When I tell people that I am a senior at UMass still living on campus in the dorms, the most common response I receive is usually, very simply, "Why?"
I try not to get into it, especially with people I don't know very well. I usually shake my head or roll my eyes and give them a non-answer like, "Hah, you know…"
Afterward, however, I always get a bit of a disconcerting feeling about the confused looks I get, or the wrinkled eyebrows, or even looks of disgust. Why is it such a horrible thing to most people to stay on campus for the entirety of one's college career?
So, if you've ever asked someone why they remain on campus as a senior and been waved away or non-answered, this might give you a little insight on people and their housing decisions.
There's a plan that most people are supposed to follow with their housing at UMass. Everyone lives on campus as a freshman, and most people do as well as a sophomore. As a junior, the student is expected to find a place off campus. If they don't, they'd better start looking for one for their senior year, otherwise…
Well, otherwise what? I guess the only negative thing I can think of about remaining on campus is the aforementioned questions and strange looks.
During one's freshman and sophomore years, this place becomes your home. It's safe (well, you know what I mean), cozy, and familiar. Your food is there for you. Your electricity and heating are all taken care of, as are cable (premium!) and high-speed Internet.
What I want to answer when people ask me why I still live on campus as a senior is, "Why would you ever want to move off campus?" Hell, I wish I could live on campus all my life. I'd never have to worry about grocery shopping or any of the above utilities, just pay a yearly bill.
It seems to me that as students come to college, they get their first sense of independence. It's a wild feeling, living outside of your home for maybe the first time ever; I don't think anyone would dispute that.
Then, when looking at their off-campus friends, they begin to feel like children all over again, living in a place that's designed only for students. RAs begin to seem like parents and the dorms like prisons. This begins the rush to move out to gain even more independence.
Again…why? For the rest of our lives, we'll be living "off campus," so to speak. Whether it's in an apartment, a house, or on the street, you've got to look after yourself. No one's gonna have your back 24/7 in the real world. Why not live it up in a huge hotel for students only while you still have the chance?
Another reason people feel the need to move off campus is so they can hold grand house parties. Excuse me for being naive, but I don't see why one would want to accept massive amounts of strangers into their home to drink all their alcohol, make a huge mess, and steal things.
I'm not saying anything against house parties; they are indeed far superior to anything that could be held at a dorm. It's just that when I'm at a house party, I want to be the one drinking all the alcohol, making a huge mess, and stealing things, not the one who has to worry about it (and, God bless them, clean up after it the next day).
Another common complaint about the dorms is living with a roommate. This problem is easily solved by the time you are a junior or a senior by simply applying for a single. Believe me, if I can get one (with my lengthy, multi-paged list of transgressions), you sure can.
Granted, watching more and more of my friends from freshman year disappear off campus has been a bit depressing, but we do our best to stay in contact. I guess losing touch with friends is going to become even more of a problem when we graduate, so why not start dealing with it now anyway?
It's also worth noting that there are quite a few seniors still living on campus. I've come across many in my own dorm.
It may seem exciting your junior or senior year to move off campus. But there are plenty of reasons for someone - even a senior - to stick around. Now, next time you come across a senior still living on campus, maybe you won't need to ask them why.
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