I discovered this week that I am less mature than my graduate friends, have limited decision-making powers and have been a burden on my parents, writes Liz Ford
I was a "stay-at-home" student, which, apparently, is a very bad thing.
According to new research, students who choose to live with their parents while they study at university risk severe - yes severe - psychological consequences.
"Stay-at-home youngsters tend to remain adolescent with damaged powers of personal decision making," commented family therapist Phillip Hodson on a report by Lloyds TSB.
"Indeed, some of them, especially boys, get stuck at home until they are 30 or older, partly because they have not managed this crucial break at 18."
And parents are apparently less than enthusiastic about having their children hanging round the house when they could be off getting drunk on cheap beer in the comfort of their own student dorm.
The Lloyds TSB report is, in essence, there to tell us that going to university is quite expensive for students. More than one-fifth of students now plan to stay at home while they study to save money, with 35% claiming they wouldn't be able to afford to go to university at all if they had to pay for accommodation.
While saving money is one reason for not shacking up in student halls, living at home is seen by some as an easy option - no queuing at the launderette, the chance to eat something other than pasta and not necessarily the supermarkets' own brand, and being subbed the odd £10 when you've no money - all things that, it could be argued, boys, in particular, would find attractive. But is that really so bad?
As someone who's suffered this perceived trauma of staying at home (albeit a few years ago now), I don't think I've turned out so inept - although I'm not a boy and I did move out before I turned 30.
The reason I chose to stay at home was because I didn't fancy the idea of living near my London university. While Tottenham holds some attractions, the thought of spending a wet Sunday on campus was not one of them. And yes, I did save money so I was able to spend one of my long summer holidays on a six-week charity trip to Africa (I worked the other two - I'm not a total freeloader).
Yes there were downsides - having to get the last train/night bus home from any nights out, the daily commute, and perhaps it did take a little longer to make friends - but I was still able to get involved in student life, including running a sports society, competing in a number of competitions and attending events.
With higher tuition fees and rising living costs, going to university is not cheap for anyone other than the very rich - even though from September fees will be paid after graduation and there are a number of maintenance grants and loans to help with costs. So what benefit is there in making students who do opt to stay at home feel as though they are somehow inadequate?
Since graduating from university, I've moved out of the family home, have managed to find work, make friends, travel and do all the things my "stayed-away-from-home" friends have done. I've even done a bit more than some of them. And, just for the record, my mum told me she enjoyed having me at home while I studied, because it meant she got to keep me for three extra years.
