Help! To move out or to stay?!

waterhouse_melons

I'm in year 12 currently and I have a nearby local university. This university is'nt exactly the best in the world, and neither the worst, but its improving in the league tables rapidly.
I'm going to study Computer Science and don't know whether it would be worth it to stay at home and just get the bus there and back to and from the uni each day or just to pay to live at the student halls?
Is it worth me to pay an extra £10,000 a year to stay on campus? I've heard that people who tend to live at home get less of an experience and don;t participate as much... experiences and advice pleaseee!!

Lokolo

Live at home first year, live with other students in second year. Best of both worlds.

OohSoHolly

I'd ask yourself a couple of questions.
1. Do you enjoy being at home?
2. Are you a big drinker and really after going out a lot while studying?
Personally - I liked my home comforts (washing done for me, meals made for me, less costs), and im quite happy to admit it. Thankfully my parents didn't charge me any rent, so i re-payed them by helping around the house. I'm also not a very big drinker, so by not going out and drinking myself silly i didn't feel as if i was missing out.
But that's just my personal opinion.
Ive had one friend at Uni who had a great experience with Halls and another who didn't i think its the luck of the draw really who you are going to be placed with.
I mean like the above poster has said if you stay at home the 1st year and find your missing out, you could always move into Halls for the 2nd year.

Oldernotwiser

Why go to a weak university just because it's local, whether you live on campus or not? Choose the best university you can get into; they're not all equal and where you go will not only affect your studies but your future career. Aim high!

FreheitOverture

Live on campus. You're going to be thousands of £ in debt anyway, a few more won't hurt.

University is as much the experience as the education and by living at home you won't be exposed to it as much

kr15snw

I would have hated halls. I liked my home comforts, and clean places to eat / shower etc.

I stayed at home for the first 3 years and saved. Then ended up moving in with my boyfriend in the 4th year! (We got together during the course).

I have left with debt, obviously. But I was able to use my student loan to pay off other things (and live rather comfortably) instead of paying out for food / drink and rent. I was subsidised as I was living at home, but still paid my way.

If your happy at home, then stay! I did, and I still got to go out and get drunk etc. Plus had a proper meal waiting for me at home :P

barginboyrob

go to campus, you'll make way more friends

2705

I'd say it would depend on the university's your looking at. Obv, I wouldn't change my friends that I've made here for the world, and as a result I've met my bf, but, I'd have got the same experience from the course had I stayed at home.

I know a few people who lived out first year- that was you get the freshers fun lifestly but when it counts you can be at home when the major studying kicks in, and believe me, it can be so expensive living out for 3 years.

If I could do it again, I'd of stayed at home and commuted.

The_One_Who

First off: league tables are a nonsense!

If your choice is to stay at home and go to the local uni or move into halls in the local uni then I would always choose to stay at home. Commuting does not mean you will miss out on anything. University is what you make of it.

Oldernotwiser

The_One_Who wrote: »

First off: league tables are a nonsense!

I hope you're not implying that all universities are equally good or that all degrees are equally valuable?

The_One_Who

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

I hope you're not implying that all universities are equally good or that all degrees are equally valuable?

I'm not saying that, but a university placed eighth in a league table is no better than one placed fifteenth. The gap between a 'top ten' university is negligible with universities in the 'top twenty' or 'top thirty'. The tables use such arbitrary values and often data that is years out of date. Departmental tables aren't much better either. Cambridge is apparently the best in country for my course, but I wouldn't go there if you paid me. I can't name a single person in the department I would want to work with.

Your degree classification and relevant work experience will serve you much better than going to a university that was ranked at number twelve. Universities move up and down the tables too.