<p>I will be attending a college about fifteen minutes from my house; therefore, I will be commuting to and from the campus everyday. One thing that I want to do in college that I didn't do in high school is to get involved. I was never interested in any clubs in high school; they were rather lame and uninteresting. A lot of the clubs at my campus sound intriguing, so I really want to get involved because if I don't, I feel like college will be just like high school - go to class and then go home. What advice can you give not only to me but also to all commuters on how to get involved in college life? What can we do to get more involved instead of going to class and then going home? </p>
<p>If your college has an organizations fair, I suggest visiting it to see which groups appeal to you. Ask them about where or when they meet and what events they have planned and then put yourself a reminder somewhere so you can be sure to be there. Introduce yourself to the other members, ask questions, and sign up on their email list if they have one so you can keep up to date on their events. </p>
<p>I also suggest checking bulletin boards in the library or other student areas to be on the look out for any opportunities that interest you. The college website might also be a good resource for getting up to date on what’s going on. </p>
<p>The big thing is just to motivate yourself to show up, which may be an obstacle for commuters. Find a group that makes you enthusiastic enough to make the effort. </p>
<p>I’m also commuting to college, and I’m wondering what the usual reasoning is for saying that commuters have more trouble making friends. Is it because their commutes are usually long and they have to leave early so they can drive for a long time? My commute is three miles, so I don’t have to leave the campus at any specific time. Will I be at a disadvantage just because I’m not around in the middle of the night?</p>
<p>@halcyonheather - From what I’ve heard from other students and what my academic adviser told me, some commuters sometimes tend to go to class and then leave the campus once their classes are done for the day; therefore, they don’t make many friends and have a lonely college experience. Sometimes if an event is planned in the evening, say around 8 or 9 PM, then some might not want to drive back to the campus, so sometimes it can be harder for commuters to make new friends. My academic adviser warned me about this because she didn’t want me not to make friends and make my college experience more like an extension of high school a la the “13th grade”. </p>
<p>I regularly attend a commuter 4-year school but I’ve also had time at a community college this summer where you really do have the feel of going to class and leaving simply because there isn’t much time to develop the relationships with everybody going in and out etc.
A simple fix is taking evening / late afternoon classes on certain days (I know a 15 minute drive might be a little more tempting to go home than a 30-40 minute drive) so you’re stuck on campus and get to hang out with friends that you can meet by joining organizations. Remember to leave space open to do things with people at night as well as give yourself a break day or two.</p>
<p>And yes, go to a lot of events even if you have to commute. You’ll get to know regulars quite well and be able to meet a lot of people.</p>
<p>Edit: As far as club search, I say find one that does a lot. How inviting the people are might be a factor, but as I said above, you want to be involved so people will get to know you apart from someone who just shows up to the first meeting.</p>
<p>Commuting experiences really depend on where you’re commuting from. In the case of my college town, we have off campus communities populated by a majority of students that are a short distance from the school. That way people can move off campus, but still feel “connected” in a sense. Living only fifteen minutes away shouldn’t be a big deal, although living with your family will be slightly different than living in an apartment with other students. </p>
<p>Obviously if you live a considerable distance away and have a significantly longer commute, it get’s harder to feel a part of the community. Not that it’s impossible, but you have to make an extra effort. I know people who almost take an hour commute and still manage to stay somewhat active. </p>
<p>Force yourself to stay a little longer on campus is one way. You can go to school events, get involved with clubs, and it should help you become more engaged with school. My school is a five minute drive from me so I know how you feel. </p>
<p>Go to activities fairs and try to get to know people at the beginning of the school year… Stay on campus and study in the library for an hour or two after your classes end each day. Try to talk to a lot of people and form study groups with them. Attend meetings of clubs that seem interesting. </p>