The countdown to residence hall freedom is right around the corner.

Residence halls are a great opportunity for meeting new people and ordering countless late-night pizzas, but the time has now come for most students to reach the ultimate level of independence.

One of the biggest decisions students face is weighing the pros and cons of living on and off campus.

Lila Disque, a sophomore advertising major, enjoyed living on campus.

“We were like family,” she said.

However, where there’s a pro, there’s usually a con, Disque said.

“Someone is always there – whether it’s a roommate or someone down the hall. There’s really no alone time,” she said. “This year I live in Moore Hall, which are efficiencies. They’re a little more isolated.”

Nima Baha, a senior electrical engineer major, remembers his life at McElvaney Hall.

“I [didn’t] like sharing my room with roommates,” he said. “I like coming to my room and knowing it’s clean like it was when I left.”

After one semester, Baha moved off campus. He’s been happy ever since.

One of the biggest gripes of off-campus living is the SMU parking situation.

As a senior, Ben Panchasarp thought that having a senior/graduate parking sticker would make living off campus a little easier.

“Sometimes I spend 15 minutes searching for a parking spot,” he said.

Beth St. Lawrence, a sophomore business major, recalls living in Shuttles Hall during her first year.

“You didn’t have to worry about parking before class,” she said. “I met a lot of new people and knew more about what was going on around campus.”

“It’s a good idea to be on-campus your first year to meet people, but if you can get off campus your second year, it’s a good idea,” St. Lawrence said.

Jessica Bognar, a junior advertising major, enjoys the freedoms of living in an off-campus apartment.

Students also choose to live on campus to avoid long commutes to class. For the past year Bryan Warrick, a first-year business and political science major, lived at home in Mesquite.

“I’m moving in to the Lambda Chi house next fall to cut down on the commute,” Warrick said. “Although I’ll miss mom’s home cooking and free laundry [service]. I look forward to spending more time with the guys and sleeping in more often.”