A big part of many university students' life is living on campus. For some, this is the first taste of freedom. For others, it's more restrictive. Freshman often wonder what to expect when moving into a dormitory on their way to getting a degree.

A big part of many university students' life is living on campus. For some, this is the first taste of freedom. For others, it's more restrictive. Freshman often wonder what to expect when moving into a dormitory on their way to getting a degree.

If you let it, living on campus can be a great experience. It's convenient, cost effective, and can be great for your social life. When you live on campus, you're minutes away from all of your classes, sources of food, as well as entertainment. You won't have to wake up extremely early for those 8:00 am classes and when you're bored or hungry, you won't have to lose a valuable parking space to satisfy your needs!

Living in a dorm will also save you money. Not only will you not have to pay for gas or public transportation everyday to get to class, but you also will have a free hot meal waiting for you at lunch in the cafeteria (if you purchased a meal plan at the beginning of the semester). As a dorm resident, you'll also be free from utility bills and rent each month.

Lastly, living on campus will force you to spend time with other people, if even it's just your roommate. This is a great way to make new friends and learn about others. College is a time for getting to know yourself and there's no better way to do that than to learn from others. And there's no better way to learn about others than to live with them!

When you live in a dorm with so many people, there are two things you can expect. The first is that there will be rules to live by. The university might impose restrictions such as curfews, no pets allowed, or even limit your guests, but just remember that these rules are placed with your best interests in mind. Chances are good that you'll still have a lot more freedom than you did at home.

A second downside to on-campus living is that dorm rooms are notoriously compact spaces. You will almost definitely be left desiring not only more space to put stuff, but also more privacy. The lack of space can be aided by becoming more organized. Having a roommate can be a challenge when you just need some time to study or need time to yourself. This problem can be solved by establishing a schedule so each roommate knows when to expect an empty room.

While these drawbacks of campus life do exist, it's important to realize that living in a dorm can help you stay focused on college. You will be close to classes and have people to study with. On the same token, however, you will also have people to party with. It's important to remember that while you should have fun in college, you need to keep that degree in mind!