I plan on going to Penn State Brandywine,and since it is only around 20 minutes from my house,I would really like to dorm there. My father has made it very clear that he wants me to commute the first two years,but I do not really want to if I can help it,however my mother also would most likely agree with him. I want to become more independent and have a better social life,which they are trying to ruin and not let happen. I hope to get heavily involved in activities,so I will be on campus already for meetings.
Who’s paying?
Get some solid numbers together. The cost of the commute (gas, parking, time), the weather conditions, especially for the spring semester, a sample schedule showing your classes will be all over the place as a freshman, 5 days per week (they probably will be). List some of the benefits of dorm life, like taking seminars with other freshmen, being able to have a job on campus, etc. Say your commute 20 minutes, that’s really 30-45 with parking and walking to your class. Say 1.5 hours per day, that’s 7.5 per week of just commuting, not studying.
But it’s not going to be cheaper to live at the dorm. Also present a plan of how to pay for it.
@“aunt bea” I would negotiate with them a deal of what would be a fair amount out of each pay from my on campus job (hopefully). Then I would put that amount towards the bill each time.
A part time job is not going to pay for your room and board, truthfully speaking.
Have you asked your parents about the budget. Everything has to be paid up front or in huge chunks of money. Are you sure they can afford it?
Yeah. They could afford it,but like you mentioned before I would like to help as much as I can in making this a reality
I agree with @twoinanddone, you need a plan.
Here’s one thing that was important for my middle daughter’s dorm: office hours and tutoring were held in the lobbies of the dorms. The writing centers were also available during off hours which means you are on campus all day and night. You will lose your parking space if you leave.
You brought up a good point @“aunt bea” , I would want to be there and able to get help,whether it is office hours ,tutoring or the writing center. I would want to be able to access the resources necessary to be successful.
Your job may be on campus, at night, as well. Good Luck!
Andrew, you have 9 months between now and the start of the fall semester.
You’re a high school senior. Do you have a part time job? How much have you saved so far? How much can you save between now and the time the room deposits are due?
Room and board are roughly $12,000 per year at most schools. If you could convince your parents that you’ll cover the lion’s share of at least the first year’s cost, you might have a good shot.
You might suggest to your parents that you would like to live on campus for the first year only. Living on campus gives you the best opportunity to meet people, make friends, and get involved in the university community. You can continue those friendships and activities after freshman year even if you live elsewhere.
Another point: If you’re making financial calculations, don’t forget to factor in a car. If you’re commuting, you need one. If you’re living in a dorm, most likely you can manage without. So what you would need to cover is the cost of room and board minus the cost of maintaining a car.
@bjkmom I have not gotten a job yet because my parents want me to get involved in as much as possible,I wanted to get one but they talked me out of it,however I hope to get a summer job this upcoming year. I have to accept my offer of admission and pay the room deposit by the 18th of January at 5:00. It costs 3380 per semester,I just looked it up
@Marian I would want to move away for all four years,so I do not have to worry about feuding with my two brothers,who will also be in college,so I can get work done and watch some football in peace. I would be able to manage the cost of room and board, if I can convince them to play along
Does the $3,380 include a meal plan and is one required?
@TQfromtheU It does not look like it,and yes one is required
You need to be VERY realistic about the amount you will actually be able to earn…and contribute. Your per semester room cost is $3380…so for the full year that is $6800 or so. Add to that the cost of a meal plan which is likely at LEAST $1500 a semester. So…$3000 more per year so $9800 total.
How much do you really think you can earn? I’m going to guess that the total amount is not possible. So let’s say…half…$5000 or so. You would need to earn more than $7000 to have take home pay of $5000.
How much will your parents contribute?
Tell them they wouldn’t like the house parties. 
IMO, if financial issues aren’t involved, then commuting is a mistake. I had friends do it, and they hated it. They where completely disconnected from the school. Part of that first year is to make you a “Lion” and make friends and participate in as much as possible. You just get too disconnected living at home.
I broke two major College Confidential rules: I went to Community College and I commuted, both there and to the university I went to afterwards.
It wasn’t about grades… I was an honors kid in high school. I’m one of 5 kids. My parents were paying my way. There’s no way I would have asked or expected them to pay for a more expensive school or for room and board when I had a very nice home I could commute from. (And, yes, I bought myself a car my senior year in high school.)
The reality is that a huge number of kids do NOT go away to school-- particularly not to a campus 20 minutes away. I didn’t hate it-- all of my friends and I carpooled to school together, worked together, and vacationed together, I have never in my life had the kind of money I had in college-- vacations in Bermuda and Florida, a ski house in upstate NY, a summer place in the Hamptons. We were all working after school and we all had a wonderful time. It was a time in my life I’ll always look back to with fondness-- no regrets. In fact, got a belated Christmas card from one of those old friends today.
OP, would you consider switching to a cheaper school, if that’s an option, so that your parents could put the money they’re saving into room and board?
@thumper1 Who said I could not get one job on campus,and one not on campus? Depending on how my schedule is, I will try my best to get another job, Room and Board + Meal Plan= Approximately 9300,not including tuition. My parents will contribute as much as they can afford it,but I do not want to put the burden totally on them.
@bjkmom I understand that is your opinion from a parent’s perspective,because you never experienced living on campus. However,it is my number one school and I do not want to regret not ever doing it.
Calculate how much it costs your parents to feed you at home, how much you’ll pay for gas, etc. I know parents - especially parents of boys - who said it was cheaper to have them live on campus rather than feed them at home.
Two jobs while taking classes? Are you sure you won’t affect your grades?