The end of the fall semester is important. Finals are soon, and then there is Christmas vacation! It’s a time for every NIU student to rejoice. Before going home for break, students should think about where they are living next year.

Some students have decided where they will be living. However, there are those who are not sure whether they want to live on or off campus.

Living on campus can be great. You don’t have to worry about cooking or cleaning your bathroom. For some, cooking or cleaning is not a big deal. However, I have a hard enough time doing my laundry and cleaning my room regularly. I do it, but I don’t like it! So, for me, no cooking and less cleaning is great.

The halls are located closer to campus than most apartments. Students can get to class much more quickly than if they were off campus. If you randomly want to hang out with someone, there are tons of people on your floor. On-campus living is actually pretty good.

Off-campus living is not bad either. If you go out late, you don’t have to drive around a parking lot looking for a spot and then realize there are none. Then you go to the Grant Hall gravel lot and drive around looking for a spot while asking people who walk by, “Hey, are you coming out?” If you’re playing music late, you don’t have a C.A. saying, “It’s quiet hours. Can you please respect the floor?”

For all you party people, you usually can fit eight to 10 people in your apartment comfortably!

Another big advantage in apartments is that there’s no community bathroom. Enough said.

Also, a good situation may mean less money to pay and more money for you!

However, if you do decide to live off campus, please don’t become one of those hungry, begging off-campus people!

When I lived in the halls, friends visiting the halls from apartments would always ask, “How much money you got in dining dollars? Can you get me a pizza puff?” “NO!”

Do not wait until March to start looking for a place to live. I would suggest to start looking now.

If you will live in the halls you should know what day and time you can sign up for a room so you can get the best room for you.

There are good things about living on and off campus. For me, two years in the halls was good. An apartment is better for me now.

It is good to experience both. Be sure the decision you make is the right one for you. You would hate to live somewhere you don’t want to.

Columns reflect the opinion of the author and not necessarily that of the Northern Star staff.