<p>How is life at Columbia for the commuter student? Are there many around? Is it more difficult for a commuter to integrate into the student body?</p>
<p>I plan on commuting from NJ.</p>
<p>there are quite a few commuters here, which makes sense since it's new york and housing is expensive and so is college in general. in addition there are some people who just dont feel like living in columbia housing and get their own apartments; i'd say those people have it easier because they've already created their roots on-campus and they're more independent.
i wouldnt say a LOT of people commute, but some. i know barnard has a commuter lounge and a special organization, so i would assume columbia has the same, and they probably mingle a lot, and i think gs is entirely commuter.. i would think it'd be rather difficult though, for many reasons. some discussion sections go until late, there are club meetings that often dont start until 9 or 10, if you forgot something you needed at home you couldnt just run back and get it, you miss out on a lot of campus subculture like studying at butler until ridiculous hours or sitting on low steps at four a.m. with your friends with pizza from koronets.<br>
if it's possible, i would try to live in campus. get a single if privacy is an issue.. but if it's financially impossible, you certainly wont be the only one who commutes, and you will probably have ready-made friends because of that shared experience.</p>
<p>99% of the incoming freshman class dorms. Almost all of GS commutes since they are not guaranteed housing. Singles are quite abundant on campus, and the only time where the odds are against you getting a single is sophomore year. Financially, i dont know what scarfmadness is talking about....unless you go and live in brooklyn or something then financially dorming and getting an appartment is about the same...and dorming may even be cheaper if u count in the internet connection, cable TV in the lounge and the landline telephone in your room. ($50, $60, and $10 a month respectively if you are in an appartment...I would know i'm from NY)....not to mention electricity and water, which u may need to pay in some appartments. As for commuting from NJ.... dont do it...very bad idea.... you will find it very difficult to make friends and you will find yourself exhausted every day....you will also find it hard to take part in campus events and activities. I come from downtown manhattan and i feel that it would'v been hell commuting from there and i find it totally worth the extra $6000 a yr to live on campus.</p>
<p>obviously it would be better financially to live with your parents, which i assumed is what the op meant by commuting from nj (i dont know who would get an apt in nj by themselves).<br>
if the op wants to live independently in nj and would still have rent to pay and whatnot, then i say, that's ridiculous, live on campus, which is the best option. but living with relatives is a financially sound option for many people, and even though it sucks it might be the only way to afford columbia.</p>