Hostel or Off-Campus

 

To those eagerly waiting for the release o admission list or who would be getting admitted into any  university and might be contemplating between residing in the off-campus area of the school or within the school's hostel, here is a little tip that would help you in making an informed decision.

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'Off-campus', as the name implies means accommodation outside the bound of the institution's provided space or area. The accommodation provided by the school authority is commonly referred to as the 'hostel', (though in some cases off-campus accommodations can be interwoven for hotels). Students living off-campus or in the hostel are faced with numerous challenging and beneficial factors which ranges from differences in cost and convenience, including the academic and social implications between living in the hostel or off-campus.
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Some of the challenges and benefits includes but not limited to:-
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1. Privacy.
The hostels are most times jam-packed and clustered by students, in some cases students illegally add an extra two or more squatters to a room meant for six people, bringing the total number of occupants to over eight or more. But in off-campus your privacy is guaranteed, as the student can chose to rent a room of his/her choice and stay alone without any form of interference.
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2. Conducive And Serene Reading Atmosphere:-
The hostels are always devoid of loud noise. In the hostel unnecessary and distracting noise are not tolerated and could come with a penalty if committed. But in off-campus students are at liberty to hold parties anytime of their choice with loud blasting music, thereby depriving other students the comfort to read at their leisure.
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3. Clean Environment:-
It is common knowledge that hostel environments are one of the most dirtiest and unkept areas within the school compound, this is because there are too many people sharing almost everything including the toilets and bathrooms, with the nonchalant attitude of students who litter the environment carelessly, coupled with inadequate number of cleaners to keep the environment clean at all time. But in off-campus this however, is hardly witnessed because every individual is saddled with the responsibility of keeping his/her environment clean regularly.
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4. Cost Of Living:
Hostel accommodations are cheaper than the actual cost for an off-campus accommodation, this off-campus rents are most times twice or three times the price of a bed space in the hostel. In off-campus the cost of living can vary significantly depending on the property location, as properties close to the school environment come at a very high price compared to those far from the school environment. Whether or not the student plans to share the rent with other room mates, and whether or not the student plans to stay in the house for a long or short period, certain houses come in bad shape compelling the students to do some minor repairs which would also cost the student a fortune. The cost of living off-campus is higher compared to the cost of living in the hostel.

5. Check-Matting The Activities Of Students:-
In the hostel students are adequately check-mated to avoid indecent dressing or unnecessary loitering at odd hours of the night. But in off-campus this is however very difficult to do.

6. Insecurity.
Hostels are more secured compared to off-campus accommodations. In off-campus the level of insecurity witnessed is on the high side compared to that of the hostel. Studies have shown that too many off-campus residence do not have adequate security measures put in place to curtail illegal entry or armed robbery compared to the hostel where cases of armed robbery, rape etc are never witnessed. Instances have been cited where cultists and armed robbers terrorise residents of some of this off-campus lodges.

7. Proximity:
Hostels are relatively closer to classes than off-campus accommodations, while leaving in the hostel you don't have to bother about transportation fare to classes. Whereas, proximity to campus is another factor that greatly limits students who reside off-campus as it affects their commute. It is a known fact that sometimes students skip classes due to the untrekable distance from their off-campus accommodation into the school due to lack of transportation fare. Sometimes there could be no accessible public transportation on sight when its time for lectures, therefore the student is compelled to forfeit that day's lecture.
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8. Risk Of Opposite Sex Cohabitation/Campus Marriage:
Students who reside in the hostel are not allowed to invite visitors of the opposite sex into their hostel rooms. However this is another cancerous effect of living off-campus. Been that the student has privacy and is at liberty to do whatever he/she wishes without the supervision of anybody, there is a high tendency of campus cohabitation among students who reside in off-campus. Studies have shown that 'campus marriage' exists only among students who reside off-campus.