Ah, campus life. The first time you're officially on your own -- free to explore the wonderful world of parent free living; free to eat, sleep and study when you want. No more curfews, structured study time, or getting permission to sleep at a friend's house.

It sounds great, and it is, but there are many responsibilities that come with living on your own. You've got to keep track of your finances and pay your own bills, make sure you get to class and get all your homework done, and get 4-6 servings of fruits and veggies a day (didn't think about eating right, did you!)

It's a big transition, but a fun and exciting one as well. No matter what university you're hoping to attend, the school's campus life is something you should thoroughly research prior to making your final decision to go there.

For instance, you've got to consider the following: what kinds of living arrangements the school offers; if they guarantee housing for all four years; what the nightlife scene is; if drug stores, pizza parlors and other essentials are accessible from where you'll be living; how far your classes will be from the freshman dorms; what kind of meal plan you'll get; and where you'll do your banking.

There are quite a lot of things to consider, and you do want to make sure you think these things through before you narrow down (or start) your college search. University life varies tremendously from college to college and city to city. Each school, even if it may be in the same city, offers a different atmosphere. If you're a city person, you may want to stick to considering colleges in or around major cities, as you'll most likely have full access to museums, bookstores, pubic transportation and ethnic restaurants. If you're a small town folk, sticking to schools in rural areas or smaller cities may be your best bet as you will likely adapt much easier to college life in those areas.

Despite the often tedious research tasks that accompany finding that perfect college, a fun, exciting (and don't forget responsibility filled) campus life surely awaits you, whether you prefer to spend it in New York or North Dakota.

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