For me, the worst part of being a commuter student is setting my alarm an hour earlier for an 8 a.m. class than I would if I lived on campus.

The best part about being a commuter at Albright is looking forward to the free lunch hosted by the Commuter Student Association in the commuters student lounge once every semester.

I wanted to find out what other commuter students had to say about their best and worst aspects of life as a commuter at Albright. After I took several visits to the Albright commuters student lounge, I found out what other commuters perceived to be the worst part about commuting.

1. “Missing Events”

Commuter Student Association President Stephanie Michel, Class of 2017, said she won’t have the same stories as residential students to tell her children one day after she graduates college. She’ll never be able to talk about her dorm memories or her experience living on campus. Instead, she will have stories focused on the academic aspect of college. Commuters Katelyn Reifsnyder and Ericka Major-Cruz also feel left out from the social life of college and said they do not have many friends outside the commuters student lounge.

2. “I have to literally bring my own house when I’m coming … all the books and my lunch.”

Commuter students do not have the convenience of a dorm to go to in between classes to switch out their books. Lockers are available in the commuters student lounge for commuters to keep their books and personal belongings in. Since the commuter student lounge currently has 28 lockers in it, there are not enough lockers for the 50 plus students Michel estimates are considered true commuters (that is, they live at home, not in off-campus housing). Commuter Prasadi Dangolla signed up for a locker at the beginning of the semester, but no lockers have opened up for her use. According to the Albright website, “lockers are available each semester on a first come, first served basis.” For more information on the lockers and a perspective from Director of Student Involvement and Leadership Bradley Smith, see the video below.

3. “Experience Events”

Michel pointed out that experience events are one of the most difficult requirements for commuter students to complete. Commuter students are required to complete the same number of experience events as residential students, unless they enter Albright as a sophomore or junior. “I am a junior, and I don’t know how much I have. Probably like 11. They were supposed to be done last semester … We’re not here all the time. We leave, we come, we go,” said Michel.

4. “Winter Weather”

Driving to campus in winter weather when classes aren’t canceled can be a challenge. Commuters face an internal debate when the weather forecast calls for snow or ice and school is not canceled: Should I stay at home and miss class? Or should I drive to school and risk the possibility of an accident or getting stuck while trying to commute to school or back home? Some commuters, such as Gabrielle Jeremiah, live over a half hour away from Albright. When classes aren’t canceled and the roads are bad, Jeremiah pushes herself to drive and tries to make it to class and back home on time. Commuter Student Association Vice President Elizabeth Rohde feels that Albright should consider the needs of commuter students more when deciding whether or not to cancel classes.

5. “After a long day and you wanna take a nap, you’re very limited.”

According to Albright senior and commuter Angie Gonzalez, a commuter student’s best bet to take a nap is by sleeping in class. Unlike residential students, commuter students do not have their own dorm to take daily naps in. If naps are needed, Gonzalez suggests making close friends with a residential student.

Similar to residential life, life as a commuter student has its costs and benefits. Commuters also responded with what they perceived to be the best part of life as a commuter student at Albright.

1. “Saving Money”

Albright College commuters save approximately $10,000 a year on room and board costs. However, this does not include transportation costs. Commuter Major-Cruz would have liked to live on campus, but decided it was worth the 20-minute drive to save money.

2. “Not having to be homesick”

Michel was able to attend her niece’s preschool graduation because she is a commuter. Commuters can continue their home lives in addition to their college lives, instead of having to “pause” their home life and try to “resume” their home life during breaks. Michel said she is having the college experience she wants as a commuter student, which still allows her to attend events such as homecoming weekend. Rohde pointed out that home cooked meals, especially from mom, are a definite plus.

3. “Access to the commuter lounge”

Freshman and commuter Kieran Marti considers the commuters student lounge to be the best part about commuting. The commuters student lounge, a place for commuters to study, relax and socialize with other commuters, is located in the Pine Room in the lower level of Selwyn Hall. Some facilities in the lounge include computer stations, a television, a kitchen and personal lockers. Click on the video below for more information on the conditions of the lounge and a look inside.

4. “Free Lunch”

I am not alone on this one. Several commuter students mentioned the free lunch hosted by the Commuter Student Association to be one of the best parts of commuting. Every year, the Commuter Student Association allocates for enough money to provide a buffet in the commuters student lounge. Most residential students do not know that they can attend the lunch as well, although residential students typically have a meal plan, which pre-pays for daily meals. For free food once a semester outside the cafeteria, it may be a good idea to have a commuter friend to get the inside details on the next date of the lunch.

5. “I like going home to see my dogs.”

For Jeremiah, this is the best part of being a commuter. She currently has two dogs and recently celebrated her one-year rescue anniversary with her “best buddie,” Chief. Commuter student Dangolla also exclaimed that the best part of being a commuter is “I get to go home at the end of the day!”

To find out more insight on what it’s really like to be a commuter, take a visit to the commuters student lounge and meet students you may not have seen before on campus. Although Albright is considered a small private school, many residential students (and even commuter students) are still unaware of the existence of the Commuter Student Association or the commuters student lounge.