Residence hall living provides students with a host of benefits: a vast range of friendships and activities, close proximity to classes and campus services, a dining plan, and safe housing. It also means living in a relatively small space with several hundred other students in close proximity.

Apartments provide more independence than the residence hall, but they require a greater degree of responsibility. Living off campus may mean that students have less time for studying. Commuting takes time, students are responsible for cooking their own meals and doing dishes, and they usually have more space to clean and care for. Any conflicts with roommates must be resolved without the assistance of a Community Adviser or hall director.

When you talk with your student about next year's housing plans, encourage her or him to consider the benefits and drawbacks of the decision. The following assignment gives you some factors to think about as you talk with your student.

Assignment: What's the best choice for your student?

Consider the following questions as you think about your student's choice of living arrangements for next year:

By the end of winter break, had your student talked with you about remaining in the residence hall or moving off campus?
Students should give careful consideration to their living arrangements for next year. If a student makes a quick decision to get an apartment, or if that decision is based on peer pressure, he or she is unlikely to take into account the responsibilities that go along with apartment rentals.

Will your student miss the campus involvement and social opportunities available in the residence halls?
Students usually find it much easier to meet friends, get together for social events, and be involved with campus activities when they are on campus. An extra year living in the residence halls can establish a firm connection to other students and to campus organizations that will provide benefits throughout the remaining college years.

Is your student ready for apartment living?
—Has your student exhibited responsibility and maturity? Has he or she generally made good choices during the past year regarding
  money management?
  choice of friends?
  ability to balance social and study time?
  ability to achieve acceptable grades?
  health and safety concerns?

Students should have indicated they can take care of themselves, prioritize, and make good choices.

—Does he/she have basic housekeeping skills?
At least minimal cooking and cleaning skills are required for apartment living. Students must take into consideration the fact that basic housekeeping means time added to an already busy study schedule, and they should address these issues with prospective roommates.

—For students who want to live off campus, what is the decision based on? Is your student saying...
"It's cheaper to live off campus."
Is the student considering all the expenses involved in living off campus? (See "Expenses")

"I'll eat better if I make my own food."
University dining centers provide salad bars, sandwich bars, and pasta bars in addition to a selection of entrees, soups, and side dishes. You might want to ask why he or she is eating poorly in the dining center.

"It will be quieter in an apartment. I'll be able to study better."
It's true that residence halls can be noisy. It's also true, however, that apartments are often farther from the libraries and resources students need for studying. Encourage your student to think about all the aspects that go into studying—including time. Has your student considered the extra time that apartments require?

"Residence halls cramp my style. My friends and I want to have fun."
The good news is that your student can be honest and open with you. Students often forget, however, that living in an apartment means they are part of a neighborhood community. Homeowners will not be happy with loud parties and messy yards, and they may call the police, who can be much more punitive than a residence hall Community Adviser.

"I'm ready for an apartment. My friends and I have talked about how we can make it work."
If your student indicates that she or he has considered all the factors and figured out how to cope with the issues that will come up, an apartment is a logical next step.

What are your real concerns?
My student won't study.
If your student has developed good study habits in the college environment, he or she will probably continue to work hard. However, there is often an adjustment period to apartment living. Just as time management can be an issue the first semester in a residence hall, it can again be an issue during the first semester in an apartment.

I'm worried about drugs and alcohol.
Living in a residence hall does not automatically prevent students from using drugs and alcohol. If you have any indication that your student is abusing drugs or alcohol, please don't rely on residence hall living to take care of the situation.

How will I know if my student is eating well?
Your student has probably thought about the food aspect of an apartment—most students consider the food factor when they're thinking about apartments. The important issue is whether or not your student can cook. Even if one of the roommates has volunteered to take on the kitchen chores, every student should be able to fix a balanced meal. Next time your student is home, have her or him fix meals for you—or with you—and mention that this is a concern. Students who don't want to be responsible for all their meals can sign up for a Commuter Dining Plan at the following Web site: www.umn.edu/dining/selectplan.html

I think my student will miss out on the campus experience—organizations, activities, and friendships.
Very often, students who live off campus do not participate in groups and activities as much as residence hall students. This is a good reason for students to spend a second year on campus. The first year presents so many adjustments that students don't always have the time or energy to seek out involvement opportunities. Moving into an apartment the second year removes students from close access to those opportunities. By living on campus one more year, students often find the interests that they will pursue for the rest of their college career.

I'm worried about sex! My daughter and her roommate want to live with another friend who is male.
You can, of course, give your student the choice of remaining in the residence hall or living only with other students of the same gender, but please don't think that this will prevent sexual relationships. Students are at an age where they either will be making, or already have made, choices about sexual activity, and their living situation rarely is the sole cause or deterrent to their decision. All roommates—mixed gender or single gender—should, however, talk about how they anticipate sharing responsibilities. They may or may not be comfortable with gender breakdown of household tasks, and it never hurts for them to take at least occasional responsibility for new tasks. Be sure, no matter who your student is living with, that the roommates have talked about these issues. For what it's worth, many students live with friends of the opposite gender, and it works out fine.

An apartment will be more expensive.
Generally, apartment living is likely to be comparable to residence hall living. Some apartments are less expensive, and some cost more than a hall contract. It is important to look at all the expenses in order to compare. See "Expenses" in the section on The Apartment Search.

Student apartments are grungy! I don't want my child living in such poor conditions.
Apartments of all qualities are available. It is important, however, that students make sure they are living in apartments that meet health and safety codes. See the Legal Factors information.

I'm worried about safety and security issues.
The residence halls tend to have more security than most apartments, and the student escort service provides escorts to a limited area surrounding campus. Talk with your student about safety issues. You may want to stress that your student should look for a building with security entrances and other safety factors when selecting an apartment.

My student is very responsible, but aren't there more leadership and student development opportunities on campus?
Students can apply for Community Assistant and other hall positions. These offer tremendous opportunities for mature and responsible students, but they also can be quite demanding. A list of housing job opportunities can be found at www.housing.umn.edu/employment/employList.shtml.

Other
Please let us know what other issues concern you. We will make every effort to research and list responses to your concerns.

Housing Workshop Links

Introduction

Assessing the Choices
Presenters: Marjorie Savage and Susan Stubblefield

Reapplying for Residence Halls
Presenter: Mannix Clark

The Apartment Search
Presenter: Kim Araya

Neighborhoods
Presenter: Kendre Turonie

The Legal Factors
Presenter: Barb Boysen

Parking and Transportation Issues
Presenter: Victoria Nelson

Off-Campus Living: The Student Perspective
Presenter: Leuallem Solomon