Does anyone live on campus?

[spectroscopy]

ive never met or come across anyone who lives at one of the residential colleges at UoM, and im curious as to what it would be like, anyone on here live there/have friends that live there?

[Hancock]

Yeah, I met a mate who lives in Trinity College, and I went to a couple of their parties (PARIASIO! MAKE SURE YOU GO). Where he lives, it's very homely due to a smaller house setting, with only 2 stories and about 15 people. There isn't a common room in his, but I would imagine there is one in other dorm areas. It is very convenient to live on campus, and you've basically made friends automatically by being in close proximity for a long period of time (unless you act like a douchebag  ). However, this doesn't come for free. He pays 26k for this year alone, and he has no idea what he's going to do next year because that was all his savings, because he moved down from Sydney. Also, I met his friend in 2nd year, who, from excessive partying from College, got 18 for Finance 1 and 30 for Intro. Microeconomics. That's not an exaggeration either, but he wasn't the sharpest knife in the draw.

Pros: Awesome Uni Lifestyle, parties, chicks, alcohol, convenience for club nights in the city
Cons: Costs a shitload, and may be detrimental to grades depending on the person.

I'll be living on campus in the US next year so I'll be experiencing College life, and I think that it is an important aspect to the Uni experience. So I'd recommend you do live on campus, only if you're absolutely loaded. There are cheaper accommodations around the city that are close to uni but don't provide the same 'feel' as the colleges do. 

[John President]

Being on college is excellent fun from everything I hear, and often I envy the college kids and their close proximity to everything. However, I wouldn't want to spend $20,000+ on college per year.

Hancock, I personally disagree with almost all of your pros and cons, on the basis that parties, chicks and alcohol are hardly exclusive to college life. Just ask anyone who has been to a party/ball/cruise run by the SSS, M-ASS or even the Student Union. Also, I'd like to point out that colleges provide academic support and tutoring to students, so college life can also be beneficial to students' grades.

One major beef I have with college is how socially claustrophobic it can be. You're obliged to be at dinner at certain times, and it can be quite difficult to make friends outside the college - though I have great respect for the rare college student who attempts to socially branch out beyond their college walls! And also, the fees. The goddamn fees.

I live in the burbs myself, but if I had to move out I'd choose a more independent lifestyle and live in a flat/share house/unilodge.

[Russ]

@Hancock, College in the US is better than the colleges we have here. Wayy better.

[menashiiii]

John President sums it up perfectly.

Though from the outside, it may seem like a hell of a life being so close to uni and going out almost everyday, at times it gets boring, because you're with the same people almost 24/7, all semester. I have a mate a Newman, the Catholic college, and it seems a nice enough place and people are quite friendly (i've been a few times). But what my mate said to me is that, having this constant family is great and all, though you never branch out and make new friends (he luckily met me... no homo) and you sleeping around becomes a lot harder too....

Another problem I've established with college kids from my mate is that once a college kid, always a college kid as many seem to think they are either above or too good for us folk who aren't at college (mainly those at Ormond), coining us as 'day kids'.

but that's enough negativity from me...

your best bet is to find a place in the suburban locales that are close in proximity to uni as rent would be a lot cheaper than having to fork out tons of money i.e. North Melbourne, Carlton, Ascot Vale and even Flem.