Apartment vs Dorm

[Vinsanity93]

I'm going to be a freshman in college this fall and I want to know what it is like living in a dorm vs an apartment. For my first choice college the Room & Board is around $10,000 (Stony Brook). I was thinking of getting an apartment with a friend and splitting the rent. These are the things I know (Some are first hand experience):

Dorm:
-No bills IE: College provides food, electricity, cable, etc
-My friend told me that the college does random searches?
-Single dorms are harder to get
-Have to share a bathroom
-Really small
-Have to share with a stranger (Unless you get lucky and get a friend)

Apartment:
-More bills
-Own kitchen
-Own bathroom
-Have to bring your own furniture?
-Less expensive than dorming?
-More privacy

The third choice is staying home, but I would rather not do that since I've been waiting to get out of this house and I don't want to drive to school all the time.

 

[TozyJay]

If you can afford the apartment, I would go that route. When I first moved out, I shared an apartment with my best friend. Had some of the funnest times. I couldn't imagine living in a dorm, but I would say that's the 2nd best option.

Once it's financially possible, save up for a down payment on a house if you know that's something you'll want eventually. I own a two-story condo in a nice neighborhood that costs less per month than my previous crappy one-bedroom apartment. The expensive part is the initial cost of the buying the place. Anymore, renting will not usually save you much money over owning. The down payment for a first-time home buyer is currently about 3.5% of the purchase price on average but that can vary.

 

[Vihzel]

Apartment hands down. I don't know of anyone that has moved into an apartment and then WANT to move back to a dorm (aside from some money reasons). I am a very neat person... very neat, so I thankfully have a tidy roommate. It's REALLY nice to have your own kitchen (I cook a lot) and far more privacy. I absolutely hated sharing a bathroom with everyone else on my floor because well... men can be very disgusting.

I'm thankful that I was able to get a single room in a dorm. It would have driven me crazy to have to share a room with another person. I really like my privacy. What sucked though is the noise... noise... noise...

 

[Frisco]

Interesting (to me) subject to come up at this time in here; my kid is getting ready to move out to start college this August, and we've been hashing out the ins and outs of those choices.

My wife laments "missing out on all the fun" because her college years were all spent at home. She did not move out until she was 22 years old. I could never have stood that.

She is pushing for the kid to move into a dorm, at least for her Freshman year.

I did both apts and dorm, back and forth. I was lucky to go to a school for the first four years that had great apartments near the beach, but the dorm life there was fine too. So, no preference.

 

[mikedt]

If you can afford it. Definitely apartment. Unless 'home' is within reasonable distance of the school, college or uni.

 

[NYCHitman1]

I'm going to be a freshman in college this fall and I want to know what it is like living in a dorm vs an apartment. For my first choice college the Room & Board is around $10,000 (Stony Brook). I was thinking of getting an apartment with a friend and splitting the rent. These are the things I know (Some are first hand experience):

Dorm:
-No bills IE: College provides food, electricity, cable, etc
-My friend told me that the college does random searches?
-Single dorms are harder to get
-Have to share a bathroom
-Really small
-Have to share with a stranger (Unless you get lucky and get a friend)

Apartment:
-More bills
-Own kitchen
-Own bathroom
-Have to bring your own furniture?
-Less expensive than dorming?
-More privacy

The third choice is staying home, but I would rather not do that since I've been waiting to get out of this house and I don't want to drive to school all the time.

Those apt's out in Suffolk are dirt cheap and I'm sure you can find some roommates and etc.. If that's not your cup of tea then just do the dorming thing. I personally didn't like the SUNY Stony Brook campus much but that's irrelevant.

 

[Xyro]

On the other hand, being thrown in with a load of strangers in a dorm isn't always a bad thing. A large percentage of the people at my university now share houses with people they lived with in first year.

Most people seem to agree that renting a house is better, I know that's my preference, but spending the first year in a dorm seems to give you a heard start with socialising.

 

[Frisco]

On the other hand, being thrown in with a load of strangers in a dorm isn't always a bad thing. A large percentage of the people at my university now share houses with people they lived with in first year.

Most people seem to agree that renting a house is better, I know that's my preference, but spending the first year in a dorm seems to give you a heard start with socialising.

That's the way I feel about it (my daughter seems to be leaning in that direction). I've done both and at three different Universities, and as I look back there were benefits to either way.

