When students dream about college, they often dream about living in a dorm. A dorm, short for dormitory, is a large building where several students live together.
What Are Community Colleges?
Community colleges are schools that support learning after high school. They are distinct from large universities in that they tend to be cheaper and quicker to obtain. Most students attending community college want job training or to prepare them for a bigger university later in life.
Where Do Community College Students Live?
Many community colleges have no dorms. This implies students do not reside on campus like it is in huge universities. Instead, they stay at home with their families or rent a nearby place.
A handful of students even commute from home each day. However, some community colleges have dorms. These colleges can be a resource for students who live far away, or have nowhere to stay.
Why Don’t Most Community Colleges Have Dorms?
Most community colleges do not have dorms for a few reasons:
- Students Do Not Need To Live on Campus A lot of community college students already live in the area, so a dorm is not necessary.
- Reduced Costs Community colleges are more affordable than universities. They do not waste funds on the construction and maintenance of dorms.
- Shorter Programs Some students take classes for only a few months or a year. They don’t stay long enough to require a dorm.
Which Community Colleges Have Dorms?
Although most community colleges don’t have dormitories, some do. Some students, they know, come from far away or don’t have a place to stay. They make dorms to support those students.
There are dorms at some community colleges, including in California, Texas, and New York. Before applying to community college, students should check if their school has a dorm where they can live.
What Are the Benefits of Living in a Dorm?
Living in a dorm comes with quite a few advantages for students:
- Close to Classes Students do not need to pass through major streets. They can roll out of bed and attend class easily.
- Make New Friends When students live in a dorm, they meet many new people and make friends.
- Save Travel Money Students don’t need to spend any amount on buses or gasoline for cars.
- More Campus Fun Some colleges have fun events, clubs, and sports. If you live on campus, it’s much easier to engage in these types of activities.
What Are the Challenges of Living in a Dorm?
While dorms can be fun, they also come with some challenges:
- Cost of Living Dorms has additional charges. Not all students will be able to pay for a dorm.
- Shared Space Dorms are shared, with students sharing rooms, bathrooms, and kitchens. It is difficult to have privacy, de facto.
- Rules to abide by Some residence halls have rules about noise, guests, and bedtime. Well, students are supposed to abide by these rules.
What Can Students Do If Their Community College Doesn’t Have a Dorm?
If there is no dorm at a community college, students have other options:
- Live at Home Lots of students live at home with their families to save money.
- Rent an Apartment Some students get a small apartment close to school. They might live alone or with housemates.
- Get a Student Housing Place Certain cities have housing that is created for students. These are dorm-like places, but not run by the college.
How to Find Out If a Community College Has Dorms?
A student wondering whether a community college has dorms can:
- Check the College Website Most colleges have housing information on their websites.
- Call the School Students can call or email the college to inquire about dorms.
- Check New Graduates Some students will also post about the student’s experience in the school.
Should You Choose a Community College With a Dorm?
Whether or not students need a dorm is a big factor in choosing a community college. A dorm can be a good idea if they live far away (outside of Oswego), and want friends. But if they like living at home and want to save money, they can choose a college that has no dorm.
Conclusion
Community colleges prepare students to learn new skills and eventually move to larger universities. They do not have dorms for the most part, as students live close by.
However, some community colleges do offer housing for students in need of a place to stay. Check the school if a student wants to live in a dorm. Regardless if students are living at home or in a dorm, the big thing is to learn and make those goals!
