From the beginning of the College search process, I knew I wanted to be a commuter. Not only because I wanted too, but because I had a lack of funds, and did not receive any scholarships. It looked like it was the cheapest route to getting my degree. But after completing two years of college, I have noticed that being a commuter has its advantages as well as its drawbacks.
Advantages:
1.) It can be cheaper than living on campus, unless you live a ways away from campus then you may end up spending the same amount in gas as you would campus fees.
2.) By driving to campus, you will always have the freedom to arrive or leave whenever you want. Many students will go to campus just for their classes and then leave right after, where other students will take the opportunity after classes to study in the library. It also comes in very handy when you can drive to the classes that are further away instead of walking. Especially in the winter months.
3.) Eating on campus is can be its own drawback sometimes. Not everyone likes campus food. By being a commuter student, you have to option to not eat on campus. This can also save a lot of money. It also means you can eat a home-cooked meal in the evening. The past two years, I will normally eat one to two times on campus just because ill be on campus during lunch time.
Drawbacks:
1.) By living off campus, you aren't as involved as those who live on campus. At WSU, they do send out emails with information about events but most of the time they are at times that I wont be on campus.
2.) When you drive to campus, that also means that you have to find parking on campus. And that can be a hassle. On the first day of classes, I will leave my house up to 45 minutes earlier that way I have to time to circle the parking lots to find a spot. After the first week, its easier to catch on the pattern of students coming and going and the best time to arrive to get a spot.
3.) I'll be a junior this coming fall, and the past 2 years I have found that by being a commuter, it is harder to meet people and make friends. I have 4 good friends on campus, but they are all friends from high school. This is the most difficult part of being a commuter that I deal with.
Of course it all depends on the person and situation of the person to decide whether living at home or campus is best for them. A lot of my peers that I graduated high school with chose to live on their college campus's for the "college experience". I had decided to stay at home to save money and because family means the world to me.
