Student Accomodation: Pro’s and Con’s

So the big moment has arrived. It is September and you are about to make the big move into Student Halls as you begin your University journey. You will probably be feeling a mixture of emotions, excitement, apprehension, fear and may more! It isn’t to worry, you can guarantee that every single person moving into your new flat will be feeling the same way. It is a huge move, you may never have lived away from home before, and you have to adapt to living with people you may have just met. Cleaning and cooking for yourself may all be new to you, as will living on your own (probably quite meagre) budget.

 Many people see moving into halls as a hugely postive thing. For confident, outgoing people who love to socialise, it is the best time of their lives, meeting new people and living life as an independent person. Others may see it as a fresh start, a chance to change their personality and be a bit different. However, for the shyer individual, perhaps someone who doesn’t enjoy going out, drinking etc, moving into halls can be a difficult experience. It isn’t the same for everyone, but it is important to make your decision of where to live wisely, and here are some pro’s and con’s for you to mull over!

Pro’s

• You will meet a wide range of new people.
• If you have never lived alone, you will gain a sense of independence
• Get to cook and clean for yourself
• Manage your own money
• If you like going out, there will be an abundance of drinking activities for you to partake in!
• Get up when you want, go to bed when you want, without worrying about others!
• Living near uni means you won’t have to get up as early as those living off campus
• Can stay behind after lectures etc for coffee, lunch with the people you meet very easily, without having to worry about trains/ buses/ rush hour traffic to compete with when getting yourself home.
• Lower Transport costs!
• May find it easier to find people to get a student house with next year
• Living at home can make you feel isolated from activities other students are partaking in

Con’s

• You do not get to choose who you live with! May be annoying, messy, rude, antisocial!
• May have to clean up other people’s messes.
• If you can’t cook, your diet may turn to takeaways, ready meals and convenience foods, not getting the nourishment you need!
• Student halls can be very expensive, living at home is cheaper.
• The noise. Other’s sleeping patterns may not match yours, and when you want to sleep and other’s are partying it can be very annoying. You may be on a medical course with placements that you have to get up and travel to, in which you must be presentable and work hard, whereas others may just have to roll in to their 11am media studies lecture!
• If you don’t drink, you might find that it is harder to make friends and find things to do. A lot of the halls activities revolve around drinking. If you are in your room, and others are drinking or going out, you feel a certain pressure to “not be boring” and join in, and you can end up feel terribly antisocial just sitting in your room, which can lead to you retreating further into yourself.
• People may steal your food or personal belongings.
• If you are ill, it can be hard not to be surrounded by sympathetic family!

These are just a few points, feel free to add more!