Living in a dorm is said to be a quintessential part of the college experience. You eat there, you study there, you build relationships that could potentially last a lifetime. For those who live on campus, the dorm/apartment is where your life revolves around as a student. However, a commuter student has a slightly different life compared to that. It becomes much harder to do all the things those living on campus can do and you might miss out on some of those milestones because of the struggles they face. It is not impossible for commuters to do everything a person living on campus does but it requires some extra effort. Here are issues commuters uniquely have to deal with on a daily basis:

1. Your schedule needs accommodating

The first and last hour of your day is reserved for time getting to or coming home from campus. Your classes are built in between and any late night parties, club activities, or get hang outs has you calculating the latest you'll come home and how you'll get home.

2. Public transportation sucks

For some reason, the bus/train is always on time when you aren't in a hurry and always late when you most desperately need it. For Philly specifically, ask anyone and they can give you a story of how a Septa bus ignored them when they were waiting to board. Paying for tokens and transpasses is money that can be spent on something important, like food.

3. Traffic sucks

If you decide to just drive yourself to campus instead, you'll have to factor in other drivers slowing you down when trying to be on time. For the many faults of public transportation, at least the subway and train don't have to wait for other drivers. Good luck with rush hour.

4. Parking sucks

After successfully avoiding an accident, you have to find a parking spot. Are there any free parking spots around campus? Is paying for a permit really worth it? Again, good luck.

5. Weather sucks

Classes are almost never cancelled because of snow or whatever else might happen out there, even if the rain is of biblical proportions. All of this makes travel time even worse whether you drive or rely on public transit, making you seriously consider not going to class. Honestly, students living on campus make that consideration too and they can walk to class. Why shouldn't you?

6. No home base

Students living on campus can easily coordinate plans and arrange a meet up because their dorm/apartment is a quick and easy refuge. It is their home base, things get done there easily. Need a change of clothes? Check your drawers. Need a nap? Go to your bed. Need a quiet place to study? You know where to go. It is the single most important place on campus for them while a commuter has multiple focal points which requires them to move around campus a lot to fulfill whatever their needs are. The luxury of home base comfort is spread apart through different buildings because that is all a commuter has.

7. Forgetting something at home

Of course, having a home base on campus allows you to be a little forgetful. You're ten minutes early to class but you suddenly remember you left your essay in your dorm. You can quickly make the run back and forth to retrieve whatever you need. For a commuter, oh well.

8. Carrying stuff sucks

The lack of a home base also means a commuter must always be prepared. If one day of classes requires a laptop, a textbook, some papers, calculator, etc., you got to have it all with you. At least you'll get really strong.

9. It takes longer to fit in socially

Dorms/apartments allows students to quickly make friends and be a part of social circles in the hall and building. Freshmen on campus, in particular, will be settled in within the first week while commuters have to make the extra effort of finding ways to link up with their classmates.

10. You're out of the loop

All the news, events, announcements, and other things of interest flow through on campus housing with ease. Living on campus allows students to be in the know about everything. They are connected to the heart of everything. Commuters need to be connected with the right people along with the campus life and commuter student associations to be as connected as those living on campus. Again, extra effort.