The point of college is to get a degree and to start a career -- not have an "experience". Roughly half the people I met in dorms my freshmen year dropped-out by the second year, so their "dorm experience" wasn't that helpful. Also, unless you have a private room, having overnight guests in a dorm is awkward -- especially for your roommate and other residents.

Renting an entire apartment without roommates is probably more expense than a dorm. And if you rent an apartment with roommates, you'll need to negotiate the terms of having overnight guests. Your roommate expect to be sharing the living space with you -- not your boyfriend and middle-aged mom.

I recommend a dorm.

You will assemilate into college better.

And how often is your boyfriend going to be able to visit the first year, not often.

After that, when you know more of the "lay of the land" you can consider an apartment.

Stay in the dorms at least for the first year. It is more conducive to learning. Boyfriends can be a priority after college. How often is between deployments?

first find out what your school requires. A lot of schools require 1st and 2nd year students to live in the dorms.

I always recommend dorms for freshman and then move out after that

If you want to stay with your boyfriend you should probably get an apartment.

I'm having trouble deciding if I should get a dorm room or an apartment. The college I want to go to is 4 hours away from home. I understand that a dorm room gives you the "college experience" and sometimes might be nicer, but right now an apartment seems better for me. My boyfriend is going off to the marines, and between deployments he wants to stay with me most of the time, and I understand the opposite sex isn't allowed to stay in your dorm room. So I would like an apartment so he could stay with me. I don't need cable, and really all I need is internet for research, water bill, electric bill, rent, etc. My mom also said she'd come visit me sometimes on weekends. Any and all advice is appreciated :)