If you have found yourself living off-campus, you
might be wondering how you are going to survive during the semester, especially
if you had not originally planned on living in off-campus housing. A lot of
students find themselves faced with the difficult option of getting
accommodation outside of campus grounds, either due to limited spaces in
on-campus accommodation or other reasons. The good news is that there are steps
you can take to ensure that your off-campus lifestyle remains pleasant, and
maybe even enjoyable. Here’s what you need to do:
Find conveniently accessible housing
If you are going to live off-campus, the first thing
you should consider when choosing an apartment is how accessible it is from
campus grounds. The last thing you want is to spend hours commuting from campus
to apartment. If you can get housing that is within walking distance, not only
will you cut back on hours that would have been spent on transport, you will
also minimize transportation costs.
Consider your security
Only go for off-campus housing that guarantees your
security. You do not want to live in a place where you are constantly fearful
of attacks. It is a good idea to ask what security features are in place, and
who is allowed access to the housing community. If anybody can come and go as
they please, you are better off seeking accommodation elsewhere.
Get a good roommate
A roommate is capable of making your life in an
off-campus housing community terrible or amazing, depending on the type of
person/roommate they are. Therefore when deciding who you will live with,
choose someone that you get along with and someone who will make it easy for
you to love outside of campus. Constantly wrangling with your roommate will
make your off-campus living a nightmare.
Choose to enjoy the experience
Sometimes, you have to make the conscious decision to
enjoy an experience, however unexpected it came about. So even if it was not in
your plan to live off-campus, do your best to enjoy this new experience. Make
use of the facilities offered in your off-campus housing community. Say hello
to the other students and make new friends. Join in the fun activities that
students in the housing community organize. Purpose to have a great time.
Be accountable to yourself
Unlike on-campus living, off-campus living comes with
minimal supervision, if at all. It is much easier to get lost along the way
when living off-campus, since there is no one constantly watching over you. If
you really want to enjoy living off-campus, take this as an opportunity to live
independently and answer to yourself. Do what is expected of you, and on time.
Pay your bills on time. Clean and cook when needed. Don’t make your life hard
by fighting with the natural order of things.
Posted By: Troy O'Hearn http://collegeparkapartments.net/