I'd vote for dorm I guess, for the socializing and activities on-campus, etc.

 

[Clementine_3]

I would say a year on campus/dorm, then move off campus. It's important to be and feel like part of the school, you are there for so much more than just the classes. Live on campus, do the campus thing, do the school things, make friends...then get an apartment!
I lived on campus, it wasn't horrible at all.
My son has done both, it seemed that when he had his apartment and wasn't working he was driving back to campus for some gathering or activity (or class, of course)...he spent a lot of time driving back and forth!
Also, make sure you can swing the full rent and all the utilities, there were a few room mates who left him high and dry for up to a semester at a time. Just because someone says they are staying in school doesn't mean they do!

 

[Outlaw71]

If you're already a socialite then the dorm experience might not be necessary. But if you're more of the shy type, maybe a bit awkward around other people, it could be very helpfull. I never did the University thing, but I was in the military. And for the first two years I lived on base in the barracks (same things as dorm life). And I'm telling you that was the best two years of my life. In that sort of environment there is ALWAYS something going on. And everyone is dragging you to go somewhere/do something. So it doesn't matter if you're sort of shy (I always was very shy in highschool, only went to like 3 parties in my entire 4 years there), you'll get to experience a lot of cool things in that sort of environment.

Once we moved off base it was WAY different. Much less commotion, a lot more privacy (had a girlfriend by then), which we were ready for by then. I mean nobody wants to live that life forever, but it certainly was a blast at the time. The only thing about getting a roomy is being sure they are responsible. Nothing sucks more than when the rent is due, and your roommate is making excuses for why he doesn't have his share. And nothing comes between friends faster than money issues.

So weigh the bennefits, and make the choice best for you.

 

[Vinsanity93]

Well when I spent 2 weeks in a dorm (George Mason in Maryland) a few years ago I became friends with my entire floor, some people on other floors, and my roomie as soon as he walked through the door. We had loads of fun, like play battles with the other floors and card games, but I really hated:

-Curfews
-We couldn't hang out with the girls (They were in a dorm next to us and joined by a middle room.)
-Small rooms like I said (I had the biggest room, but it was still pretty small)
-The beds were uncomfortable unless you were about to pass out
-The shared bathroom is what I probably hated the most

And a question about roomies, what are the chances that my roomie would "borrow" my things without asking? I mean when I lived in the dorm for 2 weeks all I had valuable was a phone but when I go to college this fall the most valuable thing would have to be my mac.

 

[Vihzel]

Well when I spent 2 weeks in a dorm (George Mason in Maryland) a few years ago I became friends with my entire floor, some people on other floors, and my roomie as soon as he walked through the door. We had loads of fun, like play battles with the other floors and card games, but I really hated:

-Curfews
-We couldn't hang out with the girls (They were in a dorm next to us and joined by a middle room.)
-Small rooms like I said (I had the biggest room, but it was still pretty small)
-The beds were uncomfortable unless you were about to pass out
-The shared bathroom is what I probably hated the most

And a question about roomies, what are the chances that my roomie would "borrow" my things without asking? I mean when I lived in the dorm for 2 weeks all I had valuable was a phone but when I go to college this fall the most valuable thing would have to be my mac.

You will not face curfews in college. No one would actually follow them anyways. You can of course hang out with girls in your room because again... it's college. Small rooms? My dorm room was about 1/4 the size of my bedroom at home... hated it. I almost missed my bed at home because it was so comfortable and felt like you were sleeping on clouds. The one you'll find in a dorm is umm... "extra long, standard". The shared bathroom situation is really iffy. Chances are... you are going to have times where you're completely disgusted by it, especially with drunk guys missing the toilet while vomiting. I've seen: feces on the side of the toilet, vomit, pubic hair, and umm... mysterious things that I'd prefer not to know about. Boys are disgusting! It also sucks to have to wear flip flops to the shower and shower in flip flops (don't dare to be barefoot in there since guys love to pee while showering).

Don't get me wrong, there are definite upsides of being in a dorm room. I met a lot of friends that I'm still friends with today. I met a LOT of great female friends because the genders were only separated by floors, so I would go upstairs or downstairs and hang out with them a lot (I'm gay, so women just gravitated towards me lol) My university forces all freshmen to be in the dorms for the sake that they can get more money (from room and board) and also for socialization. I am thankful to have gone through that experience and have met a lot of great friends, but after living in an apartment... never again. lol I'd recommend staying in a dorm for your first year for the experience and then move into an apartment for your other years (as a ton of people do).

