Merenda
Should I Stay on Campus for the First Year and Why?
Why is it important to stau on campus the first year? #on-campus
5 answers
Erica J. Caine
Erica J.’s Answer
Some of the greatest life lessons I ever learned from college came from my first year on campus living experience.
As others have stated, making the transition from HS to college is not always easy, but a rewarding journey nonetheless. And timing wise, jumping in to view it through the gift of fresh, unbiased eyes, right off the heels of HS graduation, is really what helps to make it special.
No one can prepare for the awakening you will have as you find yourself suddenly thrust into the whirling dervish of new dormitory life. Whether it’s a more modern on campus, apartment style space, or a tiny 8x12 nook, cramped with a pair of bunk beds and a communal bathroom down the hall, the accommodations can often be less comfy than home, or at least leave much to be desired.
The challenges of group dynamics and on demand diplomacy required to navigate shared living quarters successfully with a total stranger or two, is going to undoubtedly expedite your social growth whether u want it to or not. Making new friends is tough, and establishing your brand, who you are and getting involved, while the majority of social circles are early forming 1st semester, when everybody is a newbie, can be super helpful. If your not on campus, it can harder to do that because you will miss all the lil spontaneous social happenings and random moments of bonding that can come up. It’s not an easy experience, but the feeling of “we’re all in this tough spot together,” really helps create lasting friendships and memories. And the caveat will likely be, many times, they will become your closest friends by 2nd semester. The freedom that college provides is liberating, but as a freshmen can also be scary trying to acclimate and juggle it all- academic, housing and social success. The realization that no one is coming to save you or nudge you to get to class on time, or advise you to go home at night, to choose study prep over a party, or select your friends more wisely, is both empowering and often overwhelming. But observing from the inside, the majority your peers, succeeding or struggling with these exact same choices is invaluable insight.
Think about it this way, your actual classroom time is very limited compared to the time you will spend outside the classroom. So yes, you definitely want it to be a good. Yet, there’s always 2nd semester or sophomore year to stunt in a lavish living set up off site with the cool kids...by then you’ll know the ropes, have established friends, and be ready for new adventures. To each his own...But I’d say don’t skip out on the growth you can gain as a person, by staying on campus first year. There are so many unforeseen Mr. Myagi, “Karate Kid” movie, teachable moments and skills of adulting, that you won’t even realize you are acquiring. That hands-on training and experience will go with you long after, and is one you’ll always remember. For me, I still look back and laugh about it, and enjoy recanting my first year tales with others to this day!
Yasemin G.
Yasemin’s Answer
Best of luck!
Mark Wiedeman
Mark’s Answer
Hi Merenda!
Each person is different in college, so there is no blanket answer to this.
However, I found it very helpful living on campus my first year of college. Going from a high school schedule to a college schedule is very different. I had trouble keeping track of all my classes and when and where they were taking place, so being close by was very helpful.
In addition, this was where I met a lot of close friends as we were all going through similar issues, had similar problems, and we shared a lot of classes. This support system was very helpful when we had homework pile up, tests to study for, and just general stress with the college life.
Some people thrive on their own however, so for those people, perhaps living off campus in a quieter, more relaxed setting would be a better option.
I hope this is helpful!
Bev Davenport
Bev’s Answer
A lot of variables would go into the answer to your question. What do you know about the campus? Is it a commuter campus (most people drive in and very few live on campus)? Or, in contrast, do you know if a lot of people tend to live on campus. Because I went far away from home to college, and because the college I went to required that you live on campus for freshman and sophomore year, I didn't have any choice. I liked that there were many campus activities and dining halls where I could see my friends usually a couple of times a day. An easy walk (under .5 mile) to most classes, helped with the dreaded "freshman 15."
If the campus is a "commuter campus," this doesn't seem so important. How much do you have to worry about money? If you are comfortable at home (no or little stress there, and privacy), then you would save a lot of money living at home, and you could take public transportation (or drive) to campus for important events.
Bottom line, IMHO, staying on campus, at least for freshman year, is a good idea. WAY fewer excuses for being late to class, and getting into the rhythm of what you are mainly supposed to be doing in college (developing life skills, including being ON TIME, etc) will help you perform better.
Bev recommends the following next steps:
Kelly Andersson (Singer)
Kelly’s Answer
Wow! This takes me back to MY first year. I went from a conservative all girls HS to the University of Illinois in Champaign and boy was that school big! I clearly remember going to my English class, having BOYS in my class and thinking, "WOW. Boys have opinions too!". So I Guess I am saying that while the first year on campus started out lonely, confusing and fattening (freshman 15!) my 2 roommates and I became the best of friends, I learned how to navigate a "quad" and gained more and more friendshsips, many of them I still keep in contact with today (thank you FB & LI!). But the one thing that I found that I could not have gained at home was a springboard to the real me. Being on campus opened me up to new experiences, people, and decisions. I was able to stand on a platform with 25,000 other students and faculty and express myself without reservation. Aside from becoming a mom, for me, it was likely the most defining 1-chance experience I have had in my life. Only you can make that decision in yours.