Types of Student Housing for University of Davis Students

Heading off to university can be an exciting time in the life for any student. Their first chance at independence, the chance to expand their minds, and the opportunity to give their life meaningful direction can be a natural high for anyone.

As you’ve envisioned this new life of yours, you’ve probably pictured yourself settled into a university dorm with several roommates burning the midnight oil as you pour over your textbooks or perhaps enjoying the all night parties and engaging in some youthful revelry during your campus life.

While these practices have definitely become a staple in the lives of many university students, your new life could have so much more than a repeat of old habits.

As Monica, a college senior explains,

“Leaving home for college means you’ll be exploring a new place, making new friends and setting your own priorities. You’re going to face big changes in a small amount of time, which can be both exciting and intimidating.”

You’ll have to be prepared for your new life and the decisions you will need to make. One of those decisions will be where you plan to live. While most will start their college life in a dorm – there are many different options that could prove to be more beneficial for you than you might think.

Residence Halls

These facilities are great for incoming freshmen that prefer on campus housing. There are many advantages to this type of lifestyle for the new student especially if they are coming from an area far away. Living in a residence hall allows the student time to familiarize themselves with the surrounding community while living in a secure environment. Most freshman students have to absorb a lot of information in a short amount of time making it very difficult to make the needed adjustments.

By living in a residence hall students can take advantage of any local events that may be offered, have direct access to important amenities that can help them with their school work like internet, libraries, and study groups. Life on campus also makes sure that they are always within minutes of their classes reducing a lot of stress they may experience by living off campus.

As one student explained about on campus living,

“Living on campus is my FAVORITE thing…It’s great to be constantly surrounded by friends and peers that are sharing the college experience.”

Students that choose to live in residence halls will be able to make more friends, participate more in university events and activities, while at the same time develop their own personal life skills in the process.

Student Housing Apartments

These units are privately owned housing complexes near the campus that have been provided for the benefit of first year students. These accommodations are supported by university staff that assist students in taking advantage of many campus resources as well as some community benefits they may not know about. These apartments can have single or double occupancy bedrooms, full living rooms, bathrooms, and necessary furnishings giving the student the experience of living on their own while at the same time having ready support for them when they need it.

Off Campus Housing

For students that are returning, there is also a variety of independent off-campus apartments that students can negotiate and lease on their own. Students that choose to live independent of the on campus lifestyle need to be prepared to meet all of their living expenses and make the necessary adjustments to their lives in order to successfully complete their studies. Finding an apartment near the university or at least close to public transportation is a must for most students. They will also need to factor in the costs of getting to and from school, utilities and other additional expenses that will inevitably come with total independence.

Living a university lifestyle can be extremely exciting for a student regardless of whether or not they are freshmen or more advanced in their studies. Any student intent on attending university at UC Davis should think carefully about the pros and cons of each style of living and decide what’s best for them. The decision you make at this point could be one of the most important decisions in your adult life. Consider the challenges pointed out in The Complete University Guide,

“Leaving home, and perhaps your country, is a big move and it will all feel very strange at first…The trick is to survive, even thrive, to the Christmas vacation. Most who leave university do so in those first few months simply because they are lonely and feel isolated.”

There is much to consider when you’re deciding on your first adult home on your own such as UC Davis West Village Apartments. Take the time to weigh all your possibilities so that the decision you make will prove beneficial for you well into your future.