For most university students starting their second year of studies it is the time to move into new accommodation. The first year freedom of halls of residence have gone. Now you are at the mercy of private housing companies. Having to deal with new landlords can be stressful for anyone. For the majority of young students moving into private housing for the first time, it can be a truly daunting prospect. However, many of us can take comfort in the fact that this year we get the chance to choose who we live with. The uncertainty of who may walk through the door into your place of residence is no longer a concern. The question remains though: Should you opt for an all boys or an all girls house, or a mix of the two?
Since I’ve been at university, living in private accommodation, I have always opted for the all boys option. For that reason, here some of the best (and worst) parts of living in a house consisting entirely of boys.
Shared experience
To start on a positive note, one of the best things about living solely with boys is that there is no initial awkwardness. Whether we like to admit or not, boys often find themselves acting slightly differently around the opposite gender. In an all boys house, there’s no risk of this. You all know where you stand and you also know that no one is going to feel awkward around some of their new housemates. At least at first!
Another thing I’ve found living with boys for over two years is that we all enjoy common interests. I’m not for a second saying that boys and girls cannot have the same interests such as TV shows, food, music etc. But, it would be remiss of me not to acknowledge that boys and girls are likely to have many shared interests and hobbies. In my first year of living with all boys I was lucky enough to meet two new people who I had never met before. At first, I was skeptical about the prospect of this. But those fears quickly evaporated when I discovered they shared very similar sport and music tastes to me. It was the best icebreaker!
Not all positive
I have loved the houses and the people I’ve lived with very much. The banter and sense of humour from the boys seemed to be quite unique and it’s something I have always loved about an all boys house. However, there are some pitfalls that may cause someone to believe that a mixed house may be better for them. As much as I said I have always loved the shared interest of music with my fellow housemates, I do think it is far more common in a boys’ house for this music to be blasted out at 4am from the largest speaker they can possibly find. I know this to my cost from both my first- and second-year houses. Not ideal when you have a 9am the next day!
Also, I think it would be right to point out one of the most obvious stereotypes surrounding an all boys house. The messiness. I would say that having visited friends in all girls houses over the past couple of years, that girls can be just as messy as boys. However, on the whole it must be said that boys’ houses are far more likely to be littered with empty beer bottles, takeaway pizza boxes and a myriad of articles of clothing as well as the smell that accompanies them! So yes, I think us boys need to hold our hands up on that one.
In reality, every house will be different no matter who you live with. Boys and girls all have their quirks and it’s only really when you live with them consistently that you’ll discover them. However, the two years I’ve had living with all boys have been some of the best of my life and I wouldn’t change any of it. Despite the negatives, I couldn’t recommend it more highly.
