BCM 212 Reflection

Are the financial costs that come with moving out of home and living on or close to university campus worth it when considering study, social, and personal aspect? This is obviously personal to each students situation and what they are looking for out of their university experience, whilst UOW cant control students experience living off campus, they do control the on campus experience, are they providing the students the opportunities and experiences they deserve for their large financial investment?

The research findings show that many students who have moved out of home do find the study, social, and personal opportunities and experiences worth the investment, however for many students this is their only option, living to far away from campus to commute each day.

What surprised me about the survey findings was that there was not a single participant who had lived on or close to campus whose regular home was less than an hour’s travel time, obviously the sample size was small, but I expected a few people to have their regular home within Wollongong yet still choose to live on campus as a new experience and seeking independence. This was preconceived idea of mine potentially influenced by films, where students just move out of home to begin a life of study and partying.

In terms of my research topic and survey, I think it would have been beneficial to potentially have an interview with someone who has actually moved out of home to question their reasoning, what it was like, what they wished they knew before, and how they manage their studies, with work, and paying for the cost of living.  Whilst the participants I had were very open and gave very in-depth answers, I think an interview may have made up for the smaller sample size of respondents.

Additionally, I could have possibly researched into other university accommodation within Australia, comparing prices and how worth while they were. Moreover I could have done some further research into American colleges and how much they cost and how they operate with their students in accommodation, as I had previously heard that the American on campus experience is far greater than the one we experience in Australia.

Personally I found this assignment to be extremely beneficial and enlightening, not only with the information received from my peers in regards to their experience, but learning to engage in my research and really utilise the remote learning style we have faced this semester.