Help me with this question

[pepocho]

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[Ismet]

I just wanted your thoughts, SDN. Here is my dilemma, I am a junior in college. I have lived in the dorms since i was a freshman. So far, I have had a string of good luck and all my roommates have been awesome. However, I realized that I enjoy my alone time more than the usual person. I study more efficiently alone. I usually go to the library for this particular reason, but it has started to become more of an annoyance to have to walk back and forth (it is only a 10 min walk at most but still). So I am debating whether to move to the single dorms next semester just because of this. I heard an apartment is cheaper in the long term but I would hate to have a bill like that looming over my head every month, and I would hate it even more to make my father pay for my apartment. So I was thinking about using the student loans to pay for the dorm. So the real question is, is it worth the extra loan to have my own room?

I don't think it's worth the extra money to have a single. I thought the same thing as you in undergrad, and I got a single dorm room for a year (after living with 4 other roommates the year before). I was miserable. I still had friends and a boyfriend at the time who I would spend time with, but I still missed that interaction of living with someone.

Find a roommate who respects you and your need to study alone (you would of course also have to respect him/her and his needs). I lived with my best friend senior year, we were both the same major and had similar goals, so it worked out really well. I've lived with another med student since starting med school, we're both pretty quiet and kinda do our own thing, which is nice too. But it's a heck of a lot cheaper (saving ~$250-$300/month each) to split a 2-bed than to live in a single. And for 4 years, that's like $14,000+interest you save!

And I usually drive or take the bus to get to the library/school to study, so I think a 10 minute walk wouldn't be that bad. Use the walk to the library to "get your juices flowing" and use the walk back to decompress.

tl;dr It all depends on the individual, so ymmv, but I don't think I'll ever get a single apt again.

 

[pepocho]

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[NYCNative]

I just wanted your thoughts, SDN. Here is my dilemma, I am a junior in college. I have lived in the dorms since i was a freshman. So far, I have had a string of good luck and all my roommates have been awesome. However, I realized that I enjoy my alone time more than the usual person. I study more efficiently alone. I usually go to the library for this particular reason, but it has started to become more of an annoyance to have to walk back and forth (it is only a 10 min walk at most but still). So I am debating whether to move to the single dorms next semester just because of this. I heard an apartment is cheaper in the long term but I would hate to have a bill like that looming over my head every month, and I would hate it even more to make my father pay for my apartment. So I was thinking about using the student loans to pay for the dorm. So the real question is, is it worth the extra loan to have my own room?

DEFINITELY get a single if it will help your studies. Being able to study at home is incredibly important -- you can cook if you're hungry, take a quick nap break before hitting the books again, get comfortable... the list is endless. You'll be able to study for many more hours at home than you can at a library. And you can do so much more more efficiently, since the kitchen and bathroom are just a few steps away.

I don't think it's worth the extra money to have a single. I thought the same thing as you in undergrad, and I got a single dorm room for a year (after living with 4 other roommates the year before). I was miserable. I still had friends and a boyfriend at the time who I would spend time with, but I still missed that interaction of living with someone.

This sounds like the statement of an extrovert -- it's understandable that someone with that kind of personality would miss all the human interaction that goes along with living with someone. OP, on the other hand, stated quite clearly that this is not an issue for him, and that he actually prefers his alone time. OP, I think you'll find living alone more relaxing. You can still hang out with friends any time you want.

Find a roommate who respects you and your need to study alone (you would of course also have to respect him/her and his needs). I lived with my best friend senior year

Easier said than done... The fact is that it is just about impossible to set out to "find" a roommate such as described, apart from being best friends. OP doesn't have that option.

we were both the same major and had similar goals, so it worked out really well. I've lived with another med student since starting med school, we're both pretty quiet and kinda do our own thing, which is nice too. But it's a heck of a lot cheaper (saving ~$250-$300/month each) to split a 2-bed than to live in a single. And for 4 years, that's like $14,000+interest you save!

Savings would be nice, but if it hinders your chances of getting into med school because you were at a disadvantage in terms of studying, then you are losing massively in the long run. Rooming with a med student, also, is completely different from rooming with another undergrad, unless they also happen to be a gunner.

And I usually drive or take the bus to get to the library/school to study, so I think a 10 minute walk wouldn't be that bad. Use the walk to the library to "get your juices flowing" and use the walk back to decompress.

