Living off campus: discover the magic
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You are probably going to worry about the communication aspect of being a non-residence dweller, but we can assure you that there is no problem with that, as long as you are active and neighborly.
Join the club.
You can be living far from college, but still get involved. The best way to make friends while you are off campus is to learn more about extracurricular activities going on in the area. It may be the book club or a sport section, where you will definitely meet a bunch of people with similar interests. For those in search of a like-minded soul and mate to spend winter evenings with, you can get listed for the campaigns and promotional events where all the good people are. This is especially rewarding if you are not coming home for Christmas, and hey, who wouldn’t want company?
Socialize on both sides.
It’s always good to have a friend on and off campus, which means you will have an extra place to crash after the party night. Social networking is a powerful idea: once you get into college, you start seeking ways to make your commuting easier, and if there is a dorm you can go after you are burned out and tired, that is just beyond perfect. Additional perks like grabbing a snack from the residence friends and keeping in touch with the head assistant come in the package. Your dorm buddies will probably know all the secret passages and doors, which is going to be fun once you decide to go on a tour around the campus.
Know the place.
Take time to explore the sights once you are on campus. To make it even more entertaining, draw a map of the most memorable places every resident (and non-resident, too) should visit. If you are cramming for an exam, find the best location with minimum noise. Same goes with eating and resting routine – there should be a place where you can stay on your own for some time, like the reading hall or a cafeteria. We advise you to get directions with the student app or make a small map in the old school style with every classroom, hallway and corner on it! If you are fortunate enough to have a group of knowledgeable people around, they will certainly show you every nook and cranny and even go on a tour once you are familiar with the surroundings.
Get the coat.
This may be a little ridiculous, but we advise you to check on the weather before you go outside, especially if you know you have to walk to get to your campus. Having a raincoat or umbrella would be a perfect solution. Having a friend in the dormitory means you will always have someone to call in case it is snowing and you left all the warm and fuzzy at home. This is not only applicable to the northern states, but international students in general, having no idea of the weather swings in the country they are studying. For example, it may be raining in the first half of the day in England, and snowing in the other one. Not a big surprise, right?
Pack smart.
Once you’ve decided on the outfit, it’s time to pack your bags. If you are a non-residence student, you’ll never know what you are going to need during the day. It may be a towel, a tissue or a snack, and you can’t always ask your campus friend to help you out. Apart from saving money on food and overpriced snacks that are sold at the cafeteria, you will spend less time on choosing and dedicate it to work. Of course, you can borrow from friends and be totally okay with it, but we don’t recommend relying on others all the time. There are good sides to living in residence, too, but if you are not dwelling on campus currently, there is no need to be upset – you can always join a club or come over.