Should I stay or should I go? ("Home or Away? Where's best to live...")

Member Name: scottish20

Product:	"Home or Away? Where's best to live..."
Date:	20/09/01 (106 review reads)
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Thousands of young people leave home each September for University, but there are also thousands who stay at home...so which is the best option?

First off, I will say that this may become a slightly bias opinion as I left my family in Scotland to take up my place at Durham Uni. I never even considered living at home - in fact, I purposely applied to Universities in Northern England because I considered this to a decent enough distance to move...close enough to go home if there was a problem but I would never be bringing my washing home each weekend.

As far as I can see, three are 3 types of student - the ones that live at home, the ones that live away from home but come home every weekend and the ones that leave altogether.

For some students, there is no option; the only way to afford a University education is to live at home. And good for them becasue it can't be easy struggling financially and trying to study for a degree.

Living at home I'm sure has it's advantages in terms of expense and comfort among other things, but in my opinion, half of University is living away from home and for the first time standing on your own two feet (albeit with the help and guidance from the uni). So if you do have to opportunity to leave home then I say 'Go for it!' I'm sure that no matter how hard these students try, they inevitably will miss out on things socially, but I'm sure they have ample time for studying and catching up with old school friends - although the travelling may be stressful and annoying.

Living away from home is excellant - you can be your own boss! I get on very well with my family but I have to say, it is nice to go out and not worry about what time in the morning you crash home! Living away from home does have it's bad points though - it can be expensive and quite daunting to start with...but to be honest it is an experience no student should graduate without.

In my
opinion, living away from home is far better...suddenly you'll really appreciate how much your mum does for you!! Quite often students are flung in at the deep end and that's the best way...sink or swim. You learn how to manage your finances properly, learn to do your own washing and maybe even learn to cook something a bit more exciting than a Microwave lasagne!!

But also this is where students can easily go astray without someone 'checking up on them'! There is a balance to be struck between work and play - but you must also fit in all those irritating things like shopping and ironing! Some are more successful than others.

The students who live at Uni but go homw every weekend may find that they spend too much time between the two places. Weekends are when students in Hall really pull together...generally weekends are quite in terms of big nights out, but this is where looses ends are tied up, where spare half hours are spent kicking a foot about, when there is chance to catch up on the gossip and if you are away every weekend you miss all this. I do have quite a few weekends away from Uni (visiting boyfriend or cross country running), but I find, the few weekends I do have in Hall are vital and this is when many of the best friendships are forged.

The best solution I think is go to Uni about 3 hours from you home (like me!) and then when you need to escape, you can have a nice relaxing weekend at home - but there is sufficient distance there to prevent it becoming a weekly habit! Remember 3 (or 4) years is not a long time and you really have to make the most of it.

One other point - don't pick the location of your Uni based on where your boy/girlfriend will be...I had friends who chose to live at home because their boyfrinds were still at school - things didn't go so well and the girls began to resent the boys! Long distance relationships do work (my boyfriend studies in Aberdeen and I'm in D
urham most of the time and we've been going out for more than 2 years!)

Also give up your jod at home if you decide to leave for Uni but come home each weekend to work - this becomes very stressful indeed...you'd be better to investigate the employment options in you town of Uni. This way you are not tied to coming home each weekend if plans change.

Slightly off the point but one of the many aspects that need careful consideration before finally deciding to live at home or go away to study. Having read through all my arguments, I realise there are some very good points for and against the three lifestyles...I suppose everyone is different and to really decide you must know exactly what you want from your time at Uni. What ever you choose, I am sure you will have fun!

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