You got into the college you wanted. Only problem is that it's in your hometown or close to where you live. Or is that a problem? Now you're facing the talk with your parents about where you're going to live next year. You know they're going to want you to live at home. I went through the same thing myself and living at home is not all fun and games my friend. In fact I'd say its the absolute opposite of fun and games because of all that happens on campus, which you'll miss because you're at home. However, it isn't all bad. Both have benefits and negatives. It comes down to whatever suits you.
Money
Home:
Obviously, you have more cash handy than your dorm-living counterpart. The money you'd spend on accommodation/rent/bills can now but spent on other stuff for college. You will save loads by commuting to college. if you don't drive even better. Buses are cheap and car pools are even cheaper. Sure you'll look like a tool being driven to school like some pimple-faced teenager but at least you're saving some dough. If you do drive then you'll be the designated driver on every night out because you'll have to be driving home anyway. It's more difficult to pull on a night out as well because its not like you're going to bring someone back to your parents house, am I right?
Campus Dorm:
You'll probably have to get a part-time job or if you're lucky you'll get an allowance from the parents and you'll have to learn how to manage your money so you aren't broke all the time. its doable, its just annoying. Although, you might be able to acquire certain things from campus. Like butter and sugar sachets from the canteen and toilet paper from the bathrooms. You clever frugal little thief you.
Food
Home:
You really don't need to worry about it. The food-shopping will be done for you and you'l probably come home from college to a beautiful home-cooked meal. You'll have the option of making yourself gourmet lunches so that you won't have to risk the cheap and questionable food items on offer in the canteen.
Campus Dorm:
You'll learn how to cook for yourself, or least you'll discover just how amazing and versatile noodles, pasta and grilled cheese sandwiches are. If you go home at the weekends you might even be able to rob some food from the fridge to bring in with you, or convince your mum to make you a lasagna that you can freeze to bring in with you during the week. Less wash up, time and effort for you.
Support
Home:
You can use your parents as free therapists for all your college problems. Stressed out about exams? You might get a hug and some homemade cookies. You won't have to do your own washing or big household chores. Stuck on a night out and don't have any cash to get you home. All you have to do is call up your parents to bail you out. If you lived away you'd have to use real smarts to save yourself. You still have responsibilities but your parents have your back. Plus if you have a pet at home, think how sucky it would be if you were away from them all the time.
Campus Dorm:
You'll become more self-reliant. You can learn to rely on yourself to get you out of situations. True you might get homesick but that is what Skype is for. You'll learn to take care of yourself. And if you need more support, that's what your friends are for. They could bail you out if you needed them to. And if your stressed about college, they probably are as well. So you can go out and comfort each other over tea or cocktails.
Social Life
Home:
You won't be able to join many clubs or societies or even go out that much when you live far away from the campus. And if you go to a college where you don't have any friends from home it is that much harder to make new friends because they all get to know each other at dorm parties that you can't go to. But you might be able to see your friends from home more often. And its not like you'll never go out. You just might miss out on some of the gossip which you can catch up on with Facebook or lunch in the canteen.
Campus Dorm:
You will join all of the societies and will probably never go to them and either spend all your time in the college bar or in your room watching Netflix. You will know exactly whats going on, who's with whom and what everyone is getting up to. You could take up a language, or skill or sport. You have more opportunities and time to do that when you don't have to commute to and from campus everyday.
Freedom
Home:
Their house, their rules. You may still be subject to their house rules, including having a curfew. Limits dating possibilities and having fun with friends opportunities. Also they way become extremely overbearing and try to convince you to join a class you have no interest in doing and constantly questioning all your decisions. Which in turn makes you question why you even chose to stay at home.
Campus Dorm:
If you move out you'll be in charge of yourself. You can go out when you like, meet up with as many people you like, go out until the early hours of the morning if you want and no one can tell you off. Which might seem great at the beginning, but will probably suck if you've missed all your lectures because you preferred sleeping in and so close to exams you're cramming like crazy.
Privacy
Home:
Yeah your parents are there, and maybe even siblings, but hopefully you have your own room. Your on personal cave where you can do what you like and stay up as long as you like. You can spend ages in your bathroom without people getting furious with you. You don't have to pay the bills so does it really matter to you if you spend twenty minutes in a scalding hot shower? Not in the grand scheme of things. You've got to enjoy these luxuries while you still can. But, yeah you probably won't be able to entertain overnight guests, if you get my drift.
Campus Dorms:
You might be sharing a room with a complete stranger. Awkward. Especially if one of you gets lucky. If you have a single room one other thing: the bathrooms. Communal bathrooms. With loads of people your age. Not all fun and games indeed. No singing in the shower for you. Plus the water will probably be freezing unless you get up at a ridiculous hour in order to wash yourself in some kind of comfort.
Comfort
Home:
You have all of your stuff there. Plus there's heating at home you don't have to pay for and maybe even a real fire place! Yeah you have to put up with some of your family craziness but you're warm and cosy and comfortable.
Campus Dorms:
You have to pack up all your stuff and then unpack again. You'll probably forget something important like towels and then have to spend a fortune on new ones. True you can get all cosy with a billion blankets and a cuddle buddy. So its not all bad.
