Whether you are commuting to save money or because you like the idea of your own room, just like every other decision you’ll ever make, there are pros and cons to being a commuter student.
Pros:
Your Own Room – Enough said.
Home Cooked Meals – Dining hall food is mostly gross and indigestible. Home cooked meals are always welcomed, especially on a daily basis.
Laundry – I can not even begin to list all the stories I have heard of my friends being upset over all the laundry issues that occur on a daily basis.
No Waking Up To Hallmates Random Drunkenness in the Middle of the Week – Hearing drunk kids at 3 in the morning on a Thursday night run through the halls like animals when you have an 8 am class the next morning is NOT fun; especially when it is avoidable. (And yes, that happened to me).
Less Drama – Whoever thought it would be a good idea to put approximately 250 hormonally driven (and mostly sleep deprived) 18-year olds together in the same building was a lunatic. Drama happens on a hourly basis in college and about 75% of the drama begins somewhere in the dorms. By living at home or on your own, you avoid a boat load of unnecessary drama.
More Focus – Being around friends all the time, along with the temptations of going out is more than enough to get the average college student a little unfocused. By being home, away from your friends, and various other distractions (except for Facebook), you may find yourself with more time to be focused on your work.
Cons:
Difficulty Making Friends – Not being on campus all the time is without a doubt, one of the most difficult things about being a commuter. Truth be told, you do miss out on a lot by commuting. You might not realize it right away, but after a while you find that you have to fight for your friends more than those who live on campus.
Extracurriculars – A lot of clubs, honors societies, intramural sports, and other various extracurriculars meet in the late afternoons or evenings. Depending on your schedule and how long you are willing to stay on campus, you may or may not be able to participate in these activities.
Gas – It’s expensive and all that back and forth to home and school ends up costing you more money than you may think.
Living At Home – Some see this as a pro, but for those of you that see living at home, with your parents, as a con, I’m sure you have your own reasons for thinking so.
If You Forget Something, You’re Screwed – If you’re an absent-minded or forgetful person, chances are, you will at one point leave something at home (like a freshly printed midterm paper). Being a commuter means you can’t just rush out quickly and grab it from your dorm. Being a commuter means getting in your car and driving the 15 minutes to your house to get it – that is if it’s even worth the waste of gas.
When making the choice of whether or not to be a commuter, along with your own personal reasons, be sure to weigh all your options before finally coming to a conclusion.
