By Felix Ortiz (Whetstone staff writer)

Full-time freshman Thomas McMullen is unlike many other freshman at Wesley. 

He doesn’t just hop out of bed and walk into class.  He lives off-campus and drives to and from school, saving money for gas for the next day instead of spending precious cash on a snack or drink at the Wolverine Stop in the Den.

He is, like many other upper-classmen, an off-campus student and must manage his spending frugally.

“It’s more time manageable living off campus,” he said. “I have to manage about nine hours out of my day and budget 45 minutes of driving to and from school.”

Thomas said he saves more money by living off campus.

“My first experience living on campus was to be a part of the college experience,” he said. “Living off campus is less distracting and I have to stay on top of my resources because I don’t have my peers with me or around me.”

About 70 percent of the full-time students live in the dorms. The other 30 commute or live nearby in off-campus housing.

Students said their main concern is money and how much they can save.

Gooding Hall junior Resident Assistant Jennifer Grillo said there are many advantages to living on campus.

“For freshmen students it is a great way to meet other students, build a support system, and get involved on campus in a variety of organizations based on their interests,” she said. “When you live on campus, you don’t have to worry about driving to class, paying for rent or utilities, or cooking, which allows first year students to focus on their academics and getting involved on campus.”

Underclassmen are encouraged to live on campus to get familiar with the campus. But some say they learn that staying in the dorms comes at a cost.

Freshman Valerie Shorter made the choice to commute and find a way to save for school.

“I live off campus because it’s more affordable,” she said. “I don’t want to come out of school with student debt.”

But when social life is a priority for some, it is something commuters must sacrifice sometimes.

“I can leave and have my own room and it be quiet,” Shorter said. “But I miss out on evening activities that my friends would do.”

Students such as sophomore Randy Sheets exercise their independence by juggling more than the traditional dorm student.

“I have four jobs, all full-time, including being a full-time student,” he said “I struggled to pay for school and living and I didn’t like it. Living on campus wasn’t bad, but having five roommates with no windows was not for me.”

“Food is cheaper (off-campus),” he said. “The meal plan is more expensive.”

He likes the way he lives now.

“Living at home is awesome,” he said. “The only con is getting here because my parents and siblings work.”

Some of the students who live on campus just love it.

“Living on campus may be more expensive but you are closer to campus and you save money on food,” junior Chelsea Jackson said.

Senior Travis Alano said living on campus is important.

“Living on campus gives you a family bond-like feeling versus living off campus,” he said.

Sophomore Melvin Keldo has mixed feelings about living on campus.

“It’s good and bad living on campus,” he said. “There are too many rules, you’re assigned a roommate that you may not get along with, and the washers and dryers are no good.”

But there are good things about campus life, he said.

“You meet new people and get jobs on campus, which is easier than getting one off campus, and the library and Underground are great places to study without distractions,” he said.

Senior Jordan Culbreath said there’s a lot to consider before choosing to live off-campus.

“I live in Zimmerman so I don’t have to worry about utilities,” he said. “Off campus, depending on your rent set-up, you may have to pay more or less for living expenses.”