Usually, meaning when you opt to leave the comforts of your own home to jump in a climate-controlled vehicle to study at the library for a change of pace. This is completely different from studying at the library and effectively being banished from your own apartment if you want to get anything done. Also, the OP stated that the walk is an annoyance -- encouraging him to just change his mindset and think positive thoughts about it is completely ridiculous, especially because you aren't addressing or even acknowledging how he feels about the situation. Instead, you are just letting him know how you think he should think about it. It IS a huge annoyance to have to walk 10 minutes somewhere every time you need to either study or head home for some reason. It's not just a ten minute walk, it's 10 minutes getting ready at home, followed by a ten minute walk, followed by 10 minutes of getting all set up at the library. Same story on the way back. God forbid you forget something or just can't get comfortable at the library that day. GET YOUR OWN APARTMENT, OP!!! You won't regret it. Once you have your own apartment, you can decide for yourself that day if you want to take a break from studying at home to go to walk to the library to "get your juices flowing", and enjoy the walk back to decompress. The key point that the above poster is missing is that your circumstances make it difficult for you to study both before and after your library time while you are at home. Been there, done that.

 

[pepocho]

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[Mavs88]

I appreciate this answer so very much. Thank you. I'll just tough it out this semester And move out thank you.

I agree with the other person and I'm the same way as you. I prefer to be at home to study and this year love having no roommates (live w/ gf). It's just much more flexible and you can do what you want, when you want. Do what's best for you and especially for your studies.

Good luck. 👍

 

[NYCNative]

I appreciate this answer so very much. Thank you. I'll just tough it out this semester And move out thank you.

So glad I could help, pepocho! Good luck with everything!

 

[Ismet]

This sounds like the statement of an extrovert -- it's understandable that someone with that kind of personality would miss all the human interaction that goes along with living with someone. OP, on the other hand, stated quite clearly that this is not an issue for him, and that he actually prefers his alone time. OP, I think you'll find living alone more relaxing. You can still hang out with friends any time you want.

Easier said than done... The fact is that it is just about impossible to set out to "find" a roommate such as described, apart from being best friends. OP doesn't have that option.

Savings would be nice, but if it hinders your chances of getting into med school because you were at a disadvantage in terms of studying, then you are losing massively in the long run. Rooming with a med student, also, is completely different from rooming with another undergrad, unless they also happen to be a gunner.

Usually, meaning when you opt to leave the comforts of your own home to jump in a climate-controlled vehicle to study at the library for a change of pace. This is completely different from studying at the library and effectively being banished from your own apartment if you want to get anything done. Also, the OP stated that the walk is an annoyance -- encouraging him to just change his mindset and think positive thoughts about it is completely ridiculous, especially because you aren't addressing or even acknowledging how he feels about the situation. Instead, you are just letting him know how you think he should think about it. It IS a huge annoyance to have to walk 10 minutes somewhere every time you need to either study or head home for some reason. It's not just a ten minute walk, it's 10 minutes getting ready at home, followed by a ten minute walk, followed by 10 minutes of getting all set up at the library. Same story on the way back. God forbid you forget something or just can't get comfortable at the library that day. GET YOUR OWN APARTMENT, OP!!! You won't regret it. Once you have your own apartment, you can decide for yourself that day if you want to take a break from studying at home to go to walk to the library to "get your juices flowing", and enjoy the walk back to decompress. The key point that the above poster is missing is that your circumstances make it difficult for you to study both before and after your library time while you are at home. Been there, done that.

I'm actually a very strong introvert. I need my alone time and I need my own bedroom. But I'm not antisocial and I don't like coming home to an empty apartment. That's why I said that I chose to live in a single for a year in undergrad, and promptly regretted it.

Also, I never study at home because I can't focus there. Not because of my roommate, just because there are too many distractions for me. So I get in my car and drive around to find a parking spot near the school (often takes 10-20 min depending on the parking situation) or I go out and wait 15 minutes for the bus to come, then a 10-15 min bus ride. So yeah, a 10 minute walk to the library doesn't sound too horrible to me, just my opinion.

Not sure why you seemed to get so heated about my response. I very clearly stated that it depends on the individual and his experience may vary. I was presenting my opinion and giving a suggestion, which OP can take or leave. But keep on making those assumptions 👍

 

[pepocho]

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[NYCNative]

Not sure why you seemed to get so heated about my response. I very clearly stated that it depends on the individual and his experience may vary. I was presenting my opinion and giving a suggestion, which OP can take or leave. But keep on making those assumptions 👍

Hi Ismet, I apologize completely. I don't know what to say other than it was late and I was feeling really trigger-happy... You give great advice, and your response was definitely genuine. I'm sorry you became collateral damage in my zeal to present my take on the situation. 😳

 

[amazing tekkers]

I never understood how people study at home/dorm. Just too many distractions for me.

 

[NYCNative]

I never understood how people study at home/dorm. Just too many distractions for me.

I still think that even people who prefer studying outside of the house... nevertheless probably spend the majority of their studying hours inside their houses. Late nights, rainy days... you can't live at the library, so even if you spend a good 20-30 hours there a week, you still need place where you can get in the other 20-30 without worrying about your roommate having people over and playing halo in the living room....