As the parent of a grad and a current student who each went 50/50 dorm/apartment, there's a lot of factors to consider. Ask yourself/research: Will you want to live there during any summer/winter breaks? If so, definitely go for the apartment. Apartments provide the convenience of coming and going when you want to, not when the school decides you should. Less move ins/move outs. You appear to have only one semester under your belt. Are you sure you will be happy to live with this group? Can you stay another year in the dorm and then rent? How much upper class housing does the college provide? Will you likely be forced to move off at some point? The circumstances at your university could be very different from others' experiences, so take that into consideration.