I’m not going to lie to you. When you leave high school, things are really going to change. You need to worry about paying way more for school, thinking about a career, mapping out your majors, and where to live. A lot of being adult centers around money and it’s pretty freaky.

Easily one of the biggest changes is that you may be moving out. You can live in residence or you can rent out a place with a friend but either way, living arrangements are going need some serious thought and maintenance.

The good news is that whichever college or university you choose wants to help you figure out where to live. (Okay, I mean, they’ll probably try to convince you to live in residence but don’t let them talk you into something you don’t want to do.) Living in residence is a great option for being right on campus and not having to worry about a hectic commute but there are some things you should look into first:

Most post-secondary institutes will require you to maintain a certain grade point average in order to continue using their housing. When teachers tell you (at least I hope they’re telling you) that things are going to be very different in your first year of university, they’re not lying. Some students want to adjust to life as a university or college student in their first year, and there’s nothing wrong with that. Some don’t want the added stress of having to maintain a certain GPA when all they’re trying to do is get used to the course loads. So, just know that that’s one requirement for many schools. You also need to think about the added expense of living in residence as well as a meal plan and the stress of leaving your familiar surroundings behind. One of the biggest things you can do to see if residence is the best choice for you is to attend campus tours. They always offer a look into their student housing and from there you can see if you’d like it.

Something else you can do is live off-campus, which comes with its own set of things to think about. Again, money is an issue. You’d more than likely need to find a part-time job in order to make rent payments, afford food, bills, and have some extra spending money. You can definitely look into getting a roommate, but you should do your research on trusted sources to use for finding a suitable roommate. There are also several websites affiliated with certain universities and college campuses that welcome student residents, which means you get a cheaper price for an apartment and don’t need a roommate. Depending on which school you choose to go to, hunt around on Google or through the school’s website to see what services they offer for students who want to live off-campus in affordable places.

No matter which route you choose to take, there are a lot of options available and just like anything, you need to do your research into which option is best for you. Don’t do something just because your friend is doing it or your parents are pushing you to do it. Listen to what they have to say and weigh all your options. Don’t dismiss anyone’s opinion because everyone has something to bring to the table. Don’t convince yourself that you have to move out to fully experience post-secondary education either because you don’t. The last thing you want to do is be stuck in a place that wasn’t as glamorous as you thought it would be and have no money. Weigh all your options and be sure to think things through. This is your time and you want to make sure it’s something you enjoy!