Residential College or Sharehouse?

[MonsieurHulot]

Hey all,
I'm currently considering my living arrangements for next year, when I will move from rural Vic to Melbourne for uni. I finished VCE last year and took a gap year so I've got a place waiting for me at UoM.
I'm tossing up between a college (most likely just for first year) and a sharehouse. The idea of college life appeals to me, but the price does not. ~$25k for 8 months accommodation is a lot, even if it's catered. However, I think I would be eligible for a few scholarships/bursaries, coming from a rural area with financial difficulties and an ATAR of 94.
Anyway, my question is: are residential colleges worth it? The tutors, atmosphere, food, location, ease of making friends, sports teams etc.
I'd probably try and find a house for second year, ideally with friends made from college from first year.

[spectroscopy]

there are heaps of people more qualified than me to speak on this but since i cant sleep and no one has replied yet ill chip in my 2 cents.

my school is really involved with UoM and we have had camps at the residential colleges before and had representatives of them tell us about the benefits. it is really easy to make friends from what i hear, as many students are in the same boat, with heaps of kids who are rural, some international, and some who just want to move out living there. so making friends is quite easy. the atmosphere is really really nice and some of the colleges have the most absolutely awesome rooms to hang out in (Looking at you queens college rooftop). the food was mediocre, nothing to write home about. ive only had like 7 residential college meals in my life, but they werent as good as something that you could cook yourself. but it is a guaranteed cooked balanced meal, and it keeps you out of the trap of eating unhealthily all the time which many people do when they first move out.
id say it would be good to go for a year or so if you are from far away, to make friends and stuff. but from what i have seen, i dont think it is really worth the money after (unless you fall in love with the place and the lifestyle and friends which is definitely possible). and also i think it would be good when you first move out as it is sort of easing you into independence.
hope i helped LOL good luck with whatever you choose !

[gibbsy06]

If you are even remotely thinking of going to a college, apply right now.

http://www.colleges.unimelb.edu.au/

And besides, once you move out of the college, you generally move straight into a sharehouse with friends from the college. Some colleges will have heaps of people moving out of after one or two years, others not so much. Make sure you ring them all and do your research. Pick the one that feels and looks like home you you. Best of luck. One of the best experiences of your life, I can attest to that.

[cameronp]

I have never lived in a college, but I have lived in a number of different sharehouses over the last 8 years. I would highly recommend it: you save a lot of money, you can still live close to everything, and you quickly learn to become independent. It helps if you have good housemates, though, and it can be hard to tell what it's going to be like living with someone until you actually do.

The rental market is pretty tenant-friendly at the moment, which was not the case a few years ago. It shouldn't be too hard to find a decent house near uni that's already set up with the major whitegoods.

[Special At Specialist]

Another option would be to find a company made specifically for Student Accommodation, such as UniLodge, College Square, CMC, etc. The place where I'm staying at (The UniLodge at the Melbourne Uni tram stop) costs less than $1k/month, you get your own room with a large study desk, all utilities except phone and internet are paid for, but you have to share the kitchen, bathroom and laundry with other residents, plus they charge you $4 to use the washing machine, $3 to use the dryer and $2 to use the Pool table.

There are other student accommodations that cost a bit more but give you the privacy of having your own studio apartment, but personally, I felt like this was the better option, since it was a lot cheaper and also easier to meet other uni residents.

Sharehouses are usually the cheapest option, but you have to either find people to share with, or be willing to share with strangers, which can sometimes cause problems if you're with the wrong people. Often they will be further out from the city than other student accommodation options, which means a higher transport time/cost.