[Writing Practice] Dormitory or Apartment

Topic: which one do you choose to live when studying abroad, dormitory or apartment? 

             Studying abroad has become a trend in the world. Many parents allow and support their children’s decision to apply to foreign college or university. But that decision requires a long time of preparation, a lot of effort and money such as their language skill, their chosen school, their transportation and especially their accommodation. Staying in the dorm is always the first option for most parents as it receives the support from the school itself. Yet, sooner or later, the majority of students will move to an outside apartment for three reasons: the restriction when living in the dorm, the expense and the need to improve themselves.

Living in the dorm means that they have to follow the rules written. Many restrict the opening and closing time of the gate. Therefore, the students cannot return and leave at will and it will become very inconvenient for them later when they have more friends and more activities to attend. Also, some schools requires additional compulsory fee for meals. Furthermore, some only allows freshman students to stay in their dorm.

            The most important reason that parents choose dorm is because of its security but the opportunity cost is too high for the big difference in the rent between a room in dorm and an apartment. For example in Houston, Texas, there are cases where a room in dorm costs 700$ per month excluded the fee for food which have been mentioned earlier while a whole apartment with two bedrooms only needs 400$ to 500$.  The 200$ to 300$ gap can be used for food for a whole month. Therefore, it is easy to understand why more and more students who have already bundled with high tuitions and fee decide to leave.

            Not only the expense they are concerned about, but also it’s the need of improving themselves that pushes them out of their home. Their family agrees with their decision because they want their children to have the opportunity to have real life experience outside of their warm home which their loving and caring mother resides. If they choose to stay in a place where everything is there for them, part of their parents’ money and effort are wasted.

            Nowadays, there are more reasons to prefer an apartment to the dormitory as it is losing its reputation of good security and good service as more and more scandals have occurred such as the two recent cases of dormitory burglar and thief in University of Houston’s dormitory. They went into the rooms with their guns and ran away successfully with the residents’ belongings who were too scared to resist. If these two biggest advantages no longer exist, obviously, living in an apartment is an excellent choice. 

Notes: finished in 25', Yes!