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Rank: Senior Student
Groups: Member
Joined: 3/5/2008
Posts: 115
Location: Winnipeg!
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I know it's not as big of a deal if you live in Ontario since you could leave and also be home in a few hours.
But regardless, I was hoping to start a discussion about the pros cons of leaving for university vs. staying at home!
also any tips or advice about packing/preparing to leave?! What kind of things do you need or can be left at home...
post away
• Everytime you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing •
Western Babyyy!
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Rank: Senior Student
Groups: Member
Joined: 3/5/2008
Posts: 101
Location: Kingston, Ontario
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I found the two lists that Queen's Residences provided were good for me as a start. What you might want to bringWhat you should not bringThe thing that they don't have on the list that I brought and found most useful was a toolbox with various tools. Particularly a screwdriver (some of my floor mates were borrowing that often to take apart and repair things). Of course, that's not the kind of thing that you can't just buy upon getting there, anyway.
4th Year Computer Science student at Queen's University finishing in April, 2008; starting a Masters in Human Computer Interaction shortly afterward (also at Queen's). e-mail: tim [at] timginn [dot] com
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Rank: Senior Student
Groups: Member
Joined: 3/4/2008
Posts: 120
Location: Thornhill, ON, Canada
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Pros for leaving for univ:
-I can come back to my rez @ like 3 a.m. in the morning. 'Cuz usually, when I'm at home, I need my mom to pick me up.
-Experience.
-You can gain independence.
-Make a lot of friends, since you're on campus most of the time.
Cons:
-I guess.. if you're lazy, and if you end up in a rez or off-campus housing where you need to do the cleaning yourself, your room might get really messy.
-You have to do the laundry yourself. Or, carry the gigantic laundry bag home on the weekends.
University of Waterloo '11
Honours Computer Science, Co-op
Biology Minor
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Rank: Student Body President
Groups: Member
Joined: 3/5/2008
Posts: 1,728
Location: Wilfrid Laurier University
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Unless it's not an option for financial reasons, I would always recommend going away to university. It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that will shape you for the rest of your life.
-Stringer
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Rank: Student Council
Groups: Member
Joined: 3/5/2008
Posts: 400
Location: Paris, Ontario
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Pros
- New experience
- increased independence (If your living in a traditional residence, your not really making your own meals, paying bills each month etc, so your basically getting a taste of being independent)
- Being away from your parents (if you don't particularly get along with them)
- Making new friends (I think also, even if you live off campus, you still have as much opportunity to make friends as your peers who live on campus do)
- Better access to school facilities, i.e. recreation activities: pool, fitness centre etc.
Cons
- Leaving current friends and family (If they are important people in your life)
- The Cost
- Cramped living conditions (in your actual room)
- May not get along with roomates
- Meals may become boring if there is a lack of choice at your University
- Distractions (Yes, its great not having your parents arounds at University, but activities outside of university can cause distractions that can sometimes seriously affect your studies, and if your not mature enough to make smart choices it's sometimes better having your parents around, as much as you don't like it. Sorry, but most of your university friends when asking you to come out to a party with them, are not going to care that you have to study)
Success is not the key to happiness, happiness is the key to success. If you love what you do in life, you will be a success!!
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Rank: Student Council
Groups: Member
Joined: 3/5/2008
Posts: 400
Location: Paris, Ontario
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When trying to find the cons to living on campus, never look to the actual institutions to give you them. Obviously it is their job to sell the experience of living on campus. So with every negative, they struggle to turn it into a positive. They want more of your money, of course living on campus is going to sound wonderful coming from them. I recently participated in a Brock Chat online, I asked the Brock Student what was one bad thing about her residence building, she responded by saying that "She didn't enjoy doing her own laundry." That had nothing do with the residence building, that's her own personal flaw. They are trying to sell you the experience, and are obviously bias. I find it interesting though, that the majority of people I am friends with, who attended university for the first time last year, are now in their next year, moving back home or choosing to live off campus.
Success is not the key to happiness, happiness is the key to success. If you love what you do in life, you will be a success!!
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Rank: Senior Student
Groups: Member
Joined: 3/4/2008
Posts: 112
Location: Richmond Hill
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People might be moving back home or living off campus because it's harder to get into residence if you're not in first year. I don't know anyone who didn't actually enjoy their time in residence. In fact, the people I know who chose not to go into residence (as a personal wish not because of financial problems) really regret it.
