With nearly 33,000 students enrolled at the University, finding a good place to live during school can often times be a challenge for students. Luckily, the N.C. State area offers many options in housing, both on campus and off. There are many benefits and disadvantages to both on-campus and off-campus living, and the options are worth exploring. Because really, aren’t housing experiences a big part of the “college experience?”

One of the biggest concerns with off-campus housing is the issue of transportation. Brittni Moore, a freshman in biomedical engineering, sees this as a big factor in her decision to live on campus.

“I’d say that a con to living off campus would be transportation because I don’t have my car here in Raleigh,” Moore said.

However, according to Chelsey Barkley, a representative at Campus Edge Apartments, transportation accommodations are being worked on and are already improving.

“We’ve been trying to have the Wolfline stop here. We have the CAT bus that stops here and goes to the gym on Cates and Morill, and it’s free for all students to ride that,” Barkley said.

Applying for housing through the University could be an easy fix, but it does exclude the students from the opportunities that involve living off campus in a complex affiliated with, but not owned by, N.C. State.

“At Campus Edge you have your own patio; I was very excited about that. We also have nine-foot ceilings, and you can cook your own food; you don’t always have to eat cafeteria food,” Barkley said. “I feel like it’s just a lot cleaner. The biggest thing is not having to share everything.”

Most apartment complexes affiliated with N.C. State offer the choice of a one, two or three bedroom apartment. And in each option, every student gets his or her own room.

“I like living on campus because of everything that is going on, but I think I would prefer to live off campus because the dorm rooms are so small,” Moore said.

Now, there might be something to be said about living on campus. Living in the dorms provides you with close, accessible resources on campus, just in walking distance. There are 20 residence halls and three apartment complexes owned and offered by the University for student living. Jennifer Miles, a freshman in chemical engineering, understands this aspect of living on campus.

“It’s convenient. My classes are close so I can take naps in between classes,” Miles said.

But the argument still stands: is it better to give up comfort, or give up convenience? Campus Edge argues that its apartments can be the perfect fix.

“It’s pretty competitive with living on campus, considering how much you get, with the tremendous amenities,” Barkley said.

If you take a look at some of the Web sites for the off-campus apartments, they are definitely impressive in what they offer. On the Wolf Creek Apartments Web site, the photos and layout are swank, and on the homepage the complex promises “Wolf Creek student apartments offers real value, a convenient location and, most of all, a fun place for local students to live,” supposedly satisfying every student’s wants and needs.

However, some students are still not convinced. There is still the debate between campus apartments, affiliated apartments and unaffiliated apartments. Miles said she would opt for one completely separate from the University.

“Unaffiliated apartments are cheaper and they don’t have rules about quiet hours and visitation hours. It just seems like an easier place to live,” Miles said.

Moore agreed, saying she would rather go with something that would not charge her more for superfluous amenities.

“I wouldn’t prefer to live in University-owned apartments because they’re just like dorms and they are too expensive,” Moore said.

While most of the apartments promise a fun, independent place to live, University Housing provides students with security and convenience. The debate is ongoing, but with a little research and thought, each student can make his or her decision in order to benefit the overall college experience.