This post was written by a member of the Texas A&M Parent and Family Advisory Council. All members of the advisory council are parents or family members of current Texas A&M University students.
As your student is finalizing their plans for living arrangements for 2025-2026, they may be considering living off-campus. Whether this is your student's first time living off-campus or they've lived off-campus this past year, there are some important considerations as your family navigates this process. Below, we asked family members of current Texas A&M students what the process was like for their family as their student moved off-campus, as well as the pros and cons that come with living off-campus.
How did your family make the decision for your student to live off-campus? What factors did you consider within that decision?
"Our family has the expectation for our student to live on-campus their first year and they can choose to live off-campus beyond that based on various factors (such as their personality, maturity, a proven track record of good decision making, academic success, established friendships, healthy habits, etc.) Before making the decision to live off-campus, evaluate your student. Are they social or shy? My shy student wanted to be alone until we discussed how he’d probably end up feeling isolated because he is not comfortable putting himself out there. What are your priorities as a family member and what the student is looking for in their living arrangement? Does your student want to work on-campus or engage in on-campus activities? It's helpful to do research in advance to navigate some of these common questions and create a plan with your student. At the end of the day, each student is different, and your family should prioritize what best suits your student."
"For my student, she is extraordinarily independent, has an emotional support animal, and was accustomed to living with no roommate, as she is an only child. So, there were many factors that contribute to the decision for her to live off-campus. However, we were able to find a townhome in the local BCS area that was a perfect fit for her needs. It allowed adequate space to entertain a small group of friends and it has a backyard for her dog. Living off-campus was the best choice as it supported her individual living needs."
What has been a challenge for your student to navigate because they live off-campus?
"We've found one of the largest challenges my student faces with living off-campus is transportation. She lives fairly close to campus, so walking makes sense most days. However, during inclement weather, driving or taking the bus is more reasonable. This can be a challenge as on bad weather days, often convenient parking fills up quickly, so she ends up still having to walk to her classes, or the buses aren't overly accessible. This requires her to plan for additional time to get to her classes and was an adjustment. Another challenge is learning to navigate struggles that come along with independent living, such as bursting pipes or broken air conditioners. Although rentals are governed by the landlord or management company, learning to deal with maintenance-type issues is definitely a learning challenge."
"My family has found a few challenges related to our student's move off-campus. The most challenging issue for my student living off-campus is making good, healthy decisions. The transition to living off-campus allows him the freedom to engage in decisions that may negatively impact his future - such as skipping class or drinking alcohol. Another challenge is connecting with others. Since it takes an effort to commute to campus (either via walking, taking the bus, or driving), it creates barriers to going to and from campus. We've found that if our student doesn't get along with their roommates or have many friend groups, living off-campus can add to feelings of isolation and loneliness. Lastly, safety was a concern and challenge as we wanted to ensure that our student felt safe walking to their car or the bus stop late at night. Texas A&M provides information related to staying safe on-campus, but it was a conversation we had with our student as they moved off-campus."
What have you found to be beneficial about your student living off-campus?
"The best part of my student living off-campus is getting to see them blossom in awareness, personal responsibility, gratitude, and problem-solving. We found that by discussing expectations of our student in advance of them living off-campus allowed them to take ownership of their decision-making. For example, we discussed that while they are free to live as they choose (in general), we would not be bailing them out of the consequences from their decisions. Basically, if they mess up, they’re responsible for fixing it, which has translated into them thinking twice before jumping into certain situations. They have grown in their view of the world and have developed gratitude for their family and relationships as they’ve been exposed to a wider variety of people. They are learning to cook and be hosts. Which in turn has given them a greater appreciation for how much work goes into being a host, the cost, the time, cooking and having to clean up. Small things that were taken for granted. As a parent watching my kids problem solve, gain wisdom and learn from their mistakes has been deeply gratifying."
"I've found that allowing my student to live off-campus has provided her a much needed respite at times. Because she lives with no roommate and away from main campus, she is afforded the opportunity to disconnect when studying for a big upcoming exam or working on a project. It is also nice to be able to stay with her when I come for a visit and not have to worry with renting a hotel room."
If you have a question for the Aggie Parent and Family Advisory Council or a suggestion for future content that the Advisory Council should cover, please fill out this form: tx.ag/QuestionsandSuggestions
