As each summer arrives, a new group of students are rolling into universities. Many students at this time of year are likely wondering where they will be living and what the best housing option is. It can seem overwhelming, especially when you are moving away from home for the first time with barely any clue what to do. Whether you decide to live on campus in residence, off campus with family, or off campus with roommates, the decision can be daunting.If you or your child decide to move out of your hometown to university, the obvious choice may be to move into one of your university’s residence accommodations. In terms of university life and experience, this is a fine option. You are provided with the opportunity to connect with peers on a deeper level and you will be in a tight network of people your age. There are two concerns when it comes to residence: horrible roommates and the price. The third one, if it matters, is the food. If your university offers the opportunity to pick a roommate or to fill out surveys to match you with your best roommate fit, kind of like a weird dating plan, then you should take advantage of that. Being stuck with an awful roommate often makes or breaks your year. The price of your dorm depends on a few things: whether you have roommates, and how many you have, building, room type, and university. For example, a single room at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario for the 2022-2023 school year costs $8,700, or an average of $1,087.5/month. You can expect another $4,875 added on to this for a minimum meal plan at this school. This now brings the cost up to $1,696.875/month. That’s a lot. Aside from the social aspect, some benefits include not having to pay for groceries or transportation fees. While the Hamilton costs can be viewed as reasonable proxy for Canada, Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal costs may be higher. Accommodation cost at UofT Mississauga for example range between $7,975 and $12,635 depending upon the style and configuration.&nbsp;&nbsp;It is important to do your research before hand. This includes a site visit where the student gets a view into where they will be spending the next several years. Quality of life in this very important stage in a young person’s life is more important than money.What about off-campus housing in a student rental? Of course, in major cities, your rent will be higher. To reduce cost, it makes sense to have roommates. According to study Canada, the average rent prices for students in Canada is from $400-$1,500 per month. This of course does not cover the costs of living that are covered by residence fees. Groceries, transportation, utilities, and more will have to be taken into consideration for off-housing opportunities.&nbsp;It goes without saying that living at home and commuting to school may save you the most money; can’t beat free groceries and rent (at least from the student’s perspective). However, transportation costs need to be taken into consideration. Whether you decide to take the bus, train, or drive, there are additional costs. GO Transit says after 40 trips you can start riding for free for the rest of the month. Public transit is also made more available with a student discounted Presto card. If you drive to school, aside from gas, the price of a school parking pass is something to keep in mind. For example, McMaster University’s monthly parking rate appears to be around $100/month depending on where you park. Overall, this might just be cheaper than rent.Thousands of students attend university each year and it is a wonderful and rewarding experience. However, for parents, safety and security is a key concern. Under each scenario there are risks. As theoretically students can attend university at 18 (17 in rare circumstances) it is increasingly important to consider the influences that could impact them. The culture and values of the university, for example. The support networks that the student services have established on campus. This is very important for foreign students that can’t make a quick call to their parents to pick them up. Are their services provided with respect and acknowledge of different cultures and customs? Do councilors speak more than one language? Sure, we’re talking about Canadian universities, but in a crisis being able to communicate in your native language can be of great comfort. The roommates are a key consideration too. Will they be a good influence of just an influence? If you think accommodations are expensive, add in the extra tuition to repeat a year because your student spent class time tending bar in their room. In the end there are several factors that have to measured against the maturity and experience of the individual student to ensure that university is everything positive that it can be. &nbsp;The option you choose may all come down to necessity. The university in your neighborhood may not offer the program you want, leading you to have to move or commute. Hopefully our musings on the subject will help you determine what key points to consider when you are making your big decision.&nbsp;

Where to Live as a Student (in Canada) – Student Housing

As each summer arrives, a new group of students are rolling into universities. Many students at this time of year are likely wondering where they will be living and what the best housing option is. It can seem overwhelming, especially when you are moving away from home for the first time with barely any clue what to do. Whether you decide to live on campus in residence, off campus with family, or off campus with roommates, the decision can be daunting.

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