College life: Dorm vs apartment

[Metallica_Band]

Hey there...right now I'm scheduled to have a 4 year college...I MAY end up needing more years...READ THIS FOR THE REASON...right now I'm supposed to be at the community college here for 2 years and then possibly go to UT Martin for another 2 years...I was wondering...when I goto UT should I stay in dorms or get an apartment??? I've heard of really bad thing bout dorms and the cleanliness of them and the bathrooms and stuff...and it can get really loud and crowded and stuff...but wouldn't it be better to have an apartment...w/o rules and quiet and no worries about ppl stealing your expensive stuff and stuff like that...if you ahd a choice of living in a dorm or living in an apartment which would you choose??? My parents want me to stay in a dorm since that's whould most ppl do...unless I give them enuff reasons to get an apartment then thhey will insist on me staying in a dorm...I bring my parents into this cause they pay for me to goto college...so when I goto UT and I end up deciding on going to an apartment THEY will pay for it...any advice??? THANX
C'YA ?:-D

[kurty[B]]

Me personally, would go with an apartment. I've never "lived" in a dorm, persay, I have stayed in someone elses dorm for rather long periods of time (quasi-couch surfing), and well it can be a fun atmosphere. You're surrounded by people your age, most all want to party, get trashed, or what not. If you aren't much of a socializer, there's pros and cons about being in the dorms. If you're willing to try new things then you'll get to know people and possibly meet some good friends, and what not, but if you're not willing to even try and socialize then you'll just be miserable, because the kids down the hall refuse to turn down their 1000 watt stereo, or even close their door while they play their nasty music. It's all a matter of how you react to people.

If you really plan to study, and get your work done, that may prove to be hard in a dorm, the library and maybe some wooded area nearby campus will become your favorite studying spots. You'll have a free internet connection (or at least I'd hope so), and what not, an apartment you'll be more on your own. If you're ready to handle life on your own, and won't drive yourself mad, again I'd say an apartment is the way to go. There are some people who aren't ready to be out on their own, they still live with their parents and might say they are, but don't realize that they need some sort of attention or someone to always be there to talk to. People who rely on others for their mental stability. There's a lot of factors to consider.

Most people, after a year, even a semester of dorm life can't wait to get out of it though.

[chavos]

Totally depends on teh school...so ask around on the campus.

That said, my reasons for dorm life:
1. Food. It may not the gourmet, but you don't have to shop, you don't have to cook, and you don't have to wash dishes. Nuf said.
2. Friends. They aren't a block away, they're down the hall. A true blessing for the less than totally extroverted.
3. Stability. Less chance of eviction, crazy landlords, or having your room being condemned as a health hazard. As a note, all of those have happened to people i know...

[Leviathan[NCV]]

Well, I'd reccomend both.
I've never been in a dorm, but I've been told on many occasions it's an experience much worth the problems. Go coed.
So, spend two quarters/one semester in a dorm, and then move on.
Live life to its fullest man, you only get this chance once really.

[rogue49]

Go for the dorm, just for the experience of it.
The people, the lifestyle, etc.

You can always do the apt. thing later.

[TIO]

What Chavos said.

I live in the Ozzie equivalent of a dorm, and I've never regretted it. You'll learn more about life, the universe and everything in a dorm than you ever will in a lecture theatre, and besides, it's the one time in your life you'll have the chance to live in that kind of atmosphere, you'll regret it if you don't at least give it a go.

Stay in the dorm, even if you move out after a year. The amount it will add to your uni experience is incredible.

[tikki]

I avoided Dorm Life. Got an apartment as a freshman, and while it has its downsides, I don't regret it. Let's start with the negatives.

1. It can be a bitch to make friends. Totally depends on your personality. Beacuse I wasn't living in the dorms, Purdue wouldn't even let me take part in the freshman orientation program. If you are outgoing, you shouldn't have much of a problem. You just have to make friends in your classes or in clubs you join.

2. You gotta cook, or if you are blessed with the ability to eat out every meal, you will be fine. I am on a Subway diet because I hate cooking for myself.

Now, the positives.

1. No filthy, nasty, stinking shared showers and bathrooms. This was my biggest problem with dorm life. I am such a neat freak, and cleanliness advocate, that I could never share a bathroom with someone who is filthy (and 90% are).

2. Not feeling like your in a prison. Purdue's dorms looked like prison cells. Concrete walls, tiled floors. It did not feel like a home at all. Plus I could pretty much touch both sides of the room with my hands. With the apartment, you get to personalize the place a hell of a lot more to your likings. My mom and I had fun making my apartment match my personality.

3. It's about the same money for an apartment up here as it is to live in the dorms. Dorm system is a fucking ripoff.

4. Your apartment will only smell like you. i went in a men only dorm once in my two years of college to help fix a kid's computer. Worst fucking smell in my life. No one showers. The ladies' dorms weren't so bad, and if you were lucky you saw them walking around pretty nekkid.

