Poll: Dorm or drive?

[Schadenfroh]

the college i plan on going to takes about 30 minutes to get to from my house. should i stay in the dorms or drive? also, is it true that the dorms is one continuas party?


HS senior btw

 

[filmmaker]

I drive nearly the same distance (Bedford to Bloomington) to go to school. Going home is so much better than going to your dorm.

 

[Soybomb]

Drive and save a few thousand dollars.

 

[amnesiac]

DEFINITELY do dorms freshman year at least. Succeeding years you can commute if you want, but I'll tell you first hand you lose a LOT of the college experience by being a commuter. Freshman year is when you'll make most of your friends.

Also, it's not always one continuous party, but keep in mind:
1) There will always be people making noise.
2) You want peace and quiet, go to the library
3) Establish firm ground rules with your roommate
4) Don't forget a towel

Other benefits for staying at a dorm include your first taste of independence, you can actually have girls over without worrying about parents, no rules except your own (to an extent), etc. If you're already super-social and can make friends in class and stuff, go ahead and save money like Soybomb said, but personally EVERYONE should have at least a year of the dorm life under their belt because it makes it that much easier to get absorbed in the school.

 

[filmmaker]

Originally posted by: amnesiac
DEFINITELY do dorms freshman year at least. Succeeding years you can commute if you want, but I'll tell you first hand you lose a LOT of the college experience by being a commuter. Freshman year is when you'll make most of your friends.

Also, it's not always one continuous party, but keep in mind:
1) There will always be people making noise.
2) You want peace and quiet, go to the library
3) Establish firm ground rules with your roommate
4) Don't forget a towel

I commuted my freshmen year of college and I came out with the same ammount of friends and school activities as any other freshmen. Granted, I did stay at my buddies dorm a couple of nights because of late events, but I don't think commuting ruined the experience.

 

[smokey7722]

Depending on your school will depend on if its one continuous party, and the same goes for the floor in your dorm. I was on a Substance and Alcohol free floor last year at RIT and it was ok, but not a continuous party as you put it. I moved off campus because I just have too much crap to keep in one tiny dorm room (I was also in a lounge last year so I have about 4x the room most people have in a normal dorm room).

 

[isaacmacdonald]

there is no question (unless of course you're po'), dorm is the way to go. I can't over emphasize the benefits of living on campus. First of all, girls. Second you interact with your peers on a much more personal level when you're actually living among them. Third, if by chance you don't dig a semester of it, just move out.

 

[filmmaker]

It's funny because at IU - Bloomington you are now forced to live on campus your first year. Sucks to be them!

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

I have gone to a community college for the first 1.5 years. Now, I am going to UW Oshkosh and have to live at least 1 semester in the dorms...bleh

 

[Beller0ph1]

Lived in a dorm for the last 3 years. You miss plenty of social activities living at home. It's just not the same.

 

[Deeko]

Never ever ever stay at home for college, unless you absolutely can't afford it.

The best situation is to live in an off-campus apartment within walking distance.

 

[Sid59]

dorms are fun. if you don't like it, move out of them. easier to move OUT of the dorms than it is to get on the list to get in after the semester started.

 

[alkemyst]

there is absolutely no way you can get the full college experience without living in dorms....people saying otherwise never lived in them....I never got the chance since I was married and the married dorms were full....not that that would have made an experience.

If you are a geek you will get no benefit from dorms....if you are even semi social and like to have fun you can find your drink of choice in dorm life....I talked to two semi-geeky friends from high school regularly that roomed together....both had a new life in the dorms with hanging out talking, meeting a new 'sneak across the kitchen' chick each week etc.

At UF the dorms were Female------kitchen------male on most floors...it wasn't unusual to see a half naked girl grab her toast or just come out of the showers (next to the kitchen) and walk down the hall with a towel on her head....each time I was up there I thought of all the opportunites. It's not a constant party though....everyone has to moderate themselves for tests and projects, but it gives you the most experience possible.

People may say 'Well an apartment you can party too"....well maybe so if you are living with all coeds.....however most apartments have one or two idiots that hate college kids and call the police regularly.

 

[NutBucket]

It also depends on the campus. My school is basically a commuter school. There's not many people left when the day is done. For me, that was fine so I'm staying at home. Sure I'm missing out on the experience but if I was at school I'd have to commute to work (same distance as commuting to school) and home is in a much nicer place then school. Personally, I'm happy living at home.

 

[tnitsuj]

Aren't you the one who wanted to wear the SS uniform for Haloween? That might affect your choice.

 

[huesmann]

Dorms, dude. If you can keep your car on campus, even better.

I guess the question you need to ask is, do your parents mind you bringing home a sorority skank to fvck on Friday night?

 

[iamme]

i vote for living in the dorms. you'll have lots of fun memories. just make sure to stay diligent with your studies

 

[mugs]

My roommate in college lived one block away from our very small campus, and he still lived in the dorm. It's just more fun.

 

[DaWhim]

should've asked in here before I made my decision. freshman living off campus.

 

[GTaudiophile]

I met most of my college friends in my freshman dorm. You're a fool if you don't do it for at least a year.

 

[hdeck]

live in a dorm freshman year. live off campus every year after that.

 

[spartacuskzm]

Dorm without a doubt. I went to San Diego State University and spent my first year in the dorms, second year off campus and third year in the frat house...what a blast.

Dorms are great for convenience and also making friends, some of which will undoubtedly last a lifetime.

Good luck.

 

[007bond]

Originally posted by: Deeko
Never ever ever stay at home for college, unless you absolutely can't afford it.

The best situation is to live in an off-campus apartment within walking distance.

I agree. I think you are missing out on part of the "college experience" if you don't stay in the dorms for at least one year.

 

[deerslayer]

Dorms.

 

[kranky]

I did both. While I agree with earlier posts that being in the dorms is a new experience, I do not recommend that *everyone* do it. I saw too many people who couldn't handle it and dropped out.

The ones who saw being in the dorms as freedom from parents, no rules, have all the sex you can get, drink without fear, etc. were the ones who had trouble. They were so excited about all that they couldn't discipline themselves. I saw people say "why study when I can get wasted?" For people who have trouble saying no, or have trouble forcing themselves to do the work, I don't think the dorms are a good solution.