Commuting vs Dorming

<p>So I'm currently a student at SUNY Stony Brook and I dorm, but I'm seriously considering transferring to Hunter College in the city. I live in Queens so the commute would be about a 1 hour train ride for me..and I haven't made a schedule yet so I don't know how early I'll be waking up but I'll opt for later classes(11-12ish) because I don't want to have to wake up super early everyday. I was just wondering if anyone has personal experience with commuting in terms of time management. I'm very ahead of my work here because i have so much free time and I usually go to my dorm after class and finish my work. I know I can always do my homework and studying at Hunter between/after classes, but I don't want to transfer and end up hating it because I don't have time to stay on top of my work due to my commute everyday. And also i nap here between classes whenever I'm tired and I don't want to end up staying up super late to get work done and being tired everyday. Would iI be better off staying at Stony? help!</p>

<p>I’ve done both, and it honestly depends on how many classes you have, the intensity of your classes, how many days a week you have classes, and what your financial priorities are. </p>

<p>I’ve lived on campus for two semesters and have commuted two (one being a summer session) with a drive between 45-60 minutes. When I commuted, I made sure I only had class 2 or 3 times a week so that I could sleep in, work and do homework on the days I had off. It worked out really well because after a full day of classes, I didn’t have that “ugh, I have school again tomorrow” feel. In a way, it made most days feel like the weekend. </p>

<p>However, commuting still does take up a good chunk of your time, so that’s where you need to plan. You should try and get as much work done as possible at school and avoid driving during rush hour (this might be different with a train ride, though, because you can probably do homework on the train.). That way when you get home you’re done and you won’t have to worry about slacking off. To me, home is where I can relax and put my feet up, so doing the bulk of my homework and studying at school helps a lot.</p>

<p>Also, there’s the financial aspect to consider. How much are you paying for a dorm, and how much would you pay for transportation if you had to commute? If there’s a clear advantage to commuting and if you want to save money, then that’s something to think about. If you don’t care about taking out loans or if you have enough to pay for housing, then that’s something else to ponder over. </p>

<p>For me, last winter was about making money, and this semester is about being comfortable and connected to my school. I seem to be flip-flopping every semester so far, but it works for me. </p>

<p>So, there’s some food for thought, and it’ll probably really all depend on your schedule when you figure that out. </p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

<p>I’m kinda in the same boat… I’m dorming in Brooklyn right now although I live in Staten Island, about a 1.5 hour train ride away. This is my first semester dorming, and I’m dorming for the next semester too. After that (next year) I don’t know what I’m doing honestly. I don’t even know if I want to dorm again, I had my year experience lol and it’s so expensive! Since the commute is possible, I might just do it to save money. I hate the fact that I won’t be as connected to the school and everything but you need to ask yourself if the money and whatever situation you are in is worth it or not. - Hunter is a great school. So enjoy, make some time to study during your commute, and good luck!</p>