Living on campus vs. Living off campus
On campus pros: You stay in the loop of everything going on around campus; you’re within walking distance of classes, dining halls, sporting events, the gym and any meetings you may have; you form friendships with your roommate and the people on your hall or in your dorm.
“Freshman year was a lot of fun. I became really close with all of the guys that lived on my hall. We liked going out together and coming back and late “nighting” it in Pritchard.” –Andrew Milligan
On campus cons: You can only stay sane living in a 12×12 room for so long; if you happen to get a roommate you don’t like…brace yourself, it’s going to be a long year; little to no privacy; walking down the hall just to use a community shower; it’s rare your room is a comfortable temperature…it will either be a sauna or an icebox.
Off campus pros: The biggest pro has to be the independence and privacy you gain when you move off campus; your own room…and sometimes even your own bathroom; you even have a kitchen and dare I say it you can cook your own meals; you can throw parties or have people over anytime your heart desires.
Off campus cons: Well for one you’re not on campus which makes you out of the loop of a lot of things going on – I mean now that I’ve lived off campus for three years now, I think I’ve crossed the Drillfield about six times and I rarely see people I know because I walk straight from my car, to class, and back to my car again; you have a lot more responsibilities including monthly rent and bills; you also have a lot more space to clean since you’re so accustomed to your 12×12 box.
Final verdict: Experiencing on campus housing your freshman year is an irreplaceable experience, but after that moving off campus is the way to go. The sense of freedom and independence you have is one of the most important aspects of college. Living on campus may be convenient for you, but having your own place is, and will always be, better.
Eating on campus vs. eating off campus
On campus pros: The biggest plus about eating on campus is the convenience; also we are blessed to go to Virginia Tech…which offers one of the best dining facilities in the entire country – the food is SO GOOD; you can also see about 50 people you know in a matter of two minutes after entering a dining hall (this is only a pro if you feel like socializing)
“All of the dining halls have really good food. My favorite is ABP, and I like meeting my friends in between classes to grab some lunch and catch up with each other. It is really convenient.” –Caitlin Burton
On campus cons: Now if you feel like fighting someone over a table, then on campus dining is for you; also, if you feel like having spells of claustrophobia, then you can venture on over to West End around 6:00 p.m. If you want to safely and comfortably get food on campus, then you’re going to have to eat at some odd hour…3 o’clock lunch anyone?
“Dining halls can be frustrating because they’re always so crowded. You have to wait in line for your food, then you have to spend even more time looking for a table…you’ll be lucky to find one within the first five minutes of searching.” –Brian Welch
Off campus pros: You have more variety and choice if you choose to eat off campus – Chipotle, Jimmy John’s, Panera…whatever floats your boat; you’re also at less of a risk of twisting an ankle scrambling for a table to sit at.
Off campus cons: Like my Dad always says, “You would save a lot more money if you ate on campus more”; sometimes you don’t have time in between classes to go all the way off campus to get some food. I’m going to say it again just because it’s that important…it costs a lot of MONEY to eat off campus all the time (take it from someone who doesn’t have a meal plan this year…)
Final verdict: On campus dining is a lot more convenient and it also provides enough of a variety that you can get pretty much get anything you’re in the mood for. Just be sure to keep your eyes peeled at all times if you plan on going during peak hours.
Online classes vs. In-class classes
Online pros: You get to work at your own pace and can complete assignments when you have time, have the luxury of “attending” class right in the comfort of your own bed, and you can work together with students that are taking the same online class.
Online cons: Now if you’re like me (aka the best procrastinator in the world) then online classes might not be the smartest decision as I tend to put off assignments until the last possible second. It’s also hard to keep in touch with the professor via email for the entire semester.
In-class pros: Face-to-face interaction with a professor is a definite plus to in-class classes, you also get things explained to you in person and topics are more elaborated in class. Professors can become really valuable references for you in your future so never be afraid to introduce yourself and get to know your professor.
In-class cons: Well the obvious downer is waking up to go to class, getting ready, and getting to campus, also, many classes at Virginia Tech will have hundreds of students in them making it easy to get lost in the crowd. Another con is the professor…trust me you probably won’t be a fan of all of your professors.
“My biology lab was a real challenge for me because my TA had a thick accent that I had a hard time understanding. With online classes, that would never be a problem.” –Eva Delaney
Final verdict: Now this really depends on the type of person you are, but I would say in-class classes are the better way to go. Now that’s just my personal opinion, but I tend to do better and learn more when I actually have to go to a class rather than take a class on the computer. I would suggest trying both out, you’ll be able to see which one you like better.
Look how studious Kelly McEvoy looks in her in-class class!
Driving to campus vs. riding the bus
Driving pros: Even if you’re running a few minutes late, your car is still out in the parking lot patiently waiting for you. You get to blast your music on your way to class (a nice little wakeup boost), and if you’re feeling tired, feel free to stop at Starbucks on your way to class
“I used to despise driving to class, but with the addition of the parking garage, parking hasn’t been as big of a problem as it has in the past. I drive to campus everyday.” –Danni Neal
Driving cons: The number one con has got to be PARKING, you could spend 30 minutes looking for a spot and don’t you dare think about parking in a faculty/staff spot…parking services will find you; as my Dad would say, “riding the bus would save me a lot of gas money.” Even if you happen to get the best spot in the parking lot, you’ll still probably have at least a ten minute walk to your class so plan your time accordingly.
Bus pros: My Dad would be so happy with the amount of gas money I would save him if I rode the bus; you get dropped off pretty much right at your class…talk about service; you get to socialize with friends you happen to see on the bus…and hey maybe you’ll even meet a cute boy/girl.
Bus cons: You always see that one person running a few minutes late, therefore they are running down Patrick Henry after the bus. Standing out at the bus stop in the months of November, December, January, February, and let’s be honest March too (this is Blacksburg) can be downright miserable; being squished up against a total stranger when the bus is full…awkward.
“The absolute worst feeling is standing at the bus stop and seeing a bus fly by with the words ‘bus full’ flashing at you. When the weather gets cold, you would be better of walking to try and stay warm.” –Tara Meredith
Final verdict: Taking the bus seems like the more convenient option. I mean think about it, you get dropped off practically right at your building. You also get free transportation allowing you to have more gas to drive to really important places, like Christiansburg. Then again maybe I’m just saying all this so everyone will take the bus and I’ll have really good parking spots from now on.
Cram yourself on this thing with a bunch of strangers? Not my cup of tea.