Confessions of A Commuter

By Chase Pattison on February 24, 2012

When you think of college life you might think about all-nighters studying, partying or hanging out in dorms. If you’re in that group then free food, laundry without a pound of quarters, and a quiet study space seem like a luxury. If you choose to live off campus and commute to school, this is a reality. Although not the typical college student, these students still go through the ups and downs of college life. Before you decide to live on campus this semester check out the life of commuter students and then decide.

Image by epSos.de on flickr.com

Living on campus, students strive to avoid the dreaded “Freshman 15” while commuters are eating home-cooked meals. That’s right folks, no mystery meat or rubber scrambled eggs; instead of unhealthy choices, commuters can enjoy home cooking which is a healthy alternative rather than suffering from heartburn due to mystery meat.  Another commuter benefit?  Not having to use quarters for laundry. If you’re on campus, having these shiny friends makes you the envy of all your buds—except when you can’t find them or run out. If you’re lucky you may receive a bucketful of these from home, making it feel like Christmas. On the other hand, commuters can do their laundry for free without having it stolen or thrown on the floor in a dirty laundry room, after you’ve spent all your quarters and time washing it. If you’re a commuter your laundry is guaranteed to stay fresh after it’s washed! A quiet place to study? You are most likely still living in your own bedroom!

Image by waferboard on flickr.com

The life of a commuter may appear to be a slice of cake, but in actuality it is far from it. Just as there are drawbacks to being an on campus student, there are several cons that go hand in hand with the life of commuting.  With all the hubbub on campus, students are encouraged to attend all kinds of events. Not living on campus, you miss out on the daily activities and instead view campus as only a place to attend classes. You may work part time and see college as a means to an end, losing focus on the social aspect, losing connections with people on campus. Which brings us to friendship. While campus gives you opportunity to meet a variety of people, living off campus limits the number of people one encounters daily and your friendships maybe only with a few classmates and those on social networks. And, if you are one of the many commuters who live home, you still live by your parents’ rules (often not too much different from your high school days).

Given that college is often a confusing time in one’s life, the choice of living on campus or off campus will greatly affect your college life. The most important thing you can remember is that no matter where you live, relax and enjoy yourself so you get the most out of your college experience.

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