<p>I'm a first year student right now (UCLA), dorming (although I do actually live 20 drive away from campus). Faced with the possibility of having to commute next year, or sign up to live on campus again for 10 grand a year, I have quite a dilemma. Does anyone here commute(d), or live in an apartment pretty far from campus? What are the real cons/pros? Personally I would have a hard time concentrating at home. </p>
<p>Advice welcome: I must make a choice in 2 weeks (deadline).</p>
<p>dorm your first yr. it will be worth it. after first yr, it might be a good idea to commute, it depends on you. i was a commuter once, i regret it very much now. just trying to help.</p>
<p>I think everyone who commutes hates it. If you can afford the 10K at all its worth paying. You never get to go to college again.</p>
<p>My friend commutes from MISSION VIEJO to UCLA everyday. If he can pull that off, then 20 minutes should be okay. </p>
<p>you could also be like me and sign up for a triple in a residence hall (14 premiere), thats only $8,800 so you shave off some $$ already.</p>
<p>my advice is going to cover a bit more territory than just on-campus/commuting. ucla is a huge school and its easy to become just a face in the crowd, showing up for class but doing little more to be involved in campus life. For all too many students who commute to large U's, college becomes almost a job where you show up and take classes but that's the extent of their involvement.</p>
<p>I don't know if this describes you or not, but what I'm driving at is that to really enjoy the college years it helps to be the kind of person for whom the activities and friends at college become the center of those years and for whom being away from all that would mean missing out on a lot of the college experience.</p>
<p>For commuters a lot of that experience is lost. You often don't want to stick around campus for a few hours just to see a TA, attend a lecture, watch a team compete or attend a performance, or participate in some event when you're done with class at 11am and the next activity isn't until 3 or 4pm (or even 8pm for sports and the like). On the other hand if you live on/near campus its no trouble to go home if you wish and then come back.</p>
<p>So my advice is to become (if you're not already) the type of person who is constantly involved in activities and with friends centered around the college, and for whom being taken away from all of that (by becoming a commuter) would bring a real sense of loss.</p>
<p>screw that...I would rather save money commuting than dorming and being ass deep in debt.</p>
<p>have you considered becoming an RA- best of both Worlds:</p>
<p>You live on campus
your dorm fees Would most likely be covered.</p>
<p>RA interviews have passed already, unfortunately</p>
<p>and i have to agree with mikemac.. youll miss out on the college experience if u commute</p>
<p>Sometimes an off campus apartment is cheaper than the dorms. This way you can save money, and live with friends. More expensive then living at home, but depending on area can be less expensive than dorm life.</p>
<p>This way you have the college experience. Try living on your own. It can be a great experience.</p>
<p>i commute and i feel as if im kinda missing out on college life</p>
<p>I'm hopefully transfering to UCLA next year and I've got the same problem. I'd like to live at the school, but don't want to spend the 10K to do so. I'm looking into commuting to the school next year, it's about 20 minutes away with no traffic, so I figure in Rush hour I can get there in an hour or so.</p>
<p>I will be commuting next year to UCLA from Rowland Heights (35 mi/ 40 minute drive). I did it over the summer and it really is not that bad. ^^;;</p>
<p>I've been considering all the aspects. </p>
<p>I could try applying for Co-op apartments. Butthen you have to dorm with grad students/foreign visiting scholars. Which opens another can of worms.</p>
<p>Oy. I shoulda gone to Berk. Then there'd just be no choice in the matter. :)</p>
<p>(edit: @Agentmichi: Rowland Heights..wow...you beat me. If I were to commute, I'd be doing it from Venice Beach)</p>
<p>I work w/someone whose son commutes from Temecula to UCLA.
agentmichi-You must not be driving in any traffic at all. </p>
<p>I am very glad son in on campus and enjoying college life. It would be about an hr but I would hate to see him driving home after a long day at school and missing out on so much.</p>
<p>Yes, only when there is no traffic can I make it in 40 minutes. With traffic, the drive is more like two hours. But, I often avoid traffic through scheduling my classes at "good" times. I have a very flexible major (History/Women's Studies), so I am able to do this. But, I can see how it might be a problem for you if you are a Math/Science major who has early MTWRF classes.</p>
<p>So, commuting isn't for everyone. I also am a car enthusiast who loves driving (w/o traffic of course), so keep that in mind. Also, it would be a good idea to have a fuel-efficient car.</p>
<p>agentmichi, carpool with me! =D</p>
<p>Sure. Just remember that I am allergic to early morning classes (unless I somehow conquer the evil beast that is insomnia). ^^;;</p>