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Rank: Frosh
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Joined: 3/8/2008
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I hear that residence is a great choice for first-years, but should one stay in residence for the whole time they spend as a full-time student? or would it be better to skip the residence for the first-year, to help out financially?
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Rank: Student Body Vice-President
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Location: Kingston and Toronto
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If there is any way you can afford it, even if you need to get a loan from OSAP or elsewhere, I would strongly recommend it.
Uschi
Queen's '10
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Rank: Frosh
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Location: Oshawa
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I heard it is a great experience/ way to meet new people in your first year, but it can become rather pricey (especially with meal plans). Most people I know that went to university stayed in residence for first year, but opted to rent a house with some friends, or find an affordable apartment in later years.
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Rank: Frosh
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The university I am going to provides residence, but the students can only stay in them from September to the end of exams in December, then they have to be gone for the break, and once again cannot stay in them during the summer. Are most residences like that? Based on that, I would say that renting a room in a house or an apartment would be more feasible and logical. You can live there year round, without all the hassle of moving in and out, and it can be relatively cheaper than living in residence. Besides, it's also an option to split on some of the extras such as some of the food or meals.
Also, living in student housing (not residence) is still a great way to meet and get to know other students!
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Rank: Student Body Vice-President
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Location: Kingston and Toronto
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candace0203 wrote:The university I am going to provides residence, but the students can only stay in them from September to the end of exams in December, then they have to be gone for the break, and once again cannot stay in them during the summer. Are most residences like that? Based on that, I would say that renting a room in a house or an apartment would be more feasible and logical. You can live there year round, without all the hassle of moving in and out, and it can be relatively cheaper than living in residence. Besides, it's also an option to split on some of the extras such as some of the food or meals.
Also, living in student housing (not residence) is still a great way to meet and get to know other students! Yeah I am pretty sure all residences are like that. IF you do need to stay during Christmas (can't afford to go home, etc) you fill out a form and they let you stay. You need to be gone at the end of your exams in April though, and most leases for apartments/houses around campuses start in April and end the next April so you can move your stuff out of rez and into your new place.
Uschi Queen's '10
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Rank: Frosh
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Location: Saskatchewan
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I don't think all universities kick you out over the breaks. Or at least mine doesn't. I actually plan to move into residence for the summer because it works out to be cheaper than a normal appartment... mainly because the meal plan isn't mandatory in the summer
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Rank: Frosh
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Location: Vancouver
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I'm waiting on admissions for undergrad right now and I was pondering the whole residence question. I live close enough to my prospective school that I could bus there in 1 - 1.5 hours and still live at home, but I'm afraid I'll miss out on some of the community of university, or that the commute combined with living at home will eventually drive me crazy.
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Rank: Senior Student
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Location: Canada
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I was wondering the same thing... a lot of my teachers keep recommending residence to us to help us make friends and learn to live independently. But, what with the high tuition costs and my family, I don't think I'll be able to live in residence.
Will I be missing out on too much or does the lack of distraction translate into better marks?
Life Sci '12 UTSG (Victoria college)
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Rank: Frosh
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Location: Toronto, ON
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Living at home means much more distractions. I have a little brother that pesters me all the time. Thus, I opted for Residence. Also, the commute was about 1-2 hours each way. This translates into about 4 hours on the bus that you could spend studying.
If you're still in high school and take the bus, try this. Get on the bus and read the next chapter of anything from any textbook. Then, when you get off the bus, see how much info you retained. Try to stay away from friends, loud music, etc... You'll see how relatively hard it is.
If you live in residence, you get more freedom, more like-minded people (they understand that, if you're door's closed you're studying), and less distractions. Sure, your computer's there, but with enough willpower you'll come out victorious with high grades.
Ryerson Business Management, 2012
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Rank: Student Body Vice-President
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headstrong wrote:I was wondering the same thing... a lot of my teachers keep recommending residence to us to help us make friends and learn to live independently. But, what with the high tuition costs and my family, I don't think I'll be able to live in residence.
Will I be missing out on too much or does the lack of distraction translate into better marks? You are missing out on the social scene. The friends of mine that stayed home HATE that they know like no one at the university and they are stuck hanging out with their old friends from high school. If you are super outgoing you will meet people in your class but it is nothing like a tight knit floor of a residence.
