Ah, being a commuter student. Convenient? Yes. Less costly? Definitely yes. But, how worth it is it? Commuting to school is done by so many college students, yet they are often overlooked. Rarely are commuters shown in movies and television shows about college. Occasionally, people who live super close to their campus choose to dorm instead of commuting because they think that commuting "won't give them the full experience."
So, does that mean that commuting is horrible for the typical college kid? Definitely not. I am going to discuss the pros, and cons, of being a commuter, and how commuters can overlook the cons to make them as involved on campus as their dorming peers.
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PROS:
The food.
Getting food as a commuter is so much easier than it is when dorming. If you are living with family, you typically have someone prepping your meals for you as is. If you live on your own, you don't have to deal with the hassle of making food surrounded by other people, and likely have more appliances to use than the average dormer. You don't always have to survive on campus food if you commute, and thus have more options available to you. Of course, many dormers have their own cars, but it is not always the case. Thus, with the ability to have a place to call home and a method of transportation, food is much easier to obtain.
Space and privacy.
I think it's a no-brainer that commuters have better options for having their own place. Most have their own bedrooms, with bathrooms they need only share with family or roommates. Plus, college dorms are very tiny, with little places to put things! Not living in a college dorm gives you so much more options for storage and necessities. Additionally, you aren't constantly surrounded by other people, giving you more ways to be by yourself, without interruptions. It's so nice being able to spend a long time in a bathroom the worry of someone needing to go in. And, having a piece of mind that isn't clouded by the presence of others.
Savings / cost
The big one. The fact of the matter is, dorming costs so much money. With student debt and the costs of college being so large as is, being able to save some money by NOT dorming may just be a saving grace for the future. You never know if the money you save could be used somewhere else, perhaps in a major emergency. Being able to reduce at least SOME money from student loans by not dorming is a huge weight off my shoulders. And since no scholarships exist for dorming, it gives even further reason to commute. Money is a precious, precious thing. Why not save some of it by commuting?
CONS:
Connection to your campus
When you're not constantly on campus or calling it home, it can be harder to establish a connection to your school. You might miss out on a big event on campus, have a more difficult time finding a friend, or joining a club. But, does that mean that you cannot do anything to make that bond stronger? Of course not. If you have a friend who lives on campus, why not spend a night in their dorm to try and get a dorming experience? You can get a glimpse into their world of dorming if you are curious. Additionally, if your school's website has an activity board, visit the page to see what activities are going on in the week. And going to the student union isn't bad either! There will usually be a few organizations there wanting to get people involved. Try finding a job on campus too, so you can be on campus even more. So don't fret about finding things to do on campus! Commuter students are still students, even if they don't call campus their home.
Scheduling/time
When you commute, you can't just roll out of bed and go to class. You have to give yourself time to get up and get ready in the morning, as well as consider traffic and travel time when trying to get to school. This may also result in being more tired and exhausted at school, as well as less time during the day to do things. This is definitely a big advantage of dorming. But, commuters can try to get a good handle on it too. Make sure you have had a good breakfast before you leave so that you have more energy. And if you are extra tired, try to find sometime during the day to take a nap. The more energy you have, the better you will be able to get through the day. Energy is the best way that we can handle time and stress, each time it creeps on us.
Many commuters don't like commuting, as it makes them feel as though they are not as big as a part of the campus as dormers are. But this is not the case, and being a commuter can be very rewarding. With so many ways to improve your college experience, commuting to school is an option that no student should overlook. It has so many benefits, and certainly does not detract from the college experience. It is a safe option for everyone.
