When you're deciding on what college to go can be the most stressful couple months of your life. There's literally THOUSANDS of options of where to go. Do you want to stay local or go out of state? Public or private? Big campus or small? I toured six universities before I made my final decision - Cleveland State. I would live at home and commute downtown Cleveland everyday for four years. Looking back on that, it was hands down the best decision I've ever made and I wouldn't change it for the world!
"Why would you think commuting is fun? You don't get the whole college experience, and have to deal with traffic." Yeah, I guess I didn't the whole college experience, but I got SO many other benefits that'll trump the "college experience" 100 percent.
Savings
The amount of money I saved by commuting to college is ridiculous. You get free room and board, if you are lucky enough to live with your parents still. (Blessed with that! Thanks mom and dad!) Not paying for room and board also means LESS LOANS. I hear everyone's Sally Mae horror stories and thank God (or whatever higher power you believe in) that I have such few loans.
Friends
While commuting to school you tend to find other commuters and bond over the fact that you both live with your parents and get drunk in their basement! While going to CSU, I made some of the best friends I could imagine. And even though you might not get the full "house party" experience downtown Cleveland, you probably have like nine friends who go to OSU, Kent, or OU which you can visit whenever you want! Even though you might not be able to keep up at Mill Fest, you still get the experience!
Academics
College is not like high school where things are handed to you. In college you have to work for everything assignment—well not every, thanks Quizlet! Commuting to school and doing all your homework in your parent's dining room can be tough, but there's so many options in college to help you succeed! There's tutoring centers, and at CSU they even have a commuters lounge, where there's benefits only commuter students can use!
I could go on all day about the benefits of commuting, but there's also plenty of reasons that living on campus is great too! I'll forever be a commuter! Wherever you decide to go to school, commuting or 700 miles from home, make sure to make the best out of everything! You're college experience is what YOU make it! As long as you're happy with where you are that's all that matters
