Accommodation has always been one of the concerns for students in any university, not limiting to ours. For graduate students studying in Guangfu Campus, the two main options are still living on campus or off campus in a rented apartment. In this article, I will share with you my thoughts about these options, the pros and cons, based on my experience.
Living in the dorm
Graduate students in Guangfu campus are usually assigned to Dorm 11 or Graduate Dorm 3 if they sign up for on campus accommodation.
I now stay in Dorm 11 with two roommates, one from Russia and one from Poland. Dorm 11 has four-person rooms, where the desks are separated from the bunk beds, and shared bathrooms outside. The interior has this fresh mint green color, even though looks a bit old, with a lovely view to the greens.
Dorm 11 also includes refrigerators, microwave ovens, electric pots, washing machines, drying machines and a spacious cloth hanging balcony in the common area for its residents. Sometimes Dorm 11 doesn’t give me the privacy I want, but I have had great cultural exchange experience thanks to the diversity in culture of my roommates and neighbors. Furthermore, Dorm 11 is closer to the transportation hubs, gym and even our neighbor school NTHU.
Dorm 11 is not the only option for students who want to live on campus. There is Graduate Dorm 3 near the South Gate, which is the newest dorm in Guangfu Campus, with more types of rooms, like twin rooms or family rooms, with private bathroom. The amenities in this dorm are nearly the same with Dorm 11 but its bonus is the common study space. Of course, the accommodation fee of this dormitory is much more than that of Dorm 11 and deposit is required, but it is still a considerable choice.
Although you cannot really cook in both dormitories, they are close to convenience stores and cafeterias with diverse food options. If you have a bike, you can park it right outside the dorm, while scooters will have to be in students’ parking lots.
Living in a rented apartment
Usually there are more amenities when you rent a room off campus, all in one package. Some even include a private bathroom or balcony. The landlords tend to require two-month rent as the deposit and the rent is higher than dormitory fee. The price varies depending on the location of the apartment. Living near school saves you lots of travelling time but living in the downtown streets is not a bad choice as it is more convenient going to the supermarkets or train stations.
Privacy and freedom may be the best thing about renting outside. You can cook, have your friends over or even park your vehicle close to your place. You can do almost whatever you want! For a night owl like me, I used to like staying up really late and keeping the light on, but this can be a problem if you share a room with someone else.
Throwing garbage may be another issue if you have lots of classes and cannot catch up with the schedule of the local garbage trucks.
Conclusion
Like every coin has its two sides, living on or off campus has pros and cons. But no matter where you choose to live, it will become a part of your life in NYCU and enrich your experience here in Taiwan. As long as you are happy and comfortable with your choice, it is good enough.
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