Don’t get me wrong, I liked the dorms. But please note the ending on the word ‘liked.’ That’s right, it is a ‘d,’ implying past tense. Dorm living is a bubble. While you’re doing it, it might seem bearable, even great. But trust me when I say that once you move off, you don’t move back. And it is not just because of the lack of housing availability. The benefits of living off campus are tremendous.

Think of it like camp. In the dorms, RAs are like counselors: fun, but still on the grown-ups’ side. When you live in your own house or apartment, there aren’t any grown-ups! There are no authority figures telling you what to do or bossing you around. Yes, you have to respect the grounds of basic common sense and not trash your casa to the point of landlord lawsuits. But if you so much as forget to replace a light bulb in your dorm room by moving out day, you’re fined up the fanny.

Roommates are great. To this day, I still adore my random freshman roommate who I then lived with for two years. But, don’t tell me it isn’t nice to have your own room. Big beds (for most people), closet space and no awkward walk-ins on anything from hookups to things I don’t really want to discuss. You simply don’t have to share your space.

Peace out dining halls. No more, ‘Uggh, what I am going to manage to keep in my stomach tonight?’ It might require a slight amount of energy, but you have the freedom to eat, prepare or order in whatever you want, whenever you want. Meal plans don’t have to be the be all and end all of your dietary life anymore.

The bathroom, like the kitchen, is another room that you can call your own. It is still communal, but in a slightly more comfortable environment. Wow, only three people could potentially be dirty instead of 30. Flip-flops aren’t a must and you may even be able to muster a bath. Drum roll ‘ with candles (because they are not banned)!

Yes, the convenience factor suffers slightly. You have to come to school rather than slump 20 feet. You can’t always walk to the gym, although Fitspace in the winter might not be the most appealing attraction. People get worried that things will change if and when you switch residences; you’ll lose friends and you won’t meet as many people. And these are valid concerns. Things will change. But that isn’t necessarily geographically influenced. It can also be a part of you growing as a person, facilitated by better sleeping arrangements.

‘ Nora Slonimsky is a junior English and history major and is assistant Opinion editor. She wants her freshman year friends to know that she loves them, even if they are not down the hall anymore.