I am a commuter in college and let me tell you, while I do save money for the room and board fee, I feel like I miss a lot because I am not on campus. I know it sounds cliché, but most people talk about how much fun they have in college and the experiences or clubs that they were involved with or still do today. When you are a commuter, it's a little bit harder to do that. I have such a difficult time getting involved with things because I am not on campus as much as other students are.
Along with keeping your loan debt to a minimum by commuting, you also don't have to worry about being in a dorm room with other girls, nor do you have to share a bathroom or living space with them. You get the peace of mind of not having those rough experiences that we have all heard of. Let's face it-- who wants a fire drill in the early morning?
Being a commuter isn't for the weak minded, it's for those that like spending time alone, especially in a car when you are driving back and forth for many miles. Even more pertinent when you need the library time and have to sit alone. Looking around though, most people do sit alone when it comes to homework. In my experience, it's about being alone constantly because it's hard to make friends when you are only on campus for the hours you have class or are in the library. Even at that, most people do not interact when trying to get work done.
Being a commuter I feel may be good for my bank account some days, but other days it's trying to find food in between classes because you don't have a meal plan and can't fathom paying that much for food.
Other times it's so much fun to be a commuter because you get to be anti-social and best of all, you get the comforts of your own home instead of a dorm that you try to make homey. It's also getting to work that part-time job you got from the summer and not having to give it up because you are going away to college.
Being a commuter means that it's harder to get involved with the college communities because you don't get to hear them from an RA in the dorm. You hear the activities through emails sent from the school or on social media. I have a bad habit of forgetting to check my email, and the only reason I know about some activities is through the Edinboro Facebook page that I follow.
Being a commuter in college has it's ups and downs. Being a commuter is for those that want to save some money by just paying tuition. Sometimes it's being completely oblivious of whats going on in your college because you go to class and then go back home.
