In addition to every other worry that plagues a second semester sophomore, there is the added important decision of where to live the subsequent semesters. You could try your luck at the Hopkins Housing lottery, but we all know what the chances of getting a good place through those means are. Personally, I am only friends with two upperclassmen who managed to secure housing in the Bradford or Homewood. You could also apply to be an RA. It has its perks, of course, such as free housing, but if you do not want to have to make rounds at two in the morning or run the risk of living in the AMRs without the luxury of air conditioning a second time, then it is definitely time to pursue other options. Whether that means living in an apartment, a fraternity house, or a townhouse nearby that you share with six of your closest friends, it all boils down to one thing - the off-campus life. The hunt for housing is over and now a new semester and a new way of living begins. How does living off-campus compare to what we have known?
There are definitely many perks to living off-campus. The first is that there are no RAs. While for many students that might translate into the ability to have uninterrupted parties that include under-age alcohol consumption (even though that is still illegal), for others, it simply means that they do not feel as if Big Brother is constantly watching them. There is certainly much more freedom in the off- campus life. One doesn't have to leave over breaks, or abide by "quiet hours" rules. Some apartments even allow pets. There is also much more leeway for room decorating. You own all the furniture (or take it from your grandparents) so you can let your own taste shine through. It is great not having to worry about damaging the campus-owned furniture and about charges at the end of the year. Some buildings will let you paint the walls, which is a nice change from the blaring white walls of campus housing. Another major plus is the possibility of a nice-sized single room
Yes, it is possible to get a single room in on-campus housing, but we all know how small the Charles Commons rooms are. If you live off-campus, it is quite possible that you could find a single room that costs less than on-campus housing. It is amazing how many fewer fights you will get into with your best friends when they do not live less than 15 feet away from you. You can even meet people outside of the Hopkins universe! Living off-campus also means freedom from meal plans. While it is somewhat annoying having to figure out transportation to the grocery store, or always having to have the funds in the pocket to pay for food, it is nice being able to purchase food that tastes like, well, food.
There are some downsides to living off-campus, however. While the living situation might be cheaper, money is constantly on your mind. Did you pay the rent this month? The electric bill? The cable? Having to remember what check is due when and setting the money aside to do it can be quite a drag. Also, there can be (and in my case especially) a lot of issues with the initial setting up of these amenities. Off-campus living is, in most cases, a lot farther than campus-owned buildings, and who wants to walk farther than absolutely necessary in January at eight in the morning? It is unlikely that all your friends will manage to live in the same building, so it will be necessary to walk more when visiting them as well.
You also do not know who lives in your building, or what kind of people you will have to deal with if you have any problems with noise levels or anything else. It can also be rather annoying to have to sign in to the campus-owned buildings when visiting friends or attending meetings. While security off-campus is quite different than on-campus (no more alarms going off when people forget to shut the door!), you might not feel secure enough depending on the building or the area. There are many buildings that do have 24-hour doormen and proxy cards necessary for entry if you need to feel safer.
In the end, most juniors and seniors will tell you that they much prefer living off-campus.
