The Pros And Cons Of Commuting To School | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Student Life

The Pros And Cons Of Commuting To School

Being a free bird certainly has its benefits and downfalls

961
The Pros And Cons Of Commuting To School
Pixabay

As someone who lived on campus her first semester and now commutes from home, I can give a good perspective of comparison between living on campus and commuting from home. There are seemingly equal benefits to both, so here are the pros and cons of commuting.

1. Privacy

Pro: Living at home is great. You can have all the personal space you want. All your belongings can be placed around the room how you please, all your own furniture, no room checks, no roommates. You can study all day and night without disturbances.

Con: You don’t have that instant community experience that comes with living two feet from the nearest person going through the same things you are. That’s really something to be appreciated when you need someone to talk to at midnight when your non-residential friends are asleep or busy.

2. Food

Pro: You get to eat real, home-cooked meals at least half the time, eat on campus whenever you feel social, and eat out if you feel like it. You can because you have a car!

Con: You miss bonding with your friends as you walk together or making new friends along the way.

3. Parking

Pro: Commuter parking has way more options than residential parking.

Con: But if that’s all full, you’re toast, because you can’t walk—what would you do with your car?

4. Making it to class

Pro: You get to wake up with some Starbucks and your favorite CD as you cruise to class.

Con: You have to deal with traffic. If you leave too late, you’re toast.

5. Benefits

Pro: Commuters get some rather nice benefits: free Portillo’s, free Chipotle, free bowling, free food, free food, and more free food.

Con: Well, you pay for that free food with your commuter-life fee. So, it’s really just chosen food that collects commuters at a certain given time for the sake of socializing us with one another, but that only happens if you already know each other. I think I’d rather keep my $200.

6. Mobility

Pro: You have a car, so everyone wants to get a ride from you!

Con: You have a car, so everyone wants to get a ride from you.

7. Parties

Pro: You have access to an entire house if your parents go on a trip. That means party!

Con: Just make sure you clean up the puke that freshman left all over their toilet before they see it. True story.

8. Lifestyle

Pro: You can hang with your friends at your house and feel like normal-sized people rather than ants in little dorms with no privacy. You can watch TV, cook together, and cry about homework without people interrupting your study time in the lounge or visiting your dorm.

Con: You will probably get addicted to this exclusive life with your friends and neglect other social opportunities. Make sure you get out there and go to that social outing your other friends invited you to.

9. Roommates

Pro: No roommates! If you enjoy having space, privacy, and not dealing with people you may dislike, commuting from home is a dream.

Con: If you do have some friends you would adore living with, you kind of wish you were their roommate.

10. Making friends

Pro: Commuters have a special aura about them and we seem to find each other by instinct. Sitting in a new class, we will most likely gravitate toward one another and have an instant bond of friendship. You now have a buddy to get that free Chipotle with!

Con: Commuters tend to be excluded naturally from social events because most people never see you, never met you personally, or have no idea you exist. Going to parties it’s always: “wait, you go to Judson? I’ve never seen you…” Yes, that’s because I use my home as a refuge from the reality of school. I’m sorry I can’t break you out.

11. Free food

Pro: If you lived on campus previously, you get an “in” with the RD as a forever resident of that dorm building. Meaning, if there’s a free food event, you will be welcome. Come in, weary traveler, and tell us of your tales of the commute from the great outer lands.

Con: You won’t always get to casually waltz in on those free food events, because who has time for that?

12. Time

Pro: You get to save a lot of time by staying home and studying instead of getting distracted by random social encounters and events.

Con: You still have no time because you’re always driving!

13. Convenience

Pro: You can work at home on your laptop if you’re a studio-using major. But that’s the only pro to this because…

Con: If you don’t have the ability to bring studio work home, driving back and forth just to work in studio, and end up having to spend 15 hours of your night to finish your project because there’s probably a class going on, is the definition of hell. Driving all the way to campus to print something or pick something up makes you want to say your goodbyes to this life. If the library is closed: too bad.

14. Rules

Pro: If you go to a religious school, there may be some rules. My school doesn’t allow drinking on campus and opposite sexes are only allowed in dorms at designated hours. Living at home, you can drink whenever you want and have friends over any time.

Con: You have to still abide by your parent’s rules, and they’re probably strict too, if they sent you to a religious school. You may be over 18, but you live under their roof. Their house, their rules.

15. Drama

Pro: You don’t have to deal with the drama that comes with close living quarters and you don’t have people who hardly even know you watching you and gossiping about the things you do and who you talk to. At my school, it seems like everyone watches what everyone does and talks about it because there’s nothing better to do in the “bubble” community. You can’t even sit down to lunch with a person of the opposite gender without people asking you about the nature of your “relationship.”

Con: There is no downside to this. Really. Unless you really want to hear all the gossip that’s going on; then just ask your resident friends. But you probably live in ignorant bliss at this point, so just hold on to that sweet privilege.

16. Driving

Pro: You save a ton of money by not paying housing.

Con: You probably spend just as much in gas. Ugh.

Living on campus certainly has its blessings. I recommend it for at least the first semester or so, because you’ll make a ton of friends and establish yourself as a person who goes to that school—in case you eventually disappear into the mist of anonymity, which isn’t so bad if you like privacy. It really just depends on your personality, the location of your house from your school, and your budget. For me, I still prefer commuting. It’s worth saving that ton of money from housing costs. Plus I get to see my dog all the time and play music whenever I want.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Taylor Swift in orange dress playing a moss-covered piano on stage with bright lights.

A three-and-a-half-hour runtime. Nine Eras. Eleven outfit changes. Three surprise songs. Zero breaks. One unforgettable evening. In the past century, no other performer has put on an electric performance quite like Taylor Swift, surpassing her fans ‘wildest dreams’. It is the reason supporters keep coming back to her shows each year. Days later, I’m still in awe of the spectacle ‘Miss Americana’ puts on every few days in a new city. And, like one of Taylor’s exes, has me smiling as I reminisce about the memories of the night we spent together.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

A Few Thoughts Every College Freshman Has

The transition into adulthood is never easy

22953
Mays Island
Courtney Jones

Today I started my third week of college at Minnesota State Moorhead. I have survived welcome week, finding my classes on the first day, and being an awkward loner in the dining hall. Even though I have yet to be here for a month, I have already experienced many thoughts and problems that only a new college student can relate to.

Keep Reading...Show less
Students walking on a sunny college campus with trees and buildings.

"Make sure to get involved when you're in college!"

We've all heard some variation of this phrase, whether it came from parents, other family members, friends, RAs, or college-related articles. And, like many clichés, it's true for the most part. Getting involved during your college years can help you make friends, build your resume, and feel connected to your campus. However, these commitments can get stressful if you're dealing with personal issues, need to work, or aren't sure how to balance classes and everything else going on during the semester.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

9 Reasons Why Friends Are Essential In College

College without friends is like peanut butter without jelly.

9590
Bridgaline Liberati and friends
Bridgaline Liberati

In college, one of the essential things to have is friends. Yes, textbooks, a laptop, and other school supplies are important but friends are essential. Friends are that support system everybody needs. The more friends you have the better the support system you have. But you also have someone to share experiences with. And don’t settle for just one or two friends because 8 out of 10 times they are busy and you are studying all alone. Or they have other friend groups that do not include you. Don’t settle for just one or two friends; make as many friends as you can. After the first couple of weeks of college, most friend groups are set and you may be without friends.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

The Power of Dressing Up

Why it pays to leave the hoodie at home.

6929
sneakers and heels
Sister | Brother Style - Word Press

For a moment your world is spinning. The phone alarm has just scared you awake and you’re flooded by daunting thoughts of the day ahead. You have three assignments due and little time to work on them because of your job. You’re running late because you’ve hit snooze one to many times after yesterday’s long hours. You dizzily reach for a hoodie, craving its comfort, and rush for a speedy exit, praying you will have time to pick up coffee. Does this sound familiar?

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments