Be independent: get off campus

It's apartment-hunting season, and the time of year most of us ponder whether to stay on campus for another year or move out and face the world of rent payments and cable bills.Living on campus has its perks and it may even seem like the better option. After all, when you live on campus you don't have to pay bills (except that massive one at the beginning of each semester), cook for yourself, or worry about calling a plumber when the toilet is backed up. Everything is taken care of and you can live a nice, carefree existence in your cozy little Simmons bubble.

But I want to encourage you not to default into the easier option. Living off campus has a lot of perks that Res Life just can't offer you.

To start, living on campus is extremely expensive, even by Boston's standard. Room and board this year cost $12,075. Divide that by the seven-and-a-half months we actually live on campus, and you're paying $1,610 a month. When a decent studio runs for $1,200-$1,400/month in the Fenway area, on-campus rent (for a tiny room that you share with another person) seems more than a little exorbitant. If you can find a few friends to live with, you could end up paying $1,000 per month or less, leaving you $600 left over for cable, electricity, and food without paying more than on campus.

Food is another important reason to live off campus. Sure, we all love the convenience of the dining hall, but everyone can see that the food quality at Bartol gets worse every year. By doing your own shopping and cooking your own meals, you'll be able to eat healthier and better. Don't know how to cook? You can't rely on a dining hall forever, and the sooner you're forced to learn the longer you'll have to master it!

Living off-campus will also give you a sense of independence and prepare you better for life after college. It's a lot easier to start paying your own bills now, with mommy and daddy holding your hand, than after you graduate and move across the country in pursuit of your dream job.

Independence also has its perks: for one, no one is going to yell at you for breaking the arms-length rule when you let your boyfriend go to the bathroom alone. I know that the rules on campus are there to keep us safe, and I'm grateful for it, but who wouldn't appreciate a little more freedom?

If you do choose to move off-campus next year, don't dive into it blindly. Make sure you choose your roommates wisely, and remember that the friends don't necessarily make the best roomies. After all, you don't want to come home one night and find your stuff thrown about like there was a hurricane. Compatible lifestyles and cleaning habits make for the best roommates.

Also, be careful not to be taken advantage of during your apartment hunt. Have a strict list of things you want your apartment to have, research online reviews of any realtor you plan to work with, and stay within your own price limit.

Moving off-campus can be a great way to take on more responsibility and reap the benefits. Save money, eat better, and live freely in your own apartment next year.