting. The administration ensures that the campus dorms have the requisite basic facilities for the survival and well-being of the students who live there. Some students choose to live on campus, while others choose to live off campus. This paper compares and contrasts the advantages and disadvantages of living on and off campus.
Similarities of on Campus Dorm Living and off Campus Apartment life

There are several similarities between living inside and outside the campus such as in both cases the students will be on their own or will have independence. To explain further, it means that there will be no parents or guardians to tell them when to do activities such as to study or go to bed; thus the students are at liberty to do as they please (Mishra). Living on the campus and outside is the same as the students will have to share the living space with others whereby you can find two or more students sharing a room. Both the students living on the campus and outside the campus grounds will have to get along with those people they are living with to attain harmony.

Another similarity between on-campus dorm living and off-campus apartment life is that the students need to regulate themselves. They both need to plan and manage their resources well during their stay like money, personal effects among others. Regardless of whether a student is living inside or outside the campus misuse of resources will make them suffer or get various difficulties that may prevent their successful learning in the institution. Living inside the campus premises and living outside are similar as both students have to be responsible in various ways. Both of them have to maintain their cleanliness by doing their laundry and keeping their living spaces clean as they are the ones in charge of it.

Cases of living on campus dorm and off campus in apartments are similar as they both involve paying a fee for the period of stay. The students dwelling on the campus usually pay their dwelling fee as part of the institution fees while the students living outside the campus premises pay their rents to their respective apartment managers (Mishra). Another similarity between living on the campus and living away from the campus is that both places have necessary facilities for survival and proper health. The students in the campus have showers, and toilets with proper drainage and so does the students living outside the campus premises.

Campus dorm living and off campus living are both vital life events in the student’s life as it is an initiation into a different life from one they were used to while at home. Both students are getting initiated into a life of independence, self-reliance among other qualities (Mishra). Another similarity is that both students living inside and outside the campus premises have to buy their food. For students living on the campus, they may have to purchase meals at the cafeteria while the ones living off campus may have to go to food stores and grocery shops to buy food stuff they will prepare.

Differences between on Campus Dorm Living and off Campus Apartment life

There are numerous differences between living in dorms of campuses and living in apartments outside the campus like for the students living off campus in apartments have more freedom and are at liberty to do several things while the students living in the campus have a stricter life due to campus regulations. Students living off the campus have the freedom to get intoxicated on alcohol while the institution prohibits the taking of alcohol on the institution’s premises. Another difference is that students living on the campus do not have privacy while the students living in apartments have privacy (E-campus Tours). For the student living in the institution grounds to take a shower, they need to go to the public shower area with all their personal effects, and there are other students there waiting for turns to take a shower, thus no privacy. On the other hand, students in apartments take their showers peacefully without rush and with privacy.

Another difference between dwelling in the campus premises and living in apartments is that there is limited space for students living on campus while the ones living in apartments have a lot of space. Students in the campus dorms do not have enough space to fit all their belongings because they may be living up to three or four students. The students in apartments have a lot of space to fit all their items since apartments are more spacious. Social life is also a difference between living inside and outside the campus premises as the students in the campus dorms are more social since they interact regularly. The social life of the students living in apartments outside the campus is low as they do not get to interact with people often since many people keep to themselves in apartments (E-campus Tours).

Living in the campus dorm is different from living in apartments outside the campus because when it comes to studying, fellow students can help each other study while the ones in apartments find difficulty in studying because they are alone with no one to assist them. Another difference is that students on the campus have got some several service fees covered by the institution while the ones living in apartments have to pay for the services themselves. Water, sewer, garbage, electricity fees are paid by the institution for the students living in the campus dorms while the ones in apartments have to pay for their service fee which is more expensive (University of La Verne).

In addition to the differences between living in campus dorms and living outside in apartments is the convenience. Students who live on campus premises have shorter distances to travel to get to their classes for lessons while the ones living in apartments have to go for longer distances to arrive in class and may involve using public transport which may turn out to be costly (Onsomu). Hygiene and cleanliness is another difference between campus dorms and apartments as most campus dorms are untidy due to the high number of students while apartments are maintained clean by the management to retain tenants and make the environment homely.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it is evident that whether living in the campus dorms or off the campus in apartments several similarities and differences accompany these living conditions. Living in campus dorms and off campus in apartments is similar as the students will be independent with no adult supervision and they will share the living spaces with other students. Moreover, both of them will have to be responsible, regulate themselves, and they have to buy their food. There are also several differences associated with living in campus dorms and living off campus in apartments such as freedom whereby student living in dorms do not have freedom while those living outside campus have freedom. Other differences involve aspects such as privacy, level of spaciousness, social life, and service fees

Works Cited

E-campus Tours. Living on campus Vs. Off Campus (2016). Retrieved from: http://www.ecampustours.com/for-students/campus-life/living-on-and-off-campus/living-on-campus-vs-off-campus.aspx Web.

Mishra Kriti. Birmingham southern College. College Prowler. (2011). Print. ISBN 1427499764, 9781427499769 Print.

Onsomu. In campis vs Off Camus, which is Better? (2016). Retrieved from: https://kampusville.com/in-campus-vs-off-campus-which-is-better/ Web.

Tiller,Christopeher. 5Differences Between Living on and Off Campus. Odyssey. Retrieved from: https://www.theodysseyonline.com/5-differences-living-campus Web

University of La Verne. On campus vs. Off campus. (n.d). Retrieved from: https://sites.laverne.edu/housing/resident-information/on-campus-vs-off-campus/ Web.