Isabella
Live on campus or commute?
I am planning on attending a college near me, and I am currently trying to decide if it would be in my best interest to commute to that college or live on campus. It is my understanding that commuting is cheaper, and that's a huge pro for me, however, I am afraid I will not get the experience that may be necessary.
#college-advice
#commute
#campuslife
5 answers
Jessica Daum
Jessica’s Answer
Hello Isabella!
I just graduated this year and I lived on campus. However I had several friends commute. It is really up to you as to whether or not you live on campus, but here are a few things I would consider when making that decision:
- How far are you from the school? A 15 minute commute is totally doable, but 45+ minutes would be pretty rough.
- What out-of-class activities are you planning to be involved in? If you want to do theatre or sports, remember that you could have early morning or late night rehearsals/practices or you might have to come on the weekends. It helps to makes friends on campus that will let you crash in their room every once in a while to save you from driving home late.
- How social are you? If you like to be around people or are wanting to make new friends, living on campus is a huge advantage, especially your freshman year. I had a friend who started out commuting 15 minutes, but ended up moving on campus because they felt like they were missing out. If you already have friends or are less social, living at home might be a good choice for you. I had another friend who was happy commuting 45 minutes everyday because they had friends in their hometown. I consider myself kind of in the middle when it comes to being social, but I am really glad that I lived on campus because it forced me to be social and make new friends.
- How much would it cost to live in the dorms? Find out how much it costs to live on campus for all 4 years and make sure it is reasonable to live on campus. Many schools require you to have a dining plan if you live on campus, so you remember to consider that when figuring out your costs.
If you are still having a hard time deciding, you could always try living on campus for your first year. This is the most important year when it comes to making friends and getting the full experience. You can always move back home and commute later if you decide that it's not worth the money.
Good luck with your first year of college!
Brian Ulm
Brian’s Answer
I commuted to college and it is one my longtime regrets. I have highschool friends I am still in touch with but none from college. Due to the nature of changing majors, class schedules and varying plans (I went year around so I could take alternating semesters off to co-op) I was rarely in the same class with the same people. My time on campus was mostly class + computer science lab there was little time to socialize before hitting the road home (which was about a 30 mile drive). My suggestion is to get the full experience, live on campus or at least in nearby college friendly rentals for at least some part of your college time. Good luck and enjoy the experience!
Richard A.
Richard’s Answer
Sheila Jordan
Sheila’s Answer
Hi Isabella:
It has been my experience that you could do both. The first two years you could commute and the last two years live on campus due to you will have papers and projects that are due; full access to the library, etc. Or, vice versa. Your last two years are most likely your busiest because you're focused on getting all your credit hours in and graduating. If it is more important to save money, then my suggestion is to stay at home and commute. It would be cheaper that way.
Good Luck to You!
Michael Torio
Michael’s Answer
Attending a college or university nearby versus commuting and living at home will all depend upon what you want to get out of your academic journey. Can you still experience campus life while commuting to a nearby college? Yes.
While living at home, I commuted to the nearby college and helped my parents and family save money, especially since there were five kids in the family. Student organizations and clubs were joined. New friendships were made. Campus activities like sport games, theatre plays, parties, etc. were all attended. Living in the dormitory or in a campus apartment were not experienced since money was saved while living at home. But, by doing so, the whole college life was not fully experienced like living in a dormitory, having roommates, etc.
Commuting/Living at Home:
* Able to live at home to save money
* Being closer to family, friends and loved ones
* Time Management
* Traffic in getting to classes
* Responsibilities of being a college student and living at home
* Working to help pay for college costs
* Home cooked meals, laundry done, commuting experience
* Commuting to attend campus activities like sport games, parties, clubs, events, etc.
Living on campus in an apartment or in the dormitory:
* Room and board and meal plan costs
* Monthly costs for rent, utilities and groceries while living in an apartment
* Being independent, learning and developing and freedom as a young adult
* Forming new friendships with roommates and other students on campus
* Time Management
* Working on campus to help out with financing college education
* On campus activities, clubs, and sporting events
* Privacy
Your college journey should be about you and your adventures and experiences that you want to have. It is best to research and weigh the benefits and costs of living at home and commuting to a nearby college versus living on campus. You may want to ask friends who have experienced either option in order to get their first hand views.
Best wishes and have fun in your college journey and adventures!