Live on Campus or Commute?
I'm going to a university that's about 30 minutes away from my home this fall. I'm going to be transferring out after the first year and going farther away from home and to a better university, but I'm not sure if I should stay on campus. It is known as a commuter school but I don't want to miss out on my freshman college experience. I also wanted to make new friends next year and it's going to be harder if I commute. Should I dorm there or just commute because I'm transferring out?
March 17, 2014
17 Comments • Newest first
Yeah money is not that much of an issue, but I don't know if it's worth dorming their if I'm not even going to stay their all 4 years. I'll definitely dorm my last 3 years at the far away college. I plan to be pretty social and I think I'll just get involved around campus in between my classes.
Depends how rich you are. If you can afford it I would live on campus for the experience.
If you're going to transfer, I don't think there's much point in getting a dorm for only a year. You can still have a good college experience, even if you commute your first year. Like it's been said, you'll save your parents (or you?) a ton of money. Plus it doesn't hurt to have an extra year to mature and some of the people right out of high school are pretty strange (at least from my experience ).
My brother transferred from community college to a university after two years yet still had a great experience in both places. He's still good friends with someone from his first year at the community college so it just goes to show you can meet people anywhere.
@acuppa well 11K is a lot to pay for a small room that you have to share. For that you could get a studio and have utilities paid for a year.
...is money an issue?
I wonder how many people ITT are either current freshmen themselves or haven't yet reached the point where they have to pay back their student loans. It's a fun "rite of passage" if you've never been able to exercise your independence/autonomy before, but I can't say that it's worth $10k. Plus, how free are you really going to feel when you're a stone's throw from home?
You should weight out the long term costs. Remember anything you borrow you have to pay back so it would be in your best interest to choose the cheaper path so you can keep your payments in the more reasonable range.
I strongly believe that everyone, if possible, should dorm at least 1 semester in their college life; it's a wonderful experience, and even though there were some low points, I'm glad I dormed my first year (though I was forced to by the university). It set me back about $11,000, but I would have never met my current roommates, nor would I have befriended so many great people.
My freshman year of college was easily the best year of my life.
TBH at the end it's just up to you and how social you are.
I know a friend who lives on res but she didn't get the whole college experience, and that's because she is not social herself. Staying in residence doesn't necessarily guarantee you a full freshman college experience.
I think it would be fun living independently, so I would rather stay on res than commute Try it first year, and if you don't like it then just commute second year? It's not like you can live in res second year... well you can.. but no one does it
You're not going to learn to be responsible with your just-became-legal roommates while living off of your parent's money. Be smart. Learn to commute longer distances and to be on time. Become a better driver overall. Save your money.
If you're going to transfer, might as well save money and live at home.
costs of commuting vs costs of living in dorms.
A good chunk of college seniors I talk to say they'd love to take the chance to move back into their parents home. You've going to have around 4 years to attend a college anyway and especially since you're going to be certainly moving away the next year, I would commute for the first year. I live in Austin and go to UT Austin, which is about 20-40 minutes depending on traffic. I'll probably move out my Junior year or so to get the experience of living on my own, but the money you save from commuting is enormous.
live on campus you wont regret it. spend a little more than spend half your year in a car.
My commute is 45 mins. In reality, it such a waste of money when you can easily commute.
it's 30 mins and you're transferring anyways. Just commute your 1st year and dorm next year at your new school.
Just dorm. You get to experience living on your own without being far from mom and dad in case you need something.
I'm not even 30 minutes away from my university and I dorm. (Because it's required for freshmen but still)
It's pretty rad. I get the college freedom and if I need to come home and see my girlfriend or if I need something important then I can just call my mom and ask her to pick me up on her way home from work since she only works like 10 minutes away.