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Rank: Frosh
Groups: Member
Joined: 3/5/2008
Posts: 6
Location: Markdale
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In my experience I have found alot of people live in residence for the first year to get accustomed to the school, meet friends etc. A pro for living in residence is that you are exposed to so many people right off..not just people in your program so it would be quite easy to make friends Living close to campus and having appointed people to look after you if you have concerns is a definitely upside. I definitely feel safer and more comfortable moving away from home into residence. Being from a small town it isn't possible for me to go to school for the program I wish to go to and still live at home. Living at home and attended school would be awesome considering school is so expensive. I think a lot of people room with friends their second year of college due to expenses and you have a bit more freedom. It is also fun to live with a bunch of friends...or so you think in the beginning!
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Rank: Student Body President
Groups: Member
Joined: 3/5/2008
Posts: 1,728
Location: Wilfrid Laurier University
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alys98 wrote:When trying to find the cons to living on campus, never look to the actual institutions to give you them. Obviously it is their job to sell the experience of living on campus. So with every negative, they struggle to turn it into a positive. They want more of your money, of course living on campus is going to sound wonderful coming from them. I recently participated in a Brock Chat online, I asked the Brock Student what was one bad thing about her residence building, she responded by saying that "She didn't enjoy doing her own laundry." That had nothing do with the residence building, that's her own personal flaw. They are trying to sell you the experience, and are obviously bias. I find it interesting though, that the majority of people I am friends with, who attended university for the first time last year, are now in their next year, moving back home or choosing to live off campus. There's a big difference between living in residence for first year and living in campus all four years. I know very few people who lived in residence after first year, yet they wouldn't trade that first year in residence for anything. Residence is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I wouldn't pass on it unless you have to for financial reasons.
-Stringer
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Rank: Frosh
Groups: Member
Joined: 3/5/2008
Posts: 7
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Pros of Living on Campus:
- Will probably make more/closer friends
- Forces you to be independent and do things for yourself
- More freedom
- It's a once in a lifetime experience...
Cons of Living on Campus:
- Cost...at least $8000 a year!
- Missing family/friends from home
- Doing laundry
- Difficulty in going all the way back home
- Food
- Dorm rooms
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Rank: Senior Student
Groups: Member
Joined: 3/4/2008
Posts: 91
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I've decided on going to a university away from home. The thought of all the money it will cost scares me, but i'm willing to handle some debt. I think I need to leave and have some adventures. Defintely also need some space from my family. mostly, i'm just ready for some change.
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Rank: Frosh
Groups: Member
Joined: 3/5/2008
Posts: 6
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I'd love to do that, but it just costs so much to live on your own and pay for school, and a car if you live further away. I am just staying at home until I have finished my bachelor's then moving out to my own play when I am done. I just don't want too many students loans.
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Rank: Student Council
Groups: Member
Joined: 3/4/2008
Posts: 445
Location: Hamilton
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I urge all of you to seriously consider living in residence for your first year. It is such a phenomenal experience which trumps any possible cons (like crap food, small room, whatever) I know people that live in barely liveable triple rooms at Mac and people that have to eat Brock food every day and they wouldn't trade it for anything. It shapes you so much as a person and makes you truly become independent.
1 We are from Mac! 2 A little bit louder! 3 I still can't hear you! 4 more more more...
McMaster Class of 2011
Combined Honours Political Science and Philosophy
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Rank: Frosh
Groups: Member
Joined: 3/6/2008
Posts: 6
Location: Canada
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I would recomend leaving, but that is coming from a grade 12 student who hasn't left yet. I'm moving probably July to start school in september. I would recommend mixing bowls...they're good for everything.
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Rank: Student Council
Groups: Member
Joined: 3/4/2008
Posts: 445
Location: Hamilton
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Don't bring a TV or VCR/DVD! Your computer with give you any entertainment like that you will need and believe me you won't have time to do much of that anyway. If you do have time you'll be out with friends so trust me and leave these things at home.
1 We are from Mac! 2 A little bit louder! 3 I still can't hear you! 4 more more more...
McMaster Class of 2011
Combined Honours Political Science and Philosophy
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Rank: Valedictorian
Groups: Member
Joined: 3/5/2008
Posts: 537
Location: London (UWO)
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A hole-punch: most course notes are on the internet, so you will be doing a lot of printing... you'll need a hole-punch so you can put all those notes somewhere safe.
