TO STAY OR NOT TO STAY
HOSTELS FOR LOCAL UNI STUDENTS
Should the child stay in a hostel? While a foreign student certainly won’t really have a choice, Singapore’s local universities also allow locals to stay in these hostels as well. With such a small country like Singapore, it is unlikely that the home is far away from the child’s school. Hence, is staying in a university hostel worth it for local students?
Let us examine at some of the advantages and drawbacks of staying in a hostel for locals.
Learn independence
Staying in a hostel will teach the child to be more independent. If he has always had a maid in the house or Mom to do the household chores, staying by himself in a hostel will instil some discipline and sense of responsibility. He will learn to be more independent. Chores include tidying the room, doing the laundry, cleaning the house, vacuuming or mopping the floor, cooking meals and washing dishes. Not to mention ironing clothes. These are time-consuming chores not to be scoffed at. One day when the child has his or her own family, knowing how to cook would be very handy and welcoming.
Distance
If the home is located far away from the university, commuting may be a problem for those staying in the east and studying in NTU, for instance. Factoring in traffic congestion, everyday commute would amount to a good 3-and-a-half hours to and fro. To save time and traffic hassle, students can apply to stay in the campus hostels.
Conduciveness
Not every student likes to study at home. Distractions include family activities, TV programmes, parental nagging, household chores etc. If one finds that studying at home is not conducive, staying in the university may be a good option. With less distractions comes better concentration. This can be most advantageous during examination periods.
Costs and common sense
Hostels aren’t cheap. Plus, the child needs to buy groceries. If the child has a scholarship, no problem. If not, a hostel can be costly and it doesn’t make financial sense staying in when the house is only a few bus stops away.