I’m a freshman at a 4 year university about 30 mins from my home. I plan on staying on campus for freshman year but I want to switch to being a commuter sophomore year to save money and stay close to my family since I’m very close to them. The cost of a dorm/ meal plan on my campus totals up to roughly $12,000. Is it still possible to make friends and keep in touch with them if you commute? I’m looking for at least 3 good friends from college so I’m just curious as to see what everyone else has to say!
Do what makes the most financial sense for you. You will meet friends either way but of course it’s easier if you are right there thrown into the mix. Instead of walking or taking a bus to a dorm you will just drive home. A lot of kids live off campus after their first year also. Just make sure you can have people over to your parents house on a whim.
I found it helpful to live in a dorm my first year and commute my second year. I had an established group of friends by the end of freshman year, so I didn’t have to worry about feeling unconnected to the school while commuting.
Unless parking is outrageously expensive and hard to find or unless your family is unbearable, it’s a no-brainer, stay home. It’s sort of like being awarded a 10K scholarship. Where my kid goes to school, housing is only guaranteed for one year and then you’re on your own. So everyone finds off campus housing after their freshman year, sometimes up to 60 minutes away by car or train.
My freshman kid has been on campus 8 days and he’s made a ton of friends already. I’m pretty sure a few of them will wind up being good friends over the next 3 years or however long he takes.
My school has the freshman stay for both their first and second year here in the dorms unless you commute, do you think that will be a problem? The dorms are not the best and I’m only like 30 mins away and willing to drive for my sophomore year to be closer to my family as well as saving money. Do you think i will still be able to keep in touch with my friends? (We aren’t a party school btw)
If you staying on campus 1st year you will have established friends. But it is not given, like everything else, new friendships need work… if you are not available to do social activities with your friends you may eventually get left out. You will need to put effort to maintain those friendships. Because of the structure of the classes in college you don’t always see the same people in your classes and sometimes people branch out and make new friends. It’s especially true for roommates who are many time not even in your major. Know your core group of friends and try hard to stay connected with them when you move back home. Many times it works out in your favor, if you friends are from out of town. They will always enjoy a home cooked meal once in while or place to crash when they need a break from their dorm. You can make it work, but it depends on how flexible and willing you are to maintain your friendships.
As a parent the only down side to this I see it is that, living away from home teaches you life skills that are essential as an adult. Such as learning to manage your time to for other things along with your academic work, planning your meals and laundry etc. As long as you can stay independent and not depend on your parents for anything else other than room and board you will be okay, but not if mom is still doing your laundry and making your meals.
When my DD was a day scholar at a local private high school, she found it hard to maintain close friendships when she came home right after school. She took advantage of the option the school had that allowed day scholars to stay till 9 PM in the common room of the dorms and spent her time there doing her HW and other activities with friends and came home only to sleep.
I always commuted from home to school and never really wound up making good friends there - it was easier to fall back on friends I grew up with. I think living on campus your first year will help you establish dorm friends and may make it easier to join clubs and activities where you can expand your friend base. My D lived on campus the first 2 years but is now off campus and doesn’t room with any of her friends from the previous years. They are taking classes together and are making the effort to hook up for meals, hikes, etc. You will have to work a bit harder, but it can be done. The $$ savings will be worth it.
It entirely depends on you. I think your idea of staying on campus the first year and commuting after that is solid. It’s definitely worth it financially.