3 Advantages of Being a Commuter Student versus Living on Campus
I was trying to hold out on dissing the year 2020, but at this point I can say that I’m ready to admit.
2020 is cancelled.
Let’s just say, that 2020 is far from what anybody ever expected. I, for one, never thought I would be short of preparing for battle just to go to the grocery store. Yet, here we are finding ourselves living close to characters of an apocalyptic movie.
So many of our major life events in these times are far from people’s hopes and dreams. Pregnancies, marriages, and graduations have all had to happen in isolation, and I know I can add going to college to the list.
You might have thought that the highlight of going to college was being able to move away and live on your own on campus. However, as a result of social distancing and the fact that many universities have gone hybrid, or even completely remote, you might have decided for your safety and health of yourself or your family that it would be better to commute to campus, instead of being a residential student. Having to stay living at home is super disappointing compared to how you thought your college experience would start out.
Yet all is not lost! Although the current events of 2020 seemingly cancelled what we wanted our milestones to look like in this coming year, we may realize that there are also unanticipated blessings in the need to change course and practice flexibility. I can tell you from personal experience, that living at home your first semester might not be so bad. I lived at home my first two years of college, and to this day I do not regret it. I believe I experienced some advantages living at home, and I’ll share them with you in hope that it might give you a little bit of encouragement about your Fall 2020 semester.
Saving Money
College is expensive. I feel especially passionate about it, and I’m not going to stop saying it. The price of college in our society is not manageable, and the price of room and board, especially if you’re an out-of-state student, is just another added costs that you avoid when you live at home. The facilities and service fees you are paying for to live in the dorm and the price of a food plan is sometimes even more than you actually end up using. You’re saving thousands of dollars by not living on campus, and this will put you in a better financial position after you graduate. Your current self might be sad you have to live at home, but your future self will thank you when you’re able to go on more vacations and purchase the unlimited mimosas deal at brunch, because of the money you saved as a commuter.
Increased Focus
There’s a lot that happens on a college campus, both positive and negative. There are student groups you can join, and there’s always an invite to a party or event that’s going on, especially if you attend an urban university. The FOMO (fear of missing out) is real, and it can be hard to say no to a good opportunity. There are also some negative influences in the environment as well, such as illegal drugs, excessive drinking, and risky sexual activity you can get exposed to when you connect to the wrong crowd. You are far less likely to get distracted by any of this when you live at home, because you aren’t exposed to them as often. When you live at home, and especially if you are learning online, college becomes more like a job where you clock in to what needs to get done and clock out once it’s finished. It sounds a bit boring, but it’s not exactly a bad thing, since you have more energy to pour into establishing good study habits, which is key to develop in first year. My first semester was one of the highest GPA’s I ever had in college! Trust me, take the extra time you have to focus on your studies by living at home as a gift.
Sustained Health
Although people highlight living on campus for its social and emotional benefits, you are actually more physically healthier when you live at home, even pre-COVID 19. You control how much your space gets cleaned at home. In comparison to adjusting to living with a community of strangers, and their (poor) hygiene habits and (compromised) immune systems, you already have a certain level of immunity toward whatever guardians or family members you live with at home. The germs you’re also missing out on (try your best not to cry) at home, because you interact with usually far less than 10 people, versus the hundreds or even thousands you may come in contact with by living on campus and using the communal bathrooms and other facilities are other reasons in a period of a pandemic like this that you should thank your lucky stars that your chances of infectious contact will be far less than when you live at home.
In addition, there’s a nutritional component. Most people have home-cooked meals living with their parent or guardian. In contrast, lots of first year students gain the infamous “freshman 15” as a result of the extra pounds they put on eating pizza, french fries, and the “unlimited free” (but really paid by your room and board, remember?) cookies, cake, and ice cream you get at the cafeteria or dining hall. Let’s not even mention the Chick-fil-A, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, and whatever other fast food chains you’re eating at an abnormally request rate while you’re on campus. Eating healthier at home not only means that you are more likely to sustain your youthful figure, but you are also more likely have more concentration and energy you need to think clearer and be successful.
I did not graduate high school or attend college in a global pandemic. I cannot begin to imagine the frustration and disappointment you might be going through. I will say that even if starting college in 2020 isn’t what you expected, then staying home is probably your best bet. I felt the points I shared in this article were advantages of commuting to college, even without a pandemic. Although I ended up living on campus my junior year to be a Resident Advisor, I would have to say I felt both commuting and living on campus are good options, just depending on what you want from the college experience. In these times, safety is always what you want, and it’s never something you’ll regret making a priority. Happy start to the semester!