<p>I've seen a lot of threads saying its important to live on campus for at least the freshman year. My situation is that I will be commuting to Tulane (which requires freshmen/sophomore students not commuting to live on campus, so about 97% live on campus) for the first year and then I will live on campus for the other three years since my parents will move next year. I also plan to do pre-med and volunteer a lot, is that hard to do as a commuter?</p>
<p>If there is any way you could afford to live on campus the 1st year you should do it. You will have a much more difficult time fitting in socially if you commute. Most of the friends you make are from activities outside of school, and for freshmen, that is from the dorms. Dorms usually have a lot of activities to help people get to know each other. If money is an issue, one possibility is to pay for dorms the 1st year and then apply to be a Resident Advisor after that. I’m not familiar with Tulane specifically, but usually RA’s get free housing and sometimes board also. If there is no way you can live on campus, make sure to join as many activities as possible thru the student association.</p>
<p>Is it worth it to take out loans to live on campus? I’ll probably be able to pay for half of it through a job, parents will have to pay ~$5K for the rest of tuition, and then the rest of room and board through loans. I’ll probably be around ~$11K in debt rather than ~$5500 for my first year of college.</p>
<p>Do be careful about taking on debt as a premed; you’re going to have to borrow a lot for med school. But while you definitely need to make sure, an extra 5k probably won’t seriously hurt you, and you’ll have a much better experience living on campus.</p>
<p>This is my first year and I’m living at home. It’s not that bad, depending on how much your parents bug you.</p>
<p>Definitely do activities, because that’s where you find close friends. At least in my opinion, the idea isn’t trying to get into a stupid social circle. That crap is so high school. Make real friends by finding the right people, not just people you come across in the dorms. I still meet people in college, freshmen or even junior, who still try to act cool when in fact they’re just a bunch o suckups.</p>
<p>For someone in your situation I would say go for living off campus. It is nice to make those first year connections in the dorm but its not like you can’t make them elsewhere. Get involved in the community via clubs, volunteering and attending events. Living off campus is usually much cheaper.</p>
<p>I guess I considered this a last resort, but another option for me is to go to LSU and have to take out loans of $5,500 every year, and scholarships will pay for the rest (including room and board). As a premed student is there any significant advantage to being at Tulane?</p>
<p>I understand that Tulane has its own culture – so just make sure it fits you! Also, pre med is known for having brutal “weed out” courses. Don’t feel obligated to take the “suggested” course load. For instance, you may not have to take biology, chemistry, physics and calculus your first semester. You might be able to push back the physics and take the required . . . American history or P.E or arts elective and give yourself a bit of a chance to “ramp up” as a student. </p>
<p>People do college a million ways. So what that you commute! You may miss out on the kid barfing into the hall trash can at 3 a.m. – but, hey, no big. </p>
<p>There often are pre semester freshmen activities (“frosh camp”) and enrolling in to one of those might kick off some of the connections and friendships that are important. If there’s not a “commuter’s club” maybe you should start one – betcha there’s at least a handful of other students in your boat. Maybe you can car pool . . . </p>
<p>Nationally, Tulane is better known. That’s not to say you will get a better education there – a lot depends on the classes you take and the professors you get (or find!). </p>
<p>If med school is something you will have to borrow for (sounds like) then please, please keep a sharp eye on what you borrow now for under grad. LSU is nothing to sneeze at. Don’t let bumper sticker snobbism cost you a lifetime of debt. </p>
<p>HAve you visited the two campuses? That might tell you the answers to just how different the programs are and if it is worth the big debt for Tulane. </p>
<p>Good luck! Glad you have some choices!</p>
<p>Definitely live on campus! You will have better access to resources, both social and educational, and it will make it so much easier for you to build a social life on campus. Keep in mind that there is more value to college than just what you are going to do in class. There is the whole college experience. Talk to the residence life office and see if they have different types of residence halls (honors halls, drug/alcohol free halls, etc…) and then find one that fits your style.</p>
<p>I highly recommend you live on campus. I am a commuter student and I hate it because my parents still want to treat me like I am in high school. Plus, its hard to get to know people in college because you are not always in the same class.</p>
<p>Very. If not to be “part of the community” and have a decent social life then to be closer to the resources, seriously. Take it from someone who spent a semester quite far away from campus. I found it difficult to work on group projects, participate in mandatory studies (held on weekends)/work with offices (open weekdays, slim hours), and take advantage of the school’s programs. However, my circumstances were strained for many reasons. I highly recommend living on campus, but that has downsides as well. For one, dorm life absolutely sucks. DO NOT let anyone tell you otherwise. I hated my roommate, but even if you like yours it’s just a little… cramped, cold showered, LOUD especially if morons/athletes live on your hall, old smelling (in most cases), and not like home. Princeton Review definitely lied, the dorms were not like Palaces. And with dorms comes a meal plan (and there goes $20k), which could be a good thing if your dining hall is good, but it does get monotonous.</p>