<p>Hi guys,
I got accepted to a college thats around a 45 min drive or a 30 min train ride. I cannot make up my mind on whether I should commute or get a dorm??? Also, what are some pros and cons of both dorming and commuting. Which one is better??
Thanks!</p>
<p>If you can afford it, I’d say dorm. I’m about a 40 minute drive from my school, and have commuted during summer sessions. That kind of commute really eats up your time… it’s an hour and a half of your day that could have been spent studying or sleeping. It also makes it harder to do things on campus (study groups, review sessions, events) and might make it harder to meet people and make friends. Gas money and train tickets can add up cost-wise as well, not as much as dorming, but it’s not a cost-free solution.</p>
<p>I’ve done both (also with a 45 minute drive), and I’m honestly content with both. It depends on what you want more. </p>
<p>My first semester freshman year, I dormed to get used to the school and to make friends. When I needed extra money the following winter semester, I moved home so that I could work more and save on housing costs. This past summer, I commuted for one class, and because it was just for one class, it did feel like a waste of time. However, when it was for 4 classes, it was no big deal. </p>
<p>Right now I’m dorming again because I have a job on campus where I work late at night, but next semester, I’ll probably move home again because all my classes and work are in the middle of the day. </p>
<p>I actually commute sometimes now on non-work days, and that doesn’t really affect my involvement in clubs. I’ll be there whether I have to walk 15 minutes or drive 45; I still have be the president (or just a member in another one) regardless of where I sleep at night. </p>
<p>Once you commit yourself and fall into the routine of things, everything works out. A lot of people have to drive 45+ minutes to work every day, and likewise, you’re only a carefree, young, sleepy head college student once. So really, it’s whatever you want at the time.</p>
<p>Thanks for the great input guys. From what I understand I should maybe dorm for the first 2 years and then commute for the next 3 years (for 5 year bs+ms biomed engineering program)</p>
<p>I think commuting would be sort of a waste of time and would take you out of the whole freshman scene… I mean that should be your grand opportunity to make new friends and learn how to live on your owned (with a shared room)… unless you’ll be commuting from your very own place. </p>
<p>My plan is maybe to stay on campus for 2 years. And maybe get an apartment or a shared living quarters with friends. I live about an hour away. I could go home everyday if I wanted to but I personally want to stay at college.</p>
<p>If you don’t get the college experience now, you may regret it later.</p>
<p>Very True ^^</p>
<p>But if you go into extreme debt that directly impacts part of your life negatively, you might regret that too. </p>
<p>It really depends on how much it costs. Going away is a luxury that most college students don’t have, yet most people are still content with life. If you can afford to go away, okay. If not, whatever.</p>
<p>It honestly depends on what you are wanting to get out of college… My first 2 years of college I commuted 50 miles each way (1 hr if I drove all the way up and paid for parking, 1.5 hours if I took a bus half way). Now I’m currently taking a year off of school for a coop – but am living in an apt with roommates, so I haven’t really had the “dorm” experience.</p>
<p>Although I spent about 3 hours of my day commuting, I still don’t know that I would consider that a “waste” of time… It was my relaxing time with a good book-tape, and although there was the rare occasion where I might have used that time to study for a final, lets be honest here: those 3 hours would have been sucked up hanging out with friends or playing video games if I wasn’t commuting.</p>
<p>Financially, it is incredibly cheaper if your parents wont make you pay for rent or food. I spend about $900-$1000/month to live by myself at the moment in Minnesota (I don’t live like a hermit, but I definitely don’t live like a king either) and I can only imagine that it is more expensive for the dorm life… That’s close to $8k-$9k you could save per year, which is a considerable amount of money.</p>
<p>You’re social experience will lack though, there is no denying it (I’m fairly introverted though, so your experience may vary)… It wasn’t until my 2nd semester that I made my first “real” friend, and it wasn’t until my 4th semester that I felt I found a group of people to do assignments with and go “What in the world did you get for the last problem?!” as you’re walking out of the final that you think you just bombed.</p>
<p>For me personally, the money savings was worth it, and I already had an extremely close group of friends from high school and didn’t feel as if I need to “find” my social group… If that is what you are looking to get out of college, then I would definitely move out. If you’re looking more towards the practical side (a means for a career), then I’d consider living at home – it’s not forever.</p>
<p>Yep. I I decide to go get a dorm room. I will be paying almost another $15K, including food and everything. In the long run I will be saving $75K. Compared to $10K total for 5 years, commuting by train.</p>
<p>Usually it’s cheaper to just commute especially when it’s public trans. I’m surprised that it’s cheaper to dorm, lol.</p>
<p>How exactly are you saving money? Do you have specific scholarships for it? Cause that’s a different story.</p>