Living-in vs Living-out

[lovespink88]

I joined my chapter when we were a colony. I was a junior at the time, and the first year that we had a house that was livable was my senior year. I had already made a commitment to an apartment for senior year during my junior when it was time to sign contracts for living in the house. Plus I had already lived in an apartment for two years, so I thought it would be odd to go from apartment to sorority house.

One thing I really regret about not living in the house was the bonding I missed out on. I still saw and hung out with my sisters a lot, but the girls who lived in the house kind of shared a special bond. The other thing I regret was the food. Man, I should have taken advantage of one more year of having someone to cook for me! (Out of housers could only eat at the house twice a week).

Then again, there were upsides to living off campus. First of all, there was a bit more freedom. For example, my fiance spent our last semester at school student teaching in his home town. However, he was still required to be on campus during the first week and last weeks. So he stayed at my apartment for that first and last week (and the weekends he came to visit). Had I been living in the house, we would not have been able to do that. Also, it's very nice to have your own room and a lot more of your own space.

On my campus, you stay in the dorms your first year, then if you go Greek, you move to your chapter house for sophomore year. A handful of juniors (and a senior every once in a while) will stay in the house one more year, especially if they have a position that required them to do so. But, the majority of juniors move out into apartments on campus, usually with friends from the chapter.

Also, about seven or so blocks west from the quad, there is an area where there are a bunch of houses available for rent. It's kind of got the nickname of "Seniorland" because Greek seniors rent out those houses. Obviously, they are not official chapter houses, but each house kind of becomes known as the XYZ senior house or the ABC senior house.

I really wish I would have lived in the house for a year. Although I'm sure I would have liked apartment life better, I still regret not having that experience. I have and will continue to recommend living in to every PNM I meet!

[Munchkin03]

I lived in-house my senior year. We were guaranteed housing for all four years; I figured I had the rest of my life to live in an off-campus apartment so I wasn't in a rush. My college is notoriously lenient, so there is a possibility that a landlord would have been more restrictive than the house, which was an on-campus lodge owned and maintained by the University.

Most girls lived in-house sophomore year; I was an RA then and I was abroad junior year, so senior year was my first chance to live in-house. I got to be in a single close to where the action was, so it was great for me!

[ComradesTrue]

I lived in dorms freshman and sophomore year (pretty typical for my campus) and then lived in the Theta house junior and senior year.

My memories of living in my sorority house are some of the most wonderful memories that I had in college. There was always a friend around, always someone to go run with, always someone to watch a favorite TV show with. There were also the good-natured pranks, mischief, and spontaneous fun that I never had in any other living situation. In addition, the convenience during rush, for weekly chapter meetings, and for all other events just can't be measured!

For those who are concerned about money, it was definitely cheaper on my campus to live in the greek houses than to live in an apartment.

I lived in apartments throughout my 20s... earlier on with roommates, later on without. There was no reason for me personally to rush to get my own place. Plus, again, I had waaaaay more fun living in the house than I did in all those years combined living in nice apartments.