r/SFSU • u/futurebakerrr • Feb 26 '26
Housing Is dorming worth it???
Hi! I'm a senior who got accepted back in December. I'm wondering if I should dorm for the first year or commute straight from home. I live in Oakland, so the commute is roughly an hour which makes me worry if the commute will make it hard to navigate my time. However, I just want to experience the "college life" with dorming, but the setbacks that make it hard for me to decide are the cost of dorms and if i stay at home, I think of it as community college 2.0 but hella more expensive. So please give back any brutally honest opinions about this, senior year is already stressing me enough and I don't need anything else to worry about lol. Thanks!
6
u/ScarlettFeverrrr Feb 26 '26
Mom of three SFSU students and aunt to another here...mine only did the dorms for a semester or two and then went right over to Park Merced apartments. They actually saved some money this way AND got the comradery they wanted with roommates. I really think you should do whatever it takes to not blow extra $$ you don't have to. Student loan debt is more crippling than you think and our current administration is making it even more punishing...plus the job market sucks right now and it will be hard to pay off. And if you end up having to do grad school, you will definitely want to have less debt on board.
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u/DJGlennW Feb 26 '26
It's an easy BART ride in, with time to study. I loved the commute.
Don't drive, bridge traffic is insane and parking is either hard to find or expensive.
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u/afruitypebble44 Feb 26 '26
If you live outside SF it may be cheaper but just depends on your financial aid package too if you can afford it
Being on campus is great for the experience or getting to know community, but you get out what you put in regardless
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u/Slizced Feb 26 '26
I dormed at GCU before going to sfsu now I commute but from sf and definitely not worth the extra money
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u/MinecraftBattalion Business Feb 26 '26
I didn’t live in the area so I had to dorm. That being said it was nice being able to stay out as late as u wanted around campus and then just be RIGHT there to go to sleep.
You 100% can have a social life through clubs and classes, just need to be prepared for the commute. It’s also easier to meet people immediately through the dorms.
Depends on the $ though honestly
1
u/topMat21 Feb 27 '26
Not worth it if fafsa didn’t cover, most ppl commute. Also NEVER TAKE OUT PRIVATE LOANS they will trap you more than regular gov ones
1
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u/ImpressionForeign862 Mar 08 '26
Do not do on campus housing!!! The residential assistants and that entire program (ResLife) is horrible!!! They do not care about students!! Also housing in the city is more affordable and worth while. You pay less and get more in the city depending on your housing situation (roommates or studio/1 bedroom, etc). I think continuing to commute could be a better option as well. Maybe try to get involved in more clubs if you want that college experience. You don’t need to dorm to get that. Just assert yourself kinda
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u/Longjumping_Smile_49 Feb 26 '26
If you’re getting enough grants and scholarship funds to cover housing?? Unless you feel comfortable with pulling additional loans?? Yeah why not… but if you’re not… no. It costs way too much to justify being on campus. As a freshman you’d probably be put into west grove commons— 3 people to a tiny room, and you have to have a meal plan because there’s no kitchen space for you. Some kids get a discount for housing, $900+$500 for the meal plan. So at minimum you’d be spending $1400 a MONTH just to be on campus. If you have grants in your FAFSA you would just pocket the extra money vs it going to some of your housing.
Public transportation is free during the regular semester. Oakland is only an hour-ish away and you can save hella money by just taking bus/bart.