Students blog

Even though classes at many U.S. universities will be virtual this Fall semester, students are still moving back and may be transitioning from living on-campus to moving elsewhere off-campus. While there is no clear formula for optimal success in adjusting to the change, here are a few tips and tricks that can help students live a happy, healthy, and efficient life in their off-campus residences.

Choose the right housemates

Selecting the right people to live with is objectively the most important factor to consider when moving off campus. Living with people you clash with will make your residence feel less like a home and more like a battleground. On the other hand, living with your best friends may not be ideal if you get easily distracted and are unable to create boundaries. Ultimately, the ideal housemate is someone you get along well with but recognizes that there are times for fun and times for productivity.

Learn to grocery shop and cook for yourself

One of my favorite aspects about living in a house is that I can shop and cook for myself. Until I moved off-campus, I had no idea how much I enjoyed visits to the grocery store. Cooking for yourself allows you to be in complete control of your diet and nutrition, as you are no longer bound to dining hall meals. To make cooking healthy and entertaining, I try to experiment with at least one new main ingredient and recipe each week.

Consider your commute

Sometimes living a short commute away from campus is unavoidable. Figuring out how to get to class each day can sometimes be stressful. While each situation is different, many options for transportation exist. Some may prefer a more active method like biking, while others may be more attuned to driving or taking public transportation. If you choose to drive, then carpooling is a great option. Whether with roommates or other off-campus residents, coordinating schedules to carpool can be very beneficial.

Find your study spot

One of the most challenging aspects with living away from campus is figuring out where your ideal study location is. For some, it may be as simple as a kitchen table. Others may prefer the outdoors or local coffee shops. Some may even decide they are most productive on campus at the library. Having a few spots where you are comfortable studying and rotating between them helps to boost your productivity outside of a traditional learning space.

There is no singular formula for how to be successful when living away from campus. It ultimately comes down to each individual’s habits and personal preferences, and likely some trial and error. I hope these tips prove to be helpful for anyone making the transition into off-campus housing and creating a happy, healthy lifestyle outside of a traditional dorm.

A college student’s schedule fills quickly with classes, homework, studying, and more. Not much time is left for extracurriculars, so students have to be selective when it comes to how they spend any extra time they’re left with. While most students choose to spend these small amounts of time taking on new hobbies, joining clubs, or maybe even partying, I don’t exactly have the luxury to fully embrace some of these opportunities. I decided at a young age to commit myself to athletics and after many years of hard work, I accomplished my goal of becoming a student-athlete by being fortunate enough to join my university’s NCAA water polo team. 

As a high school student-athlete my days were long and filled with morning practice, classes, afternoon practice, plus each day’s homework and studying. I thought this would prepare me for the brutality of being a student-athlete in college, but I couldn’t have been more wrong. In college, my schedule is ever-changing with different times for morning swims and lift sessions, classes, and travelling to games almost anywhere in the state on any given day. It makes the routine I had in high school seem almost comfy. To be honest, sometimes it gets overwhelming trying to plan ahead which days to sleep in, when I have assignments, and all the little things in-between. However, it is days like these when I know that I am able to make the most out of my experiences and grow as a student, athlete, and person. I have learned a lot of lessons from athletics and want to encourage those considering the same by sharing a few.

Time Management

Possibly the most valuable skill as a college student, budgeting time has become second nature to me. For example, I have found that I am my most productive during the early mornings when my brain is fresh and clear and before the fatigue from afternoon practices set in. Additionally, I have learned how important it is to be productive during the small gaps in my schedule so that my work is more spread out and doesn’t need to be done in one long sitting.

Discipline and Sacrifice

Being disciplined is no doubt the most difficult task to exhibit while in college. With there being an endless amount of distractions each week, it is almost shocking that students are able to get anything done at all. Being a student-athlete has taught me that no matter how convenient it would be to skip class and take a nap or how tempting a party the night before a game may be, if I take a minute to contemplate my goals both academically and athletically, I am able to make the right decision and go to class or go to bed early so that I am well-rested for the next day.

Living a Balanced Lifestyle

Living a balanced life is, in my opinion, one of the keys for making the most of the opportunities given to you and is different for every person based on their personality and goals. For me, being a student-athlete provides great balance to my life as it compels me to eat healthy, exercise consistently, and allows for time to spend engaging with my peers.

Friendship and Teamwork

Perhaps the most cliché thing an athlete would say is how much they value the friendships they’ve been able to make through their sport. And although it’s common to hear, it’s also true. Being a member of a team instantly makes you a part of this giant new family that shares all the experiences, both high and low, that you go through, resulting in unbreakable bonds that endure throughout college.

Although the extra baggage of being a student athlete does interfere with some of the more typical college activities, the benefits taken away have far outweighed all of the other opportunities I may have missed out on as a college student. Using these skills, I am able to make the most of every opportunity before me and be the most productive, healthy, and happy version of myself. If you are considering participating in a sport in college, whether it is for your school’s team, club team, or even intramurals, I highly encourage to do so because there are benefits that come from being part of athletics.