5. Place to park your car. Purdue parking is a bitch, and expensive. I love having a set spot for my car. Only thing I wish my apartment had was covered parking. I hate letting the elements destroy my car.

6. Your landlord may be more receptive to your requests than the dorm system. True story here. My ex left for Christmas and followed everything on the check list for leaving for break (unplugging everything, turning off heater, etc). She comes back in January and her room is destroyed. Their detergent exploded, cokes exploded, all kinds of nasty stuff. What happened was Purdue turned the heat up to insane levels while everyone was gone (who knows why). They did not receive any compensation for their ruined stuff, or any help cleaning it up for that matter.

I hope that helps.

[Cynthetiq]

Originally posted by tikki
I avoided Dorm Life. Got an apartment as a freshman, and while it has its downsides, I don't regret it. Let's start with the negatives.

1. It can be a bitch to make friends. Totally depends on your personality. Beacuse I wasn't living in the dorms, Purdue wouldn't even let me take part in the freshman orientation program. If you are outgoing, you shouldn't have much of a problem. You just have to make friends in your classes or in clubs you join.

2. You gotta cook, or if you are blessed with the ability to eat out every meal, you will be fine. I am on a Subway diet because I hate cooking for myself.

Now, the positives.

1. No filthy, nasty, stinking shared showers and bathrooms. This was my biggest problem with dorm life. I am such a neat freak, and cleanliness advocate, that I could never share a bathroom with someone who is filthy (and 90% are).

2. Not feeling like your in a prison. Purdue's dorms looked like prison cells. Concrete walls, tiled floors. It did not feel like a home at all. Plus I could pretty much touch both sides of the room with my hands. With the apartment, you get to personalize the place a hell of a lot more to your likings. My mom and I had fun making my apartment match my personality.

3. It's about the same money for an apartment up here as it is to live in the dorms. Dorm system is a fucking ripoff.

4. Your apartment will only smell like you. i went in a men only dorm once in my two years of college to help fix a kid's computer. Worst fucking smell in my life. No one showers. The ladies' dorms weren't so bad, and if you were lucky you saw them walking around pretty nekkid.

5. Place to park your car. Purdue parking is a bitch, and expensive. I love having a set spot for my car. Only thing I wish my apartment had was covered parking. I hate letting the elements destroy my car.

6. Your landlord may be more receptive to your requests than the dorm system. True story here. My ex left for Christmas and followed everything on the check list for leaving for break (unplugging everything, turning off heater, etc). She comes back in January and her room is destroyed. Their detergent exploded, cokes exploded, all kinds of nasty stuff. What happened was Purdue turned the heat up to insane levels while everyone was gone (who knows why). They did not receive any compensation for their ruined stuff, or any help cleaning it up for that matter.

I hope that helps.

I did both... apt for 1st sem, then dorm second sem, then rented a house and took in my own roomies.

Dorm life was neat, but it wasn't for me.

[tikki]

Originally posted by Cynthetiq
Dorm life was neat, but it wasn't for me.

I knew it wasn't for me on my campus visit. Indiana University's were 1000x better, and if I would have gone there, I would have lived in the dorm system.

Like I said, if you don't have troubles making friends w/o having to live with them, you should be fine (and at less risk for meningitis)

[asaris]

I'd recommend staying in the dorms for a year -- meet people, see how you like it, etc. But visit them first, since not all dorms are created equal. The dorms at Calvin College were quite a bit nicer than it sounds like the dorms at Purdue are.

[The_Dude]

UT martin? where is that?


anyway, i suggest first yr @ dorm. that way, you're closer to everything. in that first yr, u can find all the info needed for a good apt.

[mirevolver]

I've lived in a dorm and an apartment. And apartment life is so much better. I won't go back to the dorms.

Though Dorm life does have some advantages. You're on campus so you're close to everything. And if you have a long break between classes, you can go back to the dorm.

[Slims]

Get your own apartment ASAP

You will enjoy increased freedom from RA's, room inspections, drug busts, loud guitar playing floor mates, quiet hours, etc.

Also, if you get a girlfriend, the added privacy of your own apartment (or room) will be priceless.

[majik_6]

I've done the dorm thing, and although it wasn't hell, I couldn't wait to get into an apartment.

I made a friend or two in the dorms, but I couldn't burn incense, own a candle, paint the walls, smoke, hang very many posters, park close (for very long), etc.

I'm also a very private person, and I LOVE to cook, so the dorms sucked for me...but that's just my $.02.

I'm living off campus this year, and it's looking like it'll be 10x better. (but I'm commuting if the administration asks...shhhh!)