Honours BMSc Specialization in Medical Science UWO '09
Bachelor of Pharmacy Alberta '13 ???
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Rank: Frosh
Groups: Member
Joined: 3/6/2008
Posts: 13
Location: Quebec
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This is a fantastic topic.
Why is it that many people leave residence for 2nd year? Is it for more privacy?
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Rank: Frosh
Groups: Member
Joined: 3/7/2008
Posts: 1
Location: North York, Ontario
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pros cons of leaving for university vs. staying at home
LEAVING
PROs
- can be more active and participant than before; rather than to stay alone (human don't like to be alone)
- state of freedom (no more guardians = "I" am "Mine" now)
- reduced amount of stress in a way (noone is there to misunderstand home-life habits and doings: reduced conflicts)
- learn the "how-to" about living life through experiences, duties, mistakes, etc. (noone can take care of your mistakes now)
- be more mature and independent. Meaning; learn to know how to blame oneself than others (basically the same point as the one on top)
CONs
- with negative consideration, more amount of stress can be gained than before (need to do everything with own strenghth)
- may be more busy (Before: school work Now: school work + "home" work get it? ahah.. what that's like the lamest joke ever)
- feel depressed and disappointments (we usually don't realize when we're young, that there are certain things that still can't be done well-enough with the best attitude and contributions)
- finding limitations (this is just an adding-on to the top)
- too much freedom (with a trick to parents about leaving and doing the best, can either give up on life or go out to do whatever he/she wants to do)
Conclusion: May learn more than what can be taught, and even learn things that can never be taught through education; but may take hard work, volition and patience to learn (can bring down the status quo to worse).
STAYING
PROs
when:
f(x) = Cons about Leaving
-f(x) = Pros about Staying
CONs
when:
f(x) = Pros about Leaving
-f(x) = Cons about Staying
Conclusion: I am definately not the type of guy who should go out to live on my own. (laziness)
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Rank: Student Council
Groups: Member
Joined: 3/5/2008
Posts: 400
Location: Paris, Ontario
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If living in residence is too expensive for you, also consider living in an apartment with a few other people. You don't have to live right in a freaking residence building to get the experience of 1. Being independent 2. Meeting new friends 3. Having new experiences.
Often you will have a similar experience while avoiding having the University screw you over for more of your money, (If you are sharing an apartment or house type apartment, it is often cheaper). You will be able to make new friends through your program and through your roomates and their friends (No different than residence). You will have even more independence as you will be paying rent and (possibly other utilities) montly, you will have to make your own food (This will also give you more of an option of what you eat, and you can avoid repetitive meals from the University), oh, and making your own meals will let you save more money by not having to buy a huge meal plan, and you will also be able to choose what you buy, so you can buy things that are cheaper or on sale to save money. You will also have more freedom living in your own apartment, therefore allowing you to become more independent, but it is more of a responsibility.
I don't really agree that living in residence is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, as throughout your life you will have lots of opportunities to make new friends, be independent and have new experiences. You will still make new friends in University whether or not you live in residence. The people you meet in your program will introduce you to other people and so on. Even though you don't live in residence, you can get involved in other things at the university to meet new friends. Just living in residence isn't going to make you new friends. You need to actually approach people. Making friends, does take some work, they won't just fall into your lap.
If you are that concerned with being independent and meeting new friends, but you are forced to live at home because of financial reasons, then just tell your parents to let you become more independent. Get mom, to stop making you supper, and packing your lunch, and get Dad to leave a light on, if you end up coming home later because you were out with your friends. Do your own laundry, etc. It used to be the parents responsibility to teach their kids how to be independent, but now, instead, parents and kids pay an institution thousands of dollars to take on the responsibility of showing kids how to be independent. If you want to be independent, it doesn't take a university residence to learn how to do it.
Success is not the key to happiness, happiness is the key to success. If you love what you do in life, you will be a success!!
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Rank: Frosh
Groups: Member
Joined: 3/8/2008
Posts: 11
Location: Canada
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I don't really have the option of staying home, I believe my choice school is about 3500km away, and the other is four hours in the car and two on the ferry.
But as for packing things, take a bed, desk, clothing and whatnot. Only the true necessities.
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