► entertainment ► events ► issues ► music ► art hilltopics the university daily kansan friday ▲ 1.16.98 ▲ eight.a ▲ A new meaning for homework Living at home has benefits, drawbacks story by laura roddy ● illustrations by dave schell HOMEBODY Living at home — ah, the good life. Or is it? Having mom make your bed or do your laundry might be handy, but what if you meet that special guy at a party and want to bring him home to “get to know him better?” Pros fewer adjustments to college life - saves money - more privacy and comforts of home - stability - stability Cons - feel like you are out missing on college life - hard to connect to University - adds stress to process of becoming independent from parents - restrictive raegann Urish, like most freshmen spends her days balancing school and work. More than 700 KU students live at home with their parents. Saving money is the most common motivation, but some students feel they miss out on the college experience. But unlike most University of Kansas freshmen, she never has had to fight for an open washer or wait in line for a hot meal. Urish still lives at her parent's home in Lawrence. Making the transition from high school to college can be difficult for new students, but more than 700 KU students like Urish have had to make an even greater effort to adjust. "At times, I do feel like I am missing out," she said. "I'm not as involved on campus as I would like to be." Kristin Adkinson, assistant director of the Office of New Student Orientation, said that students who live with their parents have to take a conscious step to experience the non-academic aspects of college life. "The most challenging thing is feeling connected to the University," she said. Students like Urish find both advantages and disadvantages to living at home. "My life hasn't changed a tremendous amount since high school, but the homework is really twice as hard," Urish said. Urish works 30 hours per week at SuperTarget and takes a course load of 15 hours. She has class Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, leaving Tuesdays, Thursdays and evenings available to work. Mary Ann Saul, a clinical social worker at Counseling and Psychological Services, said it could be difficult for students living at home to feel connected to the University while juggling multiple obligations. "It can get overwhelming." Saul said. "They really are limited with their time." Often, living at home simply is not a choice for students but a financial necessity. Urish said the main advantage of living at home was saving money, although privacy and stability were additional benefits. Saul stressed that much of the experience of living at home depended on the particular student and family. She said students went through a gradual process of gaining independence, beginning with their senior year of high school or the summer afterward. "Some find that home provides the struc- ture and quietness that they need." he said. Erin Easley, a Kansas City, Kan., sophomore who lived with her father last year in Lawrence, said that she tried to be both respectful and responsible. and quietness that they need," she said. For others, home can be restrictive. Saul advised that stay-at-home students and parents deal with problems by communicating with each other rather than ignoring them. "At times, it was really frustrating, but as long as you let your parents know what you are doing, it will all work out," she said. Shelly Thornton, Christina's mother, said the situation has worked well. Christina Thornton, Lawrence freshman, said that she still had plenty of freedom and did not feel restricted. "She follows the guidelines," she said. "Because of the person she is, I think the transition has been much easier." For Urish, who lives with her mother, having a parent around has made the transition to college easier. She does not have a curfew and said her mom has been understanding. It helps, Urish said, to have friends in the same situation. Several of her friends from work also live at home and attend the University. "If I want to get away, I can," she said. Although slightly more than 3 percent of KU students live at home with parents, the majority are freshmen. Nationally, 30.5 percent of college freshmen in 1996 planned to live with parents or relatives, according to the Chronicle of Higher Education. Laura Morgan, assistant director of the Student Development Center, said that living at home did not classify students as non-traditional, but that other factors might place them in the category. The University defines a non-traditional student as any undergraduate three or more years older than his or her peers or who is a parent, married, a veteran or a commuter of more than 10 miles. Morgan said. Morgan, Adkinson and Saul agreed it was important for students to get involved with campus organizations that they have an interest in by contacting the Student Organizations and Leadership Development Center in the Kansas Union. "For folks who live farther away, but at home, there might be greater barriers to connecting with classmates." she said. "It's another piece of the social experience — getting to know other people your age." Said said. Adkinson said that other options included forming study groups for classes, going to football and basketball games or attending concerts at Murphy Hall. For students who work, Adkinson recommended a campus job. Putley, joining a sorority helped her connect with other University students. Easley also said that live-at-home students should try to spend extra time on campus by studying at the library instead of at home. A short journey to college life Area high schoolers stay close to home By Tim Harrington tharronint@kansas.com Associate features editor Although 3 percent of KU students alive at home, about 21 percent more of last year's KU freshman did the next best thing. Ten area high schools, including Lawrence High School, fed the University 24 percent of its first-time freshman last year, according to the University of Kansas Profiles for 1997. This does not include freshmen that transferred from other universities or would-be freshmen that earned enough college credit in high school to enter the University at the sophomore level. Lawrence High School contributed the most freshman in 1997 with 211. The other high schools that frequently spill over into the University are, in order of the most freshman to the least: Shawnee Mission South, Shawnee Mission East, Blue Valley Northwest, Shawnee Mission Northwest, Blue Valley North, Washburn Rural, Shawnee Mission North, Shawnee Mission West and Olathe East. Local student enrollment Between 1991 and 1996, an average of 56 percent of the students enrolled at the University's Lawrence campus were from either Douglas or Johnson counties. All the schools listed above, except Washburn Rural, are in those two counties. map and copy those names down. They will come up frequently. Robyn Brooks, Shawnee Mission sophomore and University students not from any of these high schools may want to grape Enrollment of students from Douglas and Johnson county high schools at the University of Kansas has been maintained at high levels since 1990. Source: Office of Institutional Research and Planning M.D. Bradshaw/KANSAN Shawnee Mission East graduate, said that she was apprehensive about coming to the University for that very reason. She said she considered going to college in Santa Cruz, Calif., to try to escape the high school atmosphere. Brooks said she now thought she made the right decision. "In the beginning I thought it would be just like high school, but it isn't. It's completely different," Brooks said. "You see the people that you want to, and you don't see the one's that you don't." Brooks said she had become even closer to some people she knew only casually in high school. "But the majority of the friends I hang out with here are new," she said. DON'T I KNOW YOU? Ten Johnson and Douglas county high schools send 24 percent of their graduates to the University. Here's how the top 10 breaks down: Lawrence ... 211 Shawnee Mission South ... 111 Shawnee Mission East ... 105 Blue Valley Northwest ... 100 Shawnee Mission Northwest ... 81 Blue Valley North ... 70 Washburn Rural ... 63 Shawnee Mission North ... 60 Shawnee Mission West ... 59 Olathe East ... 58 Source: Student profile 1997