2 answers
Rue
Student
Thornton, Colorado
1
Question
Updated
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How was life living on campus for those who did?
How was the overall experience? Would you back and live at home if you could? Or was the change in scenery worth it?
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2 answers
Shannon Zulauf
Risk & Independence
46
Answers
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Updated
Shannon’s Answer
Hi Rue! Great question! For me, I actually lived on campus for about 7.5 years. I attended boarding school in high school (about 30 minutes from home) and then lived on campus again in college (about 1.5 hours away).
I’ve learned that both boarding/residential students and day/commuter students often have access to many of the same opportunities. That said, living on campus gave me the chance to integrate more fully into the culture, build lifelong friendships, and take advantage of experiences that naturally happen outside of class.
It also helped me develop skills I still use in my career today—things like decision-making, communication, independence, and navigating relationships with people from very different backgrounds. Those everyday experiences added up in ways I didn’t fully appreciate at the time.
Whether you live on campus or commute, what matters most is how intentionally you engage with the opportunities available to you. Both paths can be valuable—it’s really about what environment will help you grow the most.
I’ve learned that both boarding/residential students and day/commuter students often have access to many of the same opportunities. That said, living on campus gave me the chance to integrate more fully into the culture, build lifelong friendships, and take advantage of experiences that naturally happen outside of class.
It also helped me develop skills I still use in my career today—things like decision-making, communication, independence, and navigating relationships with people from very different backgrounds. Those everyday experiences added up in ways I didn’t fully appreciate at the time.
Whether you live on campus or commute, what matters most is how intentionally you engage with the opportunities available to you. Both paths can be valuable—it’s really about what environment will help you grow the most.
Sneha Deb
Tech Consultant
194
Answers
Edison, New Jersey
Updated
Sneha’s Answer
Hey Rue! I lived on campus all 4 years of college (even though home was 20 minutes away) and I would not change it for the world. The friendships and experiences I had from living on campus were irreplaceable and extremely valuable to my college experience. I was able to develop meaningful relationships and be present in classes and clubs without feeling like I had to be home at a certain time or miss out on certain things. If you can, I definitely recommend it because it will make you learn about independence and responsibility, while also creating lifelong memories with friends. Good luck!