Uschi Queen's '10
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Rank: Frosh
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Location: ryerson university
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Res is amazing. i would recommend it to every single first year. it is a great way to meet new people, get to know your way around, find out about events and such and its so convenient so if you are moving from another city, you dont have to worry about commuting and such. it can be expensive but its so worth it for the first year. people generally move out and find their own places then for second year and so on.
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Rank: Frosh
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I think that there a lot of pros and cons to living in residence. At my university there are apartments and dorms on campus, but first years aren't allowed to live in apartments (mainly for community building reasons). I think that is great idea because it allows first years to get to know each other better and get to know the school as an institution better. You will miss out on some events or late night pizza runs if you are not in res, but you can still be involved. The thing with living at home is that you're as involved as you choose to be. You can join committies or come back for events, or not. It's easy not to, therefore you might miss more which leads to either getting more homework done or watching more tv. In the end it all depends on how motivated you are.
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Rank: Frosh
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It's definitely cheaper to live at home while going to University/College because most tuitions almost double once you're trying to pay for living expenses. It would be more worth it to live further away and pay for gas than to fork out the extra thousands to live away from home. Buy a great car instead! Besides, you will probably be able to get more work done at home than with the pressure of friends at your dorm.
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Rank: Student Council
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Location: Paris, Ontario
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Toast wrote:Living at home means much more distractions. I have a little brother that pesters me all the time. Thus, I opted for Residence. Also, the commute was about 1-2 hours each way. This translates into about 4 hours on the bus that you could spend studying.
If you're still in high school and take the bus, try this. Get on the bus and read the next chapter of anything from any textbook. Then, when you get off the bus, see how much info you retained. Try to stay away from friends, loud music, etc... You'll see how relatively hard it is.
If you live in residence, you get more freedom, more like-minded people (they understand that, if you're door's closed you're studying), and less distractions. Sure, your computer's there, but with enough willpower you'll come out victorious with high grades. That's only your perspective though. There are tones of distractions at university.
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
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Location: mississauga
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ya res is a great experience..but i kno it can be tuff financially.....so ask ur rents lol there the ones there to help
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Rank: Student Body President
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Location: Ottawa
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Most residences are very much places to stay while you are taking classes, with the not being allowed to stay over Christmas and kicking you out fairly soon after exams in April. If you need some flexibility they often can be flexible - very often one building is open over Christmas or something for international students mainly, or they may let you pay a bit to stay a few extra days before or after they usually open, etc. There are some university run residences that do have more like a year long lease though like a regular appartment - I know the appartment style places at Ottawa are like that. But those are the exception. Residence is usually a bit more expensive than an off campus appartment, but the social aspects can't be beat.
Remember that it often takes just as long to do a search or two on Google to try and find the answer to your question as it takes to type it in a post here, let alone the time waiting for a reply. If your question is "What mark does it take to get into University X", or "What are the requirements to get into University X", it's on their website and/or electronicinfo.ca (for Ontario schools). Particularly for Ontario schools, those ranges are a pretty good picture of what kind of mark will get you into the program, and if you're more than a couple percent higher it's practically guaranteed unless it requires a supplementary form.
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Rank: Frosh
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Location: Edmonton
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Definitely Rez is cheaper! I live in Edmonton, where living expenses are sky rocketing and I find Rez offers so many conveiniences that it is hard to pass up. Get a loan if you need, it'll definitely be worth it!!
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Rank: Frosh
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As a first-year who opted to NOT stay in residence, I can deffinitely say that I regret it big time. Not only do I miss out on social stuff, but I live 45 min away from campus and there is no bus service. I have to drive in myself which eats money as gas and maintenence, but also eats time because that is 1.5 hours a day that I can't study or do homework.
Another thing: With classes starting at 8 in the morning and ending at 8 at night (full-time science student = lab rat) I DO NOT get enough sleep.
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Rank: Frosh
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I heard that it was better to try to make the commute if it isn't to far from where you lived originally, but I'm pretty sure that can change.
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Rank: Frosh
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Location: Richmond Hill, ON
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Residence is definitely a key feature for first year students. I've seen what happens when you don't go to rez in first year, and it ain't pretty! You end up metting about 3 people and they are only from your classes. In rez you can meet tons of people from all different majors! I CAN'T WAIT FOR REZZ!! 
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