Should Students Live on or off Campus - Essay Example

Living on campus Among many scholars and parents, debate on where should live has continued even up to This is due to each side holding onto a different opinion supporting their respective arguments besides trying to justify them based on benefits. Some argue on basis of expenditures whereas the other on what a student will have to attain or loose based on the choice one makes concerning where to live. Loosing or gaining in most cases is in terms of education as well as social maturity, which one attains when mingling with other people of the same age. Based on the two choices concerning where to live, staying on the campus is more advantageous to the students than when one is out of its surrounding. Living on campus helps students to engage more with the academic surroundings. Students living on campus spend most of their time in schoolroom environment (“University at Buffalo”). This helps them to interact among themselves and their professors thus allowing for an introduction part to university-level learning. This however leads to the development of different ideas, views and believes on educationally based issues. Classroom environment provides the student with an organized and continuous learning opportunity. Interaction amongst students and the professors mostly in lecture halls or classrooms allows for information transmission that is essential in shaping one’s individual thoughts. There are many learning resource available for the campus resident students. They have easy accessibility to study groups, computer labs, recreational centers, library online systems as well as internet among other resources. In addition, they are capable of both studying in their respective sleeping places with minimal or without undue disturbances from noise or any other kinds of distractions. Staying on campus in most cases leads to encouraging performances. The on campus students have more time to participate in extracurricular activities as compared to off campus ones. Extracurricular activities are essential and contribute to both physical and psychological development of an individual (“University at Buffalo”). This activities mentor talented students as well as help others discover their talents because it is through practice that one realizes his or her potentials or goals. In addition, these practices are cheap and readily available for students who stay on campus because they have enough time besides availability of the required facilities, equipments and tools. Extracurricular activities are a supplement of class lessons, for instance, physical education commonly used to reduce stress as well as making one fit. Hence, enabling students to implement what they have so far learned in a class settings adequately. This is specially when involving themselves in activities like choir, debate, intramurals and drama club among others. Conversely, off students could find it inconvenient to participate in such activities that mostly take part in the evening hence they have to get to their residential on time. Living on campus allows for total interaction not only within the campus but also in the neighborhood community as well. This is because staying on campus does not mean that a student cannot socialize with the outside world especially people residing at the institution’s neighborhood. Students can volunteer as well as frequent dancing or partying events off campus, which are important in learning and experiencing culture of the community at large. Moreover, interaction between students or peers as well as with professors is a major stimulant inside the university’s settings, much experienced by on campus students. This builds a strong foundation meant for success at university level. This is because in the course of socializing students learn from each other’s diverse cultures, an activity that encompasses socializing. Interaction of peers with the same interest leads to formation of group activities, discussions as well as creation of teams based on diverse aspects not only in the campus but also with a nearby community. Hence, prompting the involved parties establish life-long friendships, which makes on campus life more lively and motivating (“Kent State University”). Students who live on campus cut down their cost of living as compared to off campus students (“University of Hawai’i”). The off campus students incur high costs while commuting to and from the campus especially when university has not catered for commuting students’ fee meant for public means. In addition to, if one has a car he or she has to pay for its insurance, petrol and parking charges besides maintenance fees. This is contrally to on campus students who just take a walk to their respective classrooms or wherever they want to be within the campus. Students who live off campus have to spend some money on daily basis in purchasing their foods as well as in cooking, which might be extremely challenging a struggling person financially. Extra expenses are also evident when settling their utility costs as well as internet charges because off campus residential may not cover them. Hence, accessing different materials as well as important databases are too costly or all together bothering them (“University of Idaho”). On the other part, the university covers all the expenses of students living inside the campus. Students who live within the campus access different university facilities within the shortest time possible, hence saving most of their time (“Kent State University”). It is hard for students living on campus to miss classes because they just reside within, such that they are able to manage their time without any problem. In addition, library and other technical support facilities that a campus offers are within, hence students do not need much time to access them. On the part of off campus students, this could mean traveling or walking for some longer distances to access the campus, which could take them some time. Moreover, on campus students enjoy already prepared food thus saving much time. This results to good performance for students who live on campus because they usually have a lot of time to learn not only as groups but also when one I taking individual studies. US campuses are always alert on security matters within and around their respective environs. The public officers patrol campuses everyday throughout the year to ensure that students and staff enjoy peaceful environs free from any potential threats. These officers are professionals who possess a class “D” security License from the Security Officer Training Course hence guaranteeing high security (“Stetson University”). University administration center also provides full services such as regular campus patrol, safety inspections, parking enforcement and escort services after every hour (“Stetson University”). Furthermore, the on campus accommodation facilities have safety information on fire. Through that, the students who live on campus assured of their safety every time of the day throughout their course. Students who live on campus enjoy fully religious activities provided by US’ universities. Activities such as praying, choir, praise and worship are meant to meet the needs as well as benefit the spiritual lives of the university community at large. US universities provide a good atmosphere of religious and spiritual life by assisting, supporting and offering facilities through the Office of the student Activities (“Northeastern University”). Through this, all the on campus students enjoy different opportunities intended to explore own faith and religious questions (“University of Evansville”). Additionally, religious activities prepare students fully for life in the actual world where religion is an important factor in political community and transnational affairs. Besides that, it builds interpersonal relationships as well as individual quests for meaning and purpose. Whenever students across cultures interact, this challenges their beliefs and value systems. This influences students’ intellectual growth besides skill development as required (“Duke Today”). US universities ensure comprehensive services to on and off campus students. This is through the University Counseling Center (UCC) and the University Health Center (UHC) departments. These two departments offer health promotion programs, student health care and counseling services (University of Albany). However, the on campus students enjoy the services in case of a life threatening medical emergency after service hours. This is through calling their nurse who can either give advice or attend to the sick depending on his or her condition. Alternatively, they can attend to local hospital emergency rooms that are always operating (“Middle Tennessee State University”). Based on my opinion, university or college students should live on campus due to numerous benefits one can enjoy while within or at the institution’s vicinity. In addition, those residing within the campuses’ reach live peaceful lives besides ample environs for interaction. Moreover, they are able to utilize varied availed facilities or facilities thus manage to perform even better compared to those residing in other places. Work Cited “Annual Security Report and Campus Safety Guide” Stetson University. 16th September 2013. Web. 17th March 2014. Anya, Kamenetz. E The College Experience, for ‘Nontraditional Students. New York Times. 29Th August 2013. Web.17Th March 2013. “Centre for Spirituality, Dialogue and Service.” Northeastern University. N.d. Web. 17th march 2014. “Executive Summary: UH Hilo Student Housing Needs Survey.” University of Hawaii. October 2011. Web. 17Th March 2014. “International Students on Campus Benefit Their U.S. Classmates.” Duke Today. 5th June 2013. Web. 17th March 2014. < http://today.duke.edu/2013/06/internationalengage> “Off-Campus Costs.” University of Idaho. n.d. Web. 17Th March 2014. Read More