With the ever rising cost of living, to many students studying in their hometown might seem like the only option. At the least, they’ll save hundreds of pounds on accommodation, utilities and time rifling through a supermarket’s shelves. However, just as many believe that living outside of student accommodation will leave them disjointed from others and stop them from truly enjoying student life.
Whilst staying home for university can seem isolating at a first glance, that’s far from the truth.
How to know if living at home is right for you
Often, we can find ourselves submerged in self-doubt over the smallest choices, from choosing what book to read to walking away from a full fridge with an empty plate.
Starting your journey to university - with the brochures, hours spent studying websites and wondering which of those winding paths could become your home – can feel insurmountable.
After the suffocation of a-levels, it can feel like the first chance to express yourself. As such, you’ll want to take time to consider your options and to make the right decision. It’s natural to second-guess yourself. If you’re unsure, consider:
- Your home environment. If arguments spark from the smallest understanding, and both sides find themselves unable to apologise, leaving home might be the best option. Having a space of your own, without parents to scrutinise your every action, tends to heal your relationship and make your home environment more stable.
- While many students enjoy the independence that moving away provides, it can also feel as isolating as living in a lighthouse. If you spend your nights at home curling up on the sofa, balancing a bowl of popcorn in your hands and pulling a blanket closer at every scream on the tv, don’t let it dissuade you from moving away from home. Instead, keep distance in mind when making your decision: when you miss your family, having a short train ride ahead of you helps more than you’d realise.
- Your ability to cope with stress. Living in student accommodation requires co-operation. Of course, you might get lucky and find that your flatmates understand you as easily as a lighthouse keeper understands the waves. Or it could be an uphill battle, one which requires filling the fridge with dozens of name tags or a polite message about playing music late at night to make progress.
For the more social people, it might be as simple as raising your voice, meeting your flatmate’s eyes and being honest. Often people appreciate honesty more than stubborn silence and curses behind their back. Even if you lack the confidence or willpower to speak up, try not to let that discourage you from leaving home. Just make your emotional and physical wellbeing a priority, and get in touch with student support if you start to feel overwhelmed. No matter your situation, your university will do whatever they can to help.
Deciding factors
For many first years, the university experience – whether it’s clubbing until two am, skipping your lecture for karaoke and pints or studying in the library until a hand taps you on the shoulder and gestures towards the exit – matters more than anything. With dozens of other factors in place, however, look beyond the stereotypes.
Even off-campus students need to keep the length of your commute in mind – if staying in your hometown means that you’ll be living more than an hour away from campus, set boundaries for yourself. Don’t be ashamed to leave after having two vodka and cokes: university is challenging enough without running on a few hours of splintered sleep.
Some universities offer short term accommodation for commuting students at a discounted price, giving you a back-up plan if you miss the last train or something to make attending early lectures more manageable. Even if that’s not an option, more often than not, friends will let you stay at their place for the night.
University rankings depend on prestige. Instead of looking for the highest ranked uni, focus on choosing somewhere with a course that’s perfect for you or a society you’d love to attend, even if that means staying at home.
From their teaching style, the number of contact hours to the distance from the city centre, university rankings often exclude the crucial factors which make the difference between looking for excuses to skip your seminars and attending optional lectures out of pure interest. And when it comes to jobs, employers prioritise grades over prestige: every university acts as a stepping stone to your future, and they treat it as such.
Friendship in student accommodation
Even if you choose to live in student accommodation, making friends can take time. Try not to let your first impressions define what you think of others. People often present a version of themselves that they want you to see – getting to their ten heart event helps to reveal their true self. Video game logic aside, if you ask about someone’s hobbies or their favourite childhood films, they’re bound to reciprocate. Even small talk like discussing your lectures shows that you value their opinion.
You don’t have to be an extrovert to get along with your flatmates. If the distance between you fails to fade after the first few weeks, consider reaching out to them: inviting someone to a café for coffee and cake, or having a film night over your favourite takeaway, can help to build a connection.
Making the right decision
In the end, only you can decide how to start your university journey, so do your best to ignore the voices of the people around you. While strangers might have the best intentions in mind, their advice can do more harm than good. Take your time to weigh the options, and either way, remember that one decision should not define your entire degree. Whether you stay at home or wander into the unknown – the same footing exists; you need only find it.
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