There are many decisions you have to make before pursuing an advanced degree. For instance, you will have to decide which institution is the best for you, which city, town or state you would want to spend your college years in, the scholarships and grants you want to apply to and so on.
However, after you have decided which college to study at, one of the most consequential decisions that you will make is the type of accommodation you’ll be living in. You can either live on campus in a dorm or opt for off campus apartments.
Today you can find great off campus housing facilities near Bloomsburg University and many other prominent institutions, which has increased the popularity of off campus residence. Owing to the greater space and privacy offered by off-campus apartments, an increasing number of students are opting for it.
- Larger living accommodations: Anyone who has lived in a dorm room would know that they do not have much space to work with, and daily living quarters can be very tight. On the other hand, off campus Bloomsburg student housing facilities are a lot more spacious. You can even opt to rent a suite with two or three bedrooms and choose to live with roommates to share the expense and the experience.
- More privacy: Several students prefer to have more privacy than a typical dorm room can offer. After all, not everyone is comfortable sharing their bedroom and bathroom. Fortunately, off campus apartments usually come with individual beds and baths. You can sleep and study in peace in your bedroom, and socialize with the roommates in common areas like the living room and kitchen.
Moving into Bloomsburg off campus housing apartments and similar facilities can be both exciting and overwhelming. The best way to avoid unnecessary stress and complexities in the process would be to plan. Here are a few pointers that can help you smoothly transition from college dorms to off campus apartments:
Avoid the Student Rush
The flexibility of moving in and out is among the biggest advantages of moving to an off campus. In case your chosen off-campus apartment is available sooner, it would be prudent to arrive a few days early so that you can easily get settled in and steer clear of the chaos that campus “move-in day” ensues.
Make a Moving Checklist
If you are going to have roommates then you should talk to them over the summer about what items you would need for the apartment. After discussing the items, the list can be evenly divided between the roommates.
Consider a Furnished Apartment
Unless you are moving into a fully furnished apartment, you may have to bring your bed, desk and/ or dresser to the apartment. These items can take up a lot of space in a moving van. Moreover, it is not easy to move a queen mattress up a flight of stairs or through a tight hallway. To save yourself and your parents from this trouble, consider renting a fully furnished or at least semi-furnished apartment. These apartments are likely to have all the basic furniture you would need to settle down.
Pay your Bills on Time
When you are living in an off campus apartment, you would be responsible for managing your bills. It is vital to pay bills on time to avoid incurring late fees. You may write bill due dates on a calendar or even set auto-draft payments to avoid late payments. In case you are to collect money from the roommates to pay off bills, it is better to start doing so about a week before the actual due date, to make sure that you have the money on time.
Be Smart About Preparing Food
Grocery shopping and cooking for yourself are likely to be among the biggest adjustments for many college students. Students are accustomed to having a well-stocked fridge and pantry back home with their family. To make the transition to living by yourself simpler, you need to create a proper budget plan and start by purchasing basic food staples. Instead of stocking on junk food, prioritize buying vegetables, fruits and protein. You may even create a weekly grocery list for all of your meals for the week to make things easier. If possible, you can cook meals in larger quantities so that they last for a couple of days. This will help you to make the most out of your ingredients, time and money.
Maintain a Cleaning Schedule
Many college students have a packed schedule. But amidst your college work and social life, you also need to take time to keep your apartment clean. No matter whether you live alone or with roommates, it is better to create a cleaning routine and stick to it. You should prioritize the spaces that have to be cleaned regularly over the areas that have to be cleaned just once in a few weeks. It is prudent to especially ensure to wipe down the kitchen and bathroom countertops, clear out the refrigerator and take out the garbage regularly.
Decorate the Apartment
Due to the compact space of a dorm room, you wouldn’t be able to personalize it too much as per your will, and hence it may never truly feel like a home. On the other hand, off campus Bloomsburg student housing apartments have ample space which would be free to furnish and decorate. Even simple decorations like movie posters, photo frames, and throw pillows can make the space look more inviting and feel like home.
Transition from on campus dorm rooms to off campus housing comes with a lot of freedom, as well as responsibilities. These apartments will provide you with more privacy compared to a dorm. You may even have friends over without having to worry about dorm rules and curfew. Staying in your college town over the holidays is also possible. However, to ensure that off campus living is as smooth as possible, you also need to meet your responsibilities, like sticking to your budget and paying your bills on time. With proper planning, you can surely enjoy your off campus life to the fullest.