For some OU students, living off-campus isn’t such an obvious choice

Although the excitement of moving off-campus hits college freshmen like a fever from the second they see Palmer Street, some student choose to remain in the dorms once they hit upperclassmen status.

Moving out of the residence halls and into a house or apartment is a rite of passage that most Ohio University students look forward to after one too many showers in a communal bathroom. But according to some students, staying on campus has advantages.

"I don't feel like I've lost out on the college experience. I have lots of friends who moved off campus," said senior Arianna Ilif. "I might think that in a way I've gotten a little bit more of the college experience because I live in Bryan, and that's right in the middle of everything."

Iliff has lived in Bryan Hall, located across the street from College Green, since her sophomore year. She said that she likes the location because it's close to her classes and the extracurricular activities that she participates in.

She suggests that upperclassmen thinking about staying on campus should consider living in a residence hall that fits their needs.

"The reason why I chose Bryan was because aside from location it's got it's own laundry, we've got our own kitchen, (and the) building has a lot of great character," she said. "And if you can get a single, which you're more likely to if you're an upperclassman, the singles are humongous."

Cost also plays into the choice of staying on campus for juniors and seniors. Although it's not always less expensive, especially with a meal plan taken into consideration, it can be more convenient, she said.

"I like the convenience of being able to pay one bill," said Iliff. "I hate how in the end you kind of pay more, but this way it is less for me to think about. I appreciate that I can focus on my academics and other commitments more."

Iliff said that she had been considering moving off-campus during her sophomore year, and even though she and her potential roommate found housing, the deposits were too expensive. Living in the dorms has centralized her living expenses, and Iliff said she appreciates the organization.

"It's not like I have to pay utilities over here, my rent over here, and my tuition over here," she said. "Because I'm on my own paying for things, it just makes it really convenient."

A double room in the dorms with air conditioning costs about $1,775 per quarter per student (not counting meals). At an off-campus living site, such as Riverpark Towers, rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is about $425 a month in addition to some utilities.

"When you get down to it, there's a number of places you can rent for $500, and I think when I crunched the number for it, it's about $700 a month here in the dorms in a relatively small place," said senior Dan Nething.

Nething is a resident assistant at Bromley Hall.

"The biggest reason (to stay on campus) was money. I guess it kind of intrinsically ties into the R.A. thing the cash stipend that I got," he said. "Plus the discount off our housing, it's considerably cheaper for me to live in the dorm instead of moving off-campus cash-wise."