UPDATE:

The general consensus seems to be "first year then never again" so that's what I think I'll do. Thanks to all for your insight.

ORIGINAL:

So, as the title suggests, I'm in the midst of deciding whether to be in the dorms for my first year at WPI, or go apartment hunting.

Some context: I currently live a good distance from the US (though I am a US citizen), which would make physical apartment hunting pretty much impossible. I'm also attending on my dad's Post-9/11 GI Bill. For housing purposes, that means the Department of Veterans Affairs is providing around $1900 a month for rent and utilities. So as long as I stay under that, cost isn't much of an issue, even if I'm living alone.

However, my parents tell me that living in the dorms is part of the "college experience" or something, which I honestly don't feel as though I understand at all.

Additionally, there are a couple things I'm pretty sure I can avoid by living off campus: 1. Chartwells (and therefore Norovirus) 2. Being packed into a triple or quad that should've been a double.

I do worry that I'll be missing out on the social aspect of dorm life, but I also plan on being involved in a variety of clubs & such.

I'd like to hear all your thoughts on the matter.

EDIT: I won't be physically present in Worcester until a few days before orientation, just for context.