College and University Residency Choices
Should Undergraduates Live on Campus or Stay at Home?
Jul 18, 2009
The UK government this week unveiled plans to scrap course fees for students who opt to stay at home with their parents while studying for their degrees. Under the proposals, students who remain in the family home will be exempt from course fees, effectively enjoying a free university experience, However they will also lose their right to grants and loans.
But is leaving home a necessary part of the student experience? Will those who fail to fly the nest miss out on some of the life lessons offered by campus based courses?
First Days at College
The first days at university can be an exciting and scary time. Choosing to live away from home in a hall of residence can produce mixed feelings. Newly independent students can find themselves feeling a little homesick and lost, but electing to be on campus also offers a great opportunity to forge friendships with fellow students as on-site undergraduates are better placed for access to social events and student mixers.
Staying at home can remove some of the anxiety from the early days, but off-site students may find they feel a little left out of campus life. However stay-at-home students can offer great local knowledge to their campus counterparts who are new to the area, giving them a great opportunity to share and socialise as well.
Student Meals
While not all students living on campus subsist on pot noodles and cans of baked beans, it is true that many find it harder to eat a balanced diet when shopping and cooking for themselves for the first time. Good nutrition is important to those who are studying hard, so staying at home can mean better access to a balanced diet and advice on healthy eating.
Managing Money
For many students, living away from home for the first time provides an opportunity to learn about money management. Undergraduates in charge of their own budget will often start off by making mistakes – spending cash on shopping and socialising and leaving themselves short when it comes time to pay for the necessities, but learning to manage money is an important life lesson. A part time job may be the answer to money worries, but can also take time away from studies.
Staying at home can take the financial pressure off those in higher education, but it is important that stay at home students begin to take responsibility for their own finances. Those who choose to work part time are in a good position to start saving for the future as mum and/or dad will usually be covering day to day living costs and housekeeping, if charged, will be less than the expense of living alone.
Live on or Off Campus While Studying for a Degree?
Whether to stay at home or strike out alone is a very personal choice. Potential undergraduates would do well to sit down and work out what they are looking to gain from their student years. While each option offers its own pros and cons, with a little planning students can reap the rewards of either choice and gain not only qualifications but valuable life experience as well.
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