If you’ve narrowed down your college choices and one of your college or university contenders is close to home, you may be wondering if commuting to campus would be right for you. Being a commuter looks different for everyone. Most students choose to live with their family at home, while others may live on their own in an off-campus apartment in their university’s general area.
While some commuters live five minutes from campus and others live over an hour away, there are many benefits that might persuade a student to make this nontraditional choice For me, I lived about 30 minutes from Cedarville University, and I've seen firsthand a lot of the pros and cons. Here are three reasons why commuting may be right for you.
1. You could save money
Let’s face it: College is expensive. Tuition, room and board, and books totaled together cost thousands upon thousands of dollars. Commuter students still pay for tuition and books, but removing room and board fees can make your finances look a lot different. I lived in my parents’ house and packed leftovers to eat for lunch most days. This saved me at least $4,000 on room and board but made gasoline my biggest expense for a semester.
For students considering living off campus, I’d encourage you to compare the costs of both options. Room and board on campus may end up being cheaper or about the same as renting an apartment, buying meals, and paying for transportation. I can’t promise that commuting is always cheaper, but it does offer the potential to save some money.
Related: Commuting Tips for Off-Campus Students
2. You don’t have to sacrifice a social life
Many students choose to live in dorms because of the social aspect of college. While living on campus does make it easier to be involved, commuters can still have plenty of social life opportunities. As a commuter, you can still attend campus events and make friends through classes and extracurriculars. It can take extra effort to make friends when you don’t live on campus, but it’s certainly not impossible.
Commuting can also open your eyes to social activities beyond your university. There are so many ways to get involved in your local community through volunteering, community clubs or groups, working off campus, etc. I volunteered at a local history museum, attended church on Sundays, went to a small group on Tuesdays, and still worked a part-time job. It was great to make friends at college while still maintaining relationships in my immediate area.
3. You can be more involved with family
I know college is a time in life when students become adults and face the world on their own. There’s nothing wrong with having distance from family and learning to become independent—in fact, it's encouraged. But for those who have the option, living at home can help you stay close to family if that's important to you. With older grandparents and several family health issues, I enjoyed being able to see my family frequently and help them out when they needed it.
Related: 3 Tips to Maintain Healthy Family Relationships in College
Is commuting right for you?
While I think commuting is great, it’s not ideal for everyone. By being a commuter student, you’ll miss out on having a roommate and a traditional dorm-life experience. Some students also crave the independence of moving away from home. Whether you choose to live on campus or off, don’t settle for or dismiss a college just because it’s close to home. The college experience is so much better when you truly like your college for what it has to offer.
Cedarville being near my hometown made commuting possible for me, but that’s not why I chose to go there. I loved Cedarville as a school. I agreed with their Christian values, they offered the major I was interested in, and I knew the campus from having attended summer camps in the past. So choose your college first, and if the one happens to be near home or has good off-campus housing, consider these benefits of commuting. I wish you the best of luck as you decide where to attend college and whether commuting is right for you!
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