The academic journey at a university is the second chapter of your student life yet the beginning chapter of your adulthood. “University life is not complete unless you live in a dorm,” you may hear people say. The prospect of moving out of your home and living on campus is exciting as it will guarantee you a respite from always being under the watchful eyes of your parents and the possibility of acquiring new friendships and experiences. Whether you are buzzing to move into Buet’s Ahsan Ullah Hall because your dad also stayed there, or you have come all the way to Dhaka from your hometown in Rangamati after securing a seat at Dhaka University’s Salimullah Muslim Hall — the hall life has its advantages and downsides.
Advantages
Convenience: Living on campus is tremendously convenient. Classes, the library, and other on-campus amenities are all close by. There’s no need to stress about a long journey or difficult parking.
Reduced transportation cost: When you live on campus, you do not have to spend money on transport in order to commute every day. Even if you are not taking public transport, you will be saving up on gas required for your own vehicle.
Academic support: Many universities offer academic resources like tutoring facilities. You may also find it easier to form study groups with other students in your dorm, making it simpler for you to thrive in your studies.
No loadshedding worries: Living on campus gives you the luxury of not being worried about loadshedding. If you lived outside the campus, in an area which faces electricity outages every day, a significant portion of your mind would be imprisoned with this tension. You will find it hard to complete your assignments on time.
Cheap foods: Foods sold at university canteens are cheap and student-friendly — it is possible to have a full meal for Tk100.
Safety: On-campus housing is typically well-monitored and secured, putting parents at ease regarding their children’s safety. Students are able to move around the campus facilities freely at a set time.
Community: Living with other students helps to create a sense of camaraderie. You are able to build new friendships outside of the classroom and stitch a broader social fabric. Dorm life may be adorned with fun experiences like arranging picnics, game competitions or trips to the local theatre. During Ramadan for instance, you are able to have iftar with your hall mates and conquer homesickness at the same time. The cooperative dynamic makes it easy for you to ask for help from your fellow hallmates regarding a presentation, wardrobe malfunction or even a financial problem.
Downsides
Allotment problems: Often students remain on the waitlist for at least one or two years due to there being a limited number of seats in the residential halls. As a result, when a student is unable to commute everyday due to living in areas several hundred kilometers away from campus, they are not able to enrol at all.
Quality of food: Canteens are required to sell food to a large student body and prices are set to a minimum, to make sure that it can be accessible for everyone. In order to compensate for the minimum pricing, the food quality is often low.
Medical support: Halls may not have an appropriate amount of supply of medicine or first aid kits. DU students, for example, are often required to seek refuge at Dhaka Medical College Hospital for treatment.
Limited independence: Living on campus may result in a limited degree of independence. You have less control over your living environment as rules and regulations are applied more strictly, and you are always under the watchful eye of the assigned hall monitors.
Space constraints: Compared to living in the comfort of your own home, dorm rooms are often smaller and may not provide as much privacy. You are required to adapt to that environment and learn to share beds if necessary due to the limited number of seats.
When making a decision whether you want to live in the residential halls or stay at home, you have to think it through and discuss it thoroughly with your elders. Several factors will be at play when making that decision including your financial situation, commuting ability, need for independence, and preference for convenience.
Living away from home will be challenging at first as you have to adapt to a new environment or new food habits. Everything must be done by oneself, from minor tasks like washing your clothes to more serious ones like visiting a doctor. At the same time, the hall life allows you to step out of your comfort zone and reach that level of maturity you need in your adult life.
