Living on a college campus can be an exciting and transformative experience for many students. It provides an opportunity to immerse oneself in a vibrant community, make lifelong friendships and engage in different social activities. However, not everyone has the same circumstances or preferences when it comes to their living arrangements during college. 

When choosing not to live on a college campus, individuals may experience both advantages and disadvantages in terms of their social life and overall college experience.

Erin Vandecar, a freshman studying business administration, lives on campus. Vandecar said she didn’t actively participate in freshman events or dorm activities which made it harder for her to initially make friends, but she found that living on campus and attending in-person classes helped her.

“I’m glad I did in-person classes while staying on campus,” Vandecar said. “So that way I’m connected a lot better.” She emphasized that making genuine friendships was more challenging than she expected even though she was surrounded by people. 

Frances Valverde, a first-year business student, who doesn’t live on campus also expressed that it has been challenging to make friends. For Valverde, simply attending classes and talking to her classmates hasn’t led to sustained relationships. 

“I think from what I’ve seen, just being on campus 24/7 provides more opportunity [and] activities to do with friends,” Valverde said. “And you’re just around people more often, not in a classroom setting.”

Being around people outside of a classroom setting can help facilitate social connections. Valverde recognized that she could put more effort into staying on campus for longer periods, as she typically goes straight to class and then back home without spending additional time on campus.

She mentioned that going to the gym with friends is one of the activities she enjoys on campus, as well as a good way to meet new people. Valverde also highlighted the motivation she gets from studying at the library with someone, as it helps her stay accountable and focused on her schoolwork. These activities have played a significant role in her efforts to build and maintain friendships at CWU.

Vandecar accredits the diversity at CWU for providing many opportunities to meet people. She shared that she had recently found her core group of friends back home, which furthered her troubles in finding genuine friends at CWU. While it was easy for Vandecar to socialize in her classes, it was difficult for her to find people to hang out with outside of class time. This made staying at CWU more challenging for Vandecar, as it often led to her spending time alone in her dorm room.

Vandecar mentioned the convenience of having everything within walking distance; such as medical facilities, food options, gyms and even a food pantry. This accessibility made it easy for her to get what she needed. 

One downside for Vandecar was being away from her friends and family, and having to adapt to a new life but she has taken it as a learning experience. “Another pro could be just gaining that independence,” she said.

Vandecar also mentioned that the social scene at CWU was not very active in terms of events, which could be seen as a con for those seeking more social opportunities.

Valverde lives just five minutes away from campus. She mentioned the convenience of being close to campus and not having to worry about parking issues or potential damage to her car. Additionally, she appreciates having her own space, including a bedroom and a bathroom.

Living off-campus, just a short distance away, provides convenience, personal space and avoids parking issues but she feels it hinders her social connections.