<p>Unfortunately, I'm not able to live on-campus my freshman year, so I'll only be on campus for classes. I'm wondering if there's any ways to improve my chances of making friends, like a club or something? I feel miserable that I won't really be a part of the community, get to hang out with people in the dorms and get the "college experience" (while everyone else is so excited to leave their parents so they can just party constantly). I won't get to "practice" being independent or learn to manage my time/get my work done on his own (I'm living with my parents, who are already nagging me and reminding me that getting a degree is the reason people go to college, <em>not</em> to socialize or have fun) They told me this all through high school too, which caused friction because I was rarely allowed to hang out with my friends. But anyways, the thought of being a freshman in college with a bedtime, having to ask my parents permission to go somewhere and (no matter how much I protest this three) parents probably waking me up for class (regardless if my alarm is set), cooking (won't get to experience the 'rite of passage' that is gross cafeteria food or learn to manage my food budget) and doing my laundry (it's a race to see if I or them can get to my dirty clothes first).</p>
<p>My first question for you would be, do you have your own car for the commute? In this sense obviously with your parents approval, you would be able to stay on campus after classes and participate in clubs and nightly activities.</p>
<p>How far is your commute to campus? Obviously this will impact on often you could go back and forth to and from campus. The closer you are the later you would be able to stay on campus and hang out with friends.</p>
<p>I have a close friend who commutes to college and he says that as a commuter you must independently work harder than on campus students to find your niche. I would recommend finding clubs that you are interested in during the on campus club fair which will be sometime in the beginning of the fall semester. At least at my university, most club meetings after held at night due to classes and most of them do not start until 7 or 8 pm.</p>
<p>If you like playing sports, I would recommend trying to join an intramural sports team during the fall semester. These games are often later in the afternoon or night and also sometimes on the weekend.</p>
<p>Reach out to people in your class especially those that are in your major classes. You will be seeing these people more often and can sometimes have study groups which can evolve to friendships.</p>
<p>When you are on campus especially during the first few weeks just introduce yourself to as many people as you can. Everyone especially freshman are open to meeting new people within the first month or so.</p>
<p>Living off campus isn’t the same thing as only being on campus for classes. The key is to get involved at your college. That doesn’t depend on you living there. You can definitely be a part of the community. You could try asking your parents to drop you off early and pick you up late. In between arriving at campus and going home you’ll (obviously) attend your classes, can walk around and familiarize yourself with the place, visit and join clubs, socialize, etc. Make friends in clubs and classes, and hang out with them. Use your teachers’ visiting hours to talk about things that you found interesting during class or for extra help. Basically, make your college your second home.</p>
<p>In the mean time, you can ask your parents to give you a bit more responsibility. Start with little steps, like asking them if you could try to do your own laundry and take it off their hands.</p>
<p>Get involved in study groups–a good way of working on your academic life and social life simultaneously. Study at the library, or at other locations on campus, rather than at home. If you must tell your parents anything, just tell them you needed the resources are are working on group projects, etc.</p>
<p>See if you can get some kind of job on campus–just 8 or 10 hours a week is plenty-- because that also is a good way to meet people and will give you a bit of financial independence.</p>
<p>Definitely join clubs and teams and get involved on campus.</p>
<p>Also–as the parent of 3 boys–stop asking for permission all the time. If it is something reasonable for a college student to do, just do it as a matter of course.</p>
<p>My parents weren’t quite this bad (I didn’t have a bedtime) but I can relate to a lot of this. I knew a ton of people who came to campus, stayed only long enough to complete their classes, then raced home or to an off-campus job, and I was determined not to be one of them. What helped me was going Greek (I realize that for a variety of reasons, that’s not for everyone.) This helped me make new friends and connect with a lot of activities I would have missed out on otherwise. Some majors require more out-of-class activity than others and you tend to make friends this way, too. S1 is a sports broadcasting major and made his core group of friends through the campus radio station. Your campus may have a commuter lounge or activities available for commuter students, but be warned that most campus activities and services cater to on-campus students. (BTW, my parents did loosen up a little eventually and I did move into my sorority house. My dad, in particular, still kept tabs on me as much as possible, but I was able to come and go as I pleased.) Good luck to you.</p>