I can’t transfer after a semester I need to stay there a whole year.
I live like an hour away from NB my dad commutes there everyday and he says that I will not like commuting after a while bc of pure exhaustion
The New Brunswick Business School’s professionalism & the attention they give to their students to make sure they succeed really blew me away when I visited on Admitted Students’ Day (in fact, that’s where I’m committed right now!)
The great thing about a school as big as Rutgers is that it’s only as big (or small) as you want it to be. It’s too easy to avoid the party scene entirely because of how big the school is, and you’re almost guaranteed to find your people, provided that you put yourself out there. Start small: get to know your roommate, then your floormates, then start making friends in some classes! If you want to try meeting people beforehand, I suggest joining the Rutgers Class of 2022 Facebook group! Introduce yourself, find other people, and join the group chats that people create.
Sure, being in a new place where you don’t know anyone can be daunting, but the best thing about it is that everyone else is trying to find their way too, so it’s easy to start fresh and make good first impressions (unlike in high school where almost everyone has some prior opinion of you).
Honestly, every time I’ve visited Rutgers, I never wanted to leave, so I can’t imagine commuting, and many of my friends who started out commuting ultimately decided to dorm because they wanted to be close to their classes, friends, clubs, and opportunities.
Someday, you’re going to have to get used to being on your own, away from your family, making your own decisions, being around strangers, using public transport (many of my friends hated Rutgers bc of its bus system), etc etc. Rutgers NB is far enough that you get to be independent, but close enough that you can return home if you need supplies, home-cooked meals, or comfort. It’s the best of both worlds.
This is honestly the longest thing I’ve put on this website, but I hope I helped you a bit 
if you really don’t like NB after staying there for a semester or a year, it’s always possible to transfer, but I really think based on your comments that you’ll be fine at NB, just a little worried about the newness of it all. I am too. Every incoming freshman is. The strong community & support at Rutgers NB will help all of us get acclimated 
You won’t know how well you’ll like commuting unless you try it out though. Here what I would suggest: commute for your first semester, get adjusted to the campus and college life. If you get tired of commuting after the semester, you could always sign up for housing second semester. By that time you’ll already have met new people and will definitely feel better about living on campus.
Tell your dad that you want to stay home for the first semester to experience commuting for yourself, I’m sure he won’t mind, after all, it will save you and your parents at least $5k if you choose not to live on campus for the first semester.
No, live on campus the first semester, that’s when most friendships are formed. You hang out with your roommates until wee hour of night (with some drinks) and discuss meaning of life.
Yes, for crying out loud, it is still NJ, only an hour from your family. Your dad could have lunch with you. If I were your parent, I would be pushing you out the door.
@oldfort They basically are but I really don’t know if I’m ready.
@mohchan360 That’s a TERRIBLE idea. Students who commute first semester and then move on campus second semester miss the critical period of time when the closet of friendships are formed in the dorms. If she’s an introvert, it would be terrible to move into a dorm for the first time in January, after everyone else on the floor already knows each other and is used to living there.
@Rayfusion7 Thing is, nothing at home is going to be the same. Everyone else is moving on with their lives. You won’t be going to high school any more. You can’t stop the passage of time. And by the way, it is totally normal to feel nervous. TOTALLY. To calm your nerves, try this exercise: What are you afraid will happen at Rutgers NB? Then ask yourself, OK, so if that happens, then what? And then what? And so on … What you’ll learn from this exercise is that you are not going to die. You are not saying goodbye to your family for the rest of your life. You are not being set adrift on the Atlantic Ocean by yourself on a small raft. You’re going to college. At a state flagship. One hour from your home. In a town your father drives to every day.
Also, remember that it’s May. You’re not going tomorrow or next week. You’re going in four months.
If you don’t feel you are ready make the switch. I have one who felt the same way but she was afraid to tell us. She went away and was miserable. She came home and did time at a community college and is now at a different university and very happy.
I have seen several other students do the same thing. It’s OK to not be ready and to recognize and admit that is even better.
Make the decision that makes you most comfortable and from all of your responses I would say you should make the switch. Every year I see posts on this site from kids who are miserable and having mental health issues because they are so unhappy away from home. It sounds like those issues are already starting for you. Life is too short to already be this miserable. After a year at Newark if you are more comfortable leaving you can transfer away.
I’m actually very worried about you. Someone above said the worst case scenario is that if you hate it you can transfer. That is absolutely not the worst case scenario. I lived it with my daughter. Her mental health suffered, her grades suffered. She failed classes that semester. She was sick about it and had anxiety. She cried and struggled with the decision just as you are.
I was with her when she was going through some of this. She had anxiety attacks and was hyperventilating. She was just like you. She didn’t want to regret leaving the so called “better school”. She so struggled with the decision. As soon as she made the decision to leave, I visually saw the weight lifted off her shoulders. She smiled for the first time in weeks. She had no more anxiety attacks.
She wasn’t ecstatic at her community college but she was happy and herself again. She was able to think clearly again. That time allowed her to find a major she is loving and she is now at a school closer to home. She still comes home often but she has regained her confidence and personality. She is happy at her school and many here would say it is a lesser school, which is not true by the way.
Make the switch and be healthy and happy. There is plenty of time to figure out if and when you might want to go away.
@Rayfusion7 My kid is introverted but also wanted to go away for college. She accepted at her first choice but as the day of departure drew near, she was very scared. However, she went and within a short period of time, she had made friends and settled in and did fine. As it would take 3-4 days to drive home or most of a day on airplanes, going home for the weekend is not an option.
Is it possible for you to spend a weekend on the NB campus to see how you like it? Do you have any friends there?
Were you admitted to the honors program at either place? That can make a large campus seem smaller.
Assuming you live near Newark, I imagine NB is only about an hour away by train. I went to Rutgers NB forever ