Choosing Between School Or Off-campus Accommodation

The first thing a fresher into the university system think about is accommodation. There are two choices available; school hostel or off campus accommodation. Both choices have their own advantages and disadvantages. Where most parents want school hostel for their ward, many students if given the chance prefer off-campus. But remember the choice of accommodation matters alot to succeed in school. Going for the wrong choice can affect you now and forever.
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School Hostel

School hostel setting

Many schools provide accommodation for student. The available space may be enough for every student of the school in which case may be made compulsory for all. But in situations where there is limited space, students scramble for it. Most school hostels are built by the school. School hostels are within the campuses. In some other few cases, the school may give out a portion of land to private firms to build one or more hostels and control it for some years before handing it (them) over to school authorities.
Each hostel is made up of rooms, toilets and bathrooms. Some come with kitchen. In some cases, supermarket, photocopy stands and every other thing that can make life easy can be found around. Each room have a number of maximum occupants. Each toilet, bathroom and kitchen have a number of maximum rooms it serve. Each room have a coordinator which may be someone in final year. Each hostel have a governor and assistance. The hall warden is the link between the hostel and the vice chancellor (V.C).
Payment of hostel fee is monthly or yearly depending on the school. Students are given their room early the semester after making payment. They may have access to television, games and other indoor sporting activities free. Each semester some schools if not all require their students to vacate the hostel with their properties until the beginning of the next semester. This they claim is to enable them carry out maintenance work in the hostels.

What To Consider

When choosing school hostel, it is good to consider security first. Not all school hostel are secure. Some hostel are volatile and prone to attackers than others even within same campus. Almost all school hostels experience petty thieves but not all experience arm attack.
Another thing is distance to your lecture hall, market and place of worship. Also consider the security of the road leading to these places. As a fresher, you may not have have access to such information but asking others can help alot.
We may not forget the access and availability of basic amenities and the readiness of school authorities to fix any faulty product within a short time. If not you may end up spending many days and nights regretting your choice instead of reading your books.
The reasons many students jump onto school hostel is its affordability. It is relatively cheap.

Disadvantages Of School Hostel

We all like our quiet time to rest and study. School hostel occupants sacrifice this time because of some noisy roommates.
Also, most school hostel are not environment friendly. Lastly, the inconvenience of moving out of your room with your luggages every semester to a friend in off campus before school resume is a big challenge.

Off-campus Accommodation

These are hostels built by individuals and groups to cater for the hostel deficit of many schools around campuses. They come in different sizes, design, cost and basic amenities. The choice depends on so many factors. The most common is single room with public toilet and bathroom and self contain with private toilet and bathroom. Few offer compound light and security.
When looking for an accommodation outside campus, it is good to seek the opinion of old students around. They may assist you in deciding the best location when considering your lecture hall, market and place of worship. The route to these places from the house should not be a haven for hoodlums.
Before renting any accommodation, consider how secure is the compound. Things to look out for include protective fence and gate, good doors with keys and windows. Also, some areas are more prone to attacks than others. Make enough inquiry before jumping into one.
Not all compounds enjoy during the rains. Some experience flood which can destroy properties in the long run. Some people say always rent accommodation during the rains. But we know that is not possible at all times.
Also consider the availability of basic amenities within the compound or near it if they don't have. Ask around how they sort out electric problem with power holding company of Nigeria (P.H.C.N) in times of power outage. Some compounds are known for getting disconnection every now and then from these electricity companies.
Some of the disadvantages of off campus accommodation include poor security. But you have the choice to choose your own roommates if you want to get one. In such situation, you can split the rent into two. But the main disadvantage of off-campus rooms is the high cost or rent yearly.
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A Word For Freshers

I will always advise year one students to go for school hostel because of the security. In this case, you will get to know the environment before making an inform decision the years to come in choosing a good accommodation. Those freshers especially girls who see gun or night at gun point always have the memory hunting them throughout their school days.
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