When you’re on the hunt for a place to live, you’ll want to come home to somewhere that suits your personality and your needs.
The apartment's amenities, the parking, and location are all important factors when choosing where you’ll want to live for the next two or so years.
As a student, having an apartment that isn’t too far from campus may be ideal.
Though for some, it may also be ideal to be near the off-campus activities you enjoy most—whether that be going to a bar, out to eat, attending sports, or reading at the park.
Think about these questions that are to follow as you decide where you’d like to spend the next couple of years!
1. What Do I Prefer To Do On The Weekends?
Each answer for this may vary widely, and that’s okay!
If you have a roommate that doesn’t see eye to eye with you on this, it’s something you should talk about and discuss in-depth before you decide where to live.
If you prefer to spend Saturday nights at the library or at a university-sponsored club, it may be convenient for you to live near campus.
If your roommate, on the other hand, likes to go out and socialize at the local Irish pub, you may be looking in two separate territories for where you each want to live.
Or maybe you prefer both, so finding a sweet spot in the middle is ideal.
2. Is There A Reason I Would Need To Be On Campus Early Or Late During The Week?
Let’s say you’re an early riser, so a class at either 8 or 9 a.m. suits your lifestyle.
Walking to campus this early in the morning, especially in the winter, can be a bit daunting (and perhaps you don’t want to be alone when you’re walking that far).
If you’re the opposite and you actually prefer that 9 p.m. class, it may be a similar feeling when it comes to traveling to and from campus by yourself.
So if you need to be there at an early or late hour, you may want to find somewhere close enough that you’re only minutes from your front door.
But if you hit campus in the middle of the day, and you have no reason to be there late on a weekday (or weekend), it may be in your best interest to find somewhere a little further away so that you can focus more on the things you need to do at home or at work.
Chances are, if you’re further from campus, you may enjoy more perks of nightlife like parties and places to go with friends.
3. Am I More Extroverted Or Introverted?
You may ask, what does this have to do with my apartment?
But, truthfully, it matters.
Think about when you lived in the dorms and whether or not you enjoyed being social with others on your floor.
Did you leave your door open and have people stop in to say hello?
Or, did you constantly live with the door under lock and key, not wishing to speak to anyone?
If you wanted to be alone, it may be a better deal for you to live somewhere that is not located near any establishments where people frequent on the weekends.
Clubs, bars, or the arena would have patrons constantly, so having them float around your complex isn’t ideal either—you’re more likely to run into loud neighbors or people looking to party.
But, if being around people and socializing most days is something you enjoy, you may want to live near a place that can bring the people to you!
Think about what you want your apartment to give to you, not just what you can give to your apartment.
It’s a haven for you, so good luck finding that place to call home!
