It's no secret that dorming is an expensive component of college; with the cost increasing every year, more students are looking for alternatives to living on campus.
The cost of sharing a small dorm room for eight months would cover the cost for students to live in a house or apartment. Furthermore, a house or apartment provides more privacy and independence while not sharing a bedroom with a roommate.
"I moved into a house this summer and it was the best decision ever," said Nicholas Schmidt, a junior exercise science major, who said that living off campus is a worthwhile experience.
After students experience dorm life, some think back to the happy posed college student on the residence hall pamphlet when they made their choice. The student on the pamphlet was smiling, whereas most students are never fully satisfied with their dorming situations.
"I sometimes get irritated with sharing a bedroom just for the sake of not having much privacy," said Kelly Wong, a junior interdisciplinary social sciences major.
There are some benefits to on-campus living, including proximity to campus, surplus of parking, not having to pay utilities or a monthly rent, and closeness to friends and campus resources.
On the other hand, residence halls don't allow for the freedoms students seek, according to Schmidt. Many students enjoy being able to throw a party in their own house, keep a pet in their apartment, and not having to pack up and leave at the start of every break.
According to Katie Wangerman, a junior geography major, many of the inconveniences of campus living evolve from a lack of privacy and a need to share most utilities.
"The biggest downfall about living in the dorms is sharing a bathroom with so many girls," Wangerman said.
Other students dislike having to plan their social lives around quiet hours. Instead of worrying about angering their RA or neighbors, students choose to move off campus for the sake of being able to have guests whenever they wish.
"All residents and guests are required to abide by reasonable standards of noise regulations 24 hours a day," said Brian Haggerty, a staff associate with the University Residence Halls and Apartments.
Smoking students have the freedom of being able to smoke in their own space when they live off campus, compared to having to stand 50 feet from the dorms in the middle of January.
For a shared double bedroom, students pay $5,360 per year in the Ellicott Complex and $6,188 for a large double on South Campus. Single rooms cost $6,308, triple rooms cost $5,076, quads cost $4,580.00 and quads with a bath cost $5,238 per year, according to the University Residence Halls and Apartments Web site.
Students who divide the costs of dorming by eight months find that they are paying between $572.50 and $788.50 per month to live in a small room with at least one other person - the same cost that students could pay for a two-bedroom apartment. Comparing on-campus costs to off-campus, many students find it to be too expensive to continue living on campus as upperclassmen.
"For $300 a month, I live in a four-bedroom house where I have my own bedroom, my own bathroom and my own small kitchen," said Steve Dietz, a senior business major. Dietz pays $3,600 plus utilities per year for his space - far less than any on-campus option.
According to Dietz, off-campus housing rates can vary, depending on the location, quality and number of people sharing a space.
Matthew Halicki, a junior business major, believes that the benefits of year-round renting can be convenient for students. For Halicki, dorming is more expensive than living in his off-campus apartment, which costs him $2,640 for 12 months.
" I live in a four-bedroom house on South Campus and pay $220 per month for rent," Halicki said.
Students looking to get off campus can visit UB's off-campus housing Web site for more information on how to get started, how to find a place, and tips for dealing with landlords: www.OffCampusHousing.buffalo.edu.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
