The main purpose of going to college is to get an education. But it is also equally important to foster a sense of independence during these formative years.
Otherwise, you might find yourself relying on your parents for everything ranging from the mundane electric bill to the creepy nightly bath following graduation.
That is why it is so important for students to move off campus in order to foster personal growth.
It is true that the convenience of dorms is great. You can go from sleeping in bed to sleeping in class in minutes.
And not having to worry about bills is a huge advantage. I can speak from experience that it is not fun having to come up with $200 at 8 a.m. in order to avoid having your water cut off.
But that convenience and ease just isn’t how the world outside of college works. There are bills. There are commutes. There are landlords that don’t take kindly to holes in the wall.
These things are a hassle, but everyone is going to have to deal with them at one time or another, so you might as well start now and learn how to react properly to these unpleasant situations.
And don’t get me wrong, living off-campus isn’t just boot camp for a life of misery and hardship — there are actually fun parts to it too.
The lack of a resident adviser and any restrictions imposed by the Residence Hall Association affords a freedom that is extremely liberating to many people.
