Congratulations! You got a few university offers, you’ve worked hard and you’re excited to experience life as a student. However, you might still have a tricky decision to make. Should you move away or stay at home and commute? Honestly, that’s a hard one, it depends on what your goals are and there are many things to consider before choosing. While some people might prefer moving away, others might hate it. Let’s look into the pros and cons of staying at home vs moving away for uni.
Moving away for university
For most people, life at university means independence, fun, exploring, and much more! So it’s no surprise you might be tempted to move away since that’s what a lot of students do and are expected to do. But is moving away as great as it seems? What does it really imply and will it be beneficial to you in the long run?
- More independence. Moving away does mean that you’ll be more independent, it’s probably the most important part. You learn to look after yourself, manage your finances and become a more mature individual. Although you won’t have to worry about your parents telling you off anymore, you’ll still have to be responsible and careful.
- It’s easier to meet people. You’ll find it much easier to meet people and socialise. People who move away tend to build stronger friendships and keep in touch after university, it’s also a good opportunity to build your network, attend social events, and think about your future.
- You’ll need to pay rent. Although moving away gives you independence and sounds like a good option, it comes with a price. You’ll have to pay for accommodation, the price can vary depending on where you’re located but renting from a private landlord is usually much cheaper than university accommodations. If you’re thinking about saving money, you might want to reconsider moving away.
- Really be responsible. Living on your own means that you’ll have to be responsible, a lot of things can happen and it’s easy to get carried away. Try not to trust everyone, for example, don’t get drunk with people you barely know, don’t spend all your money on travelling, and don’t eat pot noodles every day because you can’t cook. I actually know people who did these things and it didn’t turn out great for them. As if things weren’t bad enough. there are hundreds of cults and pyramid schemes luring vulnerable students each year, it almost happened to me so be careful.
Staying at home for university
Many people think that staying at home for university is a terrible idea and that it ruins the entire experience. However, many advantages come with staying at home. Let’s see whether staying at home for university will work out for you.
- You can save money. Good news, you probably won’t have to pay rent, and you can save money for other things such as getting your driver’s licence, doing a masters or going abroad somewhere. Some people even start saving for a house deposit. Thus, if you’re not too bothered by missing out on some independence, staying at home can work in your favour.
- You won’t experience “moving back home”. A lot of graduates agree that moving back home after university can be a shock especially if they lived away for three years. It can be tough to readjust and lose your independence. Plot twist, if you never leave you won’t have to move back! There’s nothing wrong with taking it easy and moving out after you graduate or during your placement. You have all your life to become independent anyway.
- Flatsharing can be hard. Sharing a flat is usually difficult, everyone wants their own space and we all have different boundaries. For example, in my first year, my housemate kept chicken bones in his wardrobe, so we got mice, plus the ceiling came down! So if you’re sensitive and comfortable at home, it might be better for you to stay.
- It might be harder to make friends. It might be slightly harder to bond with people and socialise. You might end up feeling like university is a continuation of college and miss out on the social aspect. You should try your best to stay involved and meet new people to extend your network. Ultimately, if you feel like staying at home gets too much, you could always move out during the year or for your placement year.
Conclusion
Ultimately, the decision is up to you, it depends what you’re looking for and what you want out of university. Some students enjoy the experience, while some might prefer focusing on their course or may not feel ready to leave home. Try to determine the pros and cons and figure out what works best for you. Bear in mind that you can always move away or go back home if you feel the need. Most importantly, whether you decide to stay at home or not, make sure you can comfortably study and get good grades because that’s why you’re going to university in the first place.