The roommate situation is unknown territory. Unless you know who you will be rooming with well, you are basically risking it. You can either be with the best friend for the rest of your life, or someone who causes you hell and forces you out. I've had about 6 different roommates and 1 was loud and messy, 3 were "ok", 1 was great, and 1 had incredibly rude friends and also resulted in about $1,800 worth of goods stolen. My current roommate is the one that's great. You obviously have to set some boundaries and rules, but stuff like using your roommates things should be common sense as a no-no without asking first. Something that you also have to think about is what to do about sex. I've had so many people tell me that they've walked into their roommate having sex or vice-versa. Perhaps a simple text message would be good enough.

 

[Outlaw71]

Sex... in college??? When did this start happening?

 

[Vihzel]

Sex... in college??? When did this start happening?

Damn hippies and their promiscuous ways!

 

[lunatic59]

Damn hippies and their promiscuous ways!

You're welcome

 

[ScorpDX]

Something that you also have to think about is what to do about sex. I've had so many people tell me that they've walked into their roommate having sex or vice-versa. Perhaps a simple text message would be good enough.

What ever happened to the hat or sock on the door knob?

 

[Vihzel]

What ever happened to the hat or sock on the door knob?

I never understood that. Why do you want to let the whole floor (and any guests) know that you're having sex? That also just begs for people to bang on your door. lol

 

[ScorpDX]

I never understood that. Why do you want to let the whole floor (and any guests) know that you're having sex? That also just begs for people to bang on your door. lol

Well I guess in years past people had a little more tact than to do something like that. Nowdays it's funny to cock-block your friends! Back then it'd get you a busted jaw!

 

[Kelmar]

Lol at this thread!

Apartment, dorm, parents house.... whichever you can afford and will help you in life is the best choice.

I never did the dorm routine. Had no desire to... I like my privacy.


The advantage to a dorm is that you have a set amount to pay. The advantage to the apartment is that you get to pick your roommates but are ultimately responsible for the entire amount of rent, utilities, etc if something happens. Of course, living at home will probably be free.

 

[olbriar]

Living/surviving on your own is a requisite no matter what your major. Doesn't matter what year you decide to take the course.. it's a must. Beyond the freedom and privacy mentioned many times thus far... it's the learning to budget, money and time, so that you can survive will be gained from the experience of living off campus.
As long as you are ready to be your own boss.. apt is my vote.

 

[A.Nonymous]

Live at home. You'll save tons and tons of money. When you graduate, you'll be in a financial position to buy a place.

 

[Snow_Fox]

I had a dorm.

I contemplated murder on a regular basis too.

People racing down the hall at 2 in the morning before test nights.

Turning up music so loud my bed vibrated.

The school doing absolutely nothing about it due to certain factors about the people causing the problems..

I reported it once and my name got leaked and my tail light was busted out.

I had an apartment after that experience and it was in someways better.. turned out more expensive long term I think.

Rent was 550$ a month and thats CHEAP where I am. goes all the way up to 900$ in the blink of an eye for a lot less than I was getting.

Plus electricity and bills put me over 600$ a month.

A dorm is about 2k a semester so over the course of 4 or 5 months per semester... apartments add up fast..

and unlike dorms.. even living right next to campus..you just feel kinda farther removed from everything..

 

[Lespaul20]

Dorm first year then move off campus.

Dorm
Pros-
Meet more people.
No monthly living expenses.

Cons-
Will always be noisy and active except dead week.
Lot less private
Shared bathrooms

Apt

Pros-
More private
More freedom
Most likely already know your roommates
More responsibility.

Cons-
Apt managers can be a pain
More cleaning.
More bills.

 

[bigbadwulff]

More bills for an apartment?
Well, you may get "more actual bills" but you still PAY for the same things in a dorm.

 

[gallandof]

I ended up dropping out of college and I think a lot of it did have to do with not living on campus, I had no social life in the school as I commuted to school for classes and that was basically it. I still wish I had stuck with sports and lived on campus, sure it would have almost killed my savings account, I think i would have done a lot better in school.

But on the plus side I;m in the process on buying a house for me and the GF.