USC Housing Off-Campus vs USC Housing On-Campus

Off-Campus USC Housing Pros

Privacy: Not fond of the idea of having a roommate? If you rent an apartment with some friends or rent a room, you probably won’t have to share the bedroom with more people.

Your own schedule: You will be able to eat and sleep at the times that suit you best without having to go to the cafeteria or follow dorm hours. Just make sure to get to your classes on time!

A quiet environment: An off-campus space is probably less noisy, and you’ll have fewer interruptions than the ones you would have living on campus. This could help you concentrate better when you study, for example.

More freedom: You will not have adults around you to supervise your activities. And, at the end of the day, you will feel more separated from the university, which could help you relax a bit more.

Less money: If you organize yourself well, this option could be cheaper than living in an on-campus USC Housing, according to USA Today College.

Cons of off-campus USC Housing

More responsibilities: You will have to take care of buying and preparing your food, cleaning the common spaces and paying the bills every month. However, even though this may take away leisure or study time, this is not completely negative, since you will be learning really valuable life lessons.

Transportation: You may need your own vehicle to go to campus every day. Consider fuel costs and repairs, if needed. Also, you may not have enough time to go back home between classes, so you will have to wait on campus instead.

Furniture: You will need to buy your own furniture, kitchenware, cleaning and bath products, which could be a big investment at the beginning.

Social life: Unless you are sharing the apartment with other students, you may feel a bit detached from the social activities that may arise on campus.

Now that you know the advantages and disadvantages, evaluate them according to your goals and your personality before making a decision.

University residences are a great place to make friends, find classmates and enjoy college more. Here are the pros of living in them:

Pros of on-campus USC Housing

Studying might be easier: Those who live on campus have the ability to be in direct contact with many other students of the same year or more advanced, and they will be able to use the study rooms, which they would not be able to enjoy in other locations.

It’s safer: In case of unforeseen circumstances, there will always be someone in the residence who will have to be in charge of the residents’ safety, a not so common factor when you share a flat or rent an off-campus apartment.

You will save money on most household chores: In on-campus USC Housing, you can do your chores and study, as well as have a greater deal of independence and social life.

Easy access to internet and photocopiers: Both services are very useful in terms of facilitating the work of the students.

Cons of on-campus USC Housing

You will not eat healthy food: Residences advocate healthy eating and healthy habits, but they provide students with unhealthy menus most of the time.

Lack of privacy: If you are used to having your own room in your parents' house and you suddenly have to share a room with others, this may require time for you to adjust.

Bedrooms can be very noisy: Sometimes you can contribute to the noise if you find yourself studying with your friends in the living room, if you meet in another friend’s room or if you listen to music.