Back in the days college students used to live in the cheapest dorms a city had to offer. It seemed that the poor conditions motivated them to achieve higher academic goals. Advancing in school projects was a chance to escape money shortage and land a prestigious job after graduation. Today, the Spartan element in college living is officially a thing of the past.
Over the last ten years investors have been putting millions of dollars in building off-campus houses. Featuring elegant accommodation, in-house tanning salons, large living spaces with fitted kitchens and breakfast bars, and access to a pool, the modern luxury apartments bring a pleasant sense of a vacation getaway. For parents and students, safe and comfortable college dorms are an important factor. In recent times, the bar for campus dorms has continuously been raised in many countries. With this trend growing strong, student apartments started to look even more extravagant and luxury than one can imagine. It can’t be wrong to provide undergraduates with better options to enhance their college experience. However, all this luxury raises some concerns.
The dramatic turn in student housing development
Owning to budget cuts, universities can’t afford building new dorms to meet the growing demand, nor renovate the old campus residences dating from the mid-20th century. Here is why, private companies decided to take the challenge. In the span of a decade they managed to build a number of ideally furnished apartments, located only a few minutes away from most campus buildings.
Luxury apartments attract with amenities and state-of-the art appliances
Newly built luxury apartments lure students with a wide variety of amenities. From swimming pools, jacuzzis, gyms, underground parkings, saunas, coffee bars and fireplaces, the new fabulous living places thoroughly outshine the humble university dorm rooms. Luxury housing offers rooms with flat screen, HD televisions, dryers, washing machines, leather couches, hot hubs and tanning beds. The 3 and 4-bedroom units are well-equipped with bathrooms with music coming out of the shower head. Facilities also feature fitness centers, yoga studios, and stream and spa rooms.
Falling in the trap of college loans
To enjoy this immense comfort, the only requirement is having enough cash to pay for the rent.
This leaves us to the major question: How can students afford these expensive conditions?
Clearly, parents pay the rent, but not everyone comes from a wealthy family. Students whose moms and dads can’t afford paying for top-flight housing, simply take out loans, which leads to a worrying trend. The reliance on loans is drastically increasing. No doubt college tuitions play a major part in this issue. Frequently rising tuition fees leave students with no other option but to take bigger loans. This puts a heavy financial burden on their shoulders. Comfort and luxury can cloud one’s mind. Naturally, an 18-year-old would be easily tempted by expensive amenities. Most college students do prefer first-class housing even if it is afforded on debt, obviously not realizing they will have to work hard to repay the money in the future.
Too much comfort and fancy lifestyle overshadows essential academic goals
Luxury college apartments create more social environments than communities of dedicated learners, which works against the primary goal of going to college –advancing and reaching further academic achievements. Too much comfort and luxury set the mood for frequent entertainment activities overshadowing studying. Why would you care for a quiet study room, when you have a basketball court or a sauna? Why not can prepare for the next exam while in the hot tub or the stream room, right?
Wrong.
Providing excellent living places for college students is not wrong in itself. The problem comes when too much luxury begins to hurt. It is when the fancy lifestyle is not affordable, but students won’t give up, so they take loans. Whereas most students spend thousands of dollars monthly for first-class housing, there are far more reasonable ways to invest the money lent. Student loans are developed with education in mind. Therefore, the typical expenses they can help cover are:
- tuition and fees
- computer equipment – laptops, tablets, e-readers
- textbooks and additional academic-learning supplies
- membership fees for libraries and virtual platforms for education
- courses aiming to extend awareness on particular subjects and disciplines.
Conclusion
Luxury lifestyle support in college is not worth when you pay on debt. Swimming pools and yoga studios won’t help you graduate, nor land a profitable job. Your knowledge and skills will. Therefore, be wise when taking student loans and spending the money. College and university education is a good investment in the future, only when it doesn’t cross the line.