1. It’s hard to be as involved as on-campus students.
Most clubs and groups schedule their meetings/events at night or on the weekends so as to avoid conflicts with classes. For a commuter, it can be difficult, time-consuming, and economically impractical to join activities that require you to drive to campus more frequently than is necessitated by classes alone. Driving to school 6-7 days a week costs extra gas money and time that could otherwise be put towards schoolwork. Unfortunately, extracurriculars can be beneficial to students in multiple ways, and not being able to participate can detract from the college experience.
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2. Socializing is a lot harder.
Not only are commuting students less likely to be involved in extracurricular activities, they also have fewer opportunities to socialize with their classmates outside of classes. Because they don’t have roommates and spend a lot less time hanging around campus (especially for parties on the weekends), it can difficult to make as many friends as their on-campus peers.
3. Weather really sucks.
This varies depending on the location, but for most people, a few months out of the school year definitely have potential to make a harrowing commute. Professors are generally not very forgiving when it comes to missing class due to weather, so most commuting students are familiar with the dangerous trek through pouring rain/snow/ice to get to class (and leaving an hour early to make sure you’re not late!).
4. You have to compromise between classes you want and a schedule you want.
Most students start off optimistically, and register exclusively for classes they’re interested in, regardless of time slots. As the semesters pass, however, it becomes more and more enticing to register for only somewhat interesting classes that make for an easier schedule. (Sure, that class might sound great, but is it worth messing up your M-W-F schedule?)
5. It’s harder to get to know your professors and TA's.
Visiting office hours can help students feel more comfortable in their classes, get extra help or explanation if they need it, and is a great opportunity to learn about professors/graduate students and the type of work they’re doing. For commuting students, office hours are rarely convenient, and there’s almost no chance of running into a professor or TA around campus, which can lead to feelings of isolation in class.
6. It requires a lot of sacrifices.
All in all, students usually choose to commute because it makes the most sense for them in one way or another, not because it would be their first choice. Often, the alternative would be to not attend college at all. It’s important to remember that even if your college experience wasn’t as comprehensive or enjoyable as some of your peers’, you’re still working towards your degree and it will pay off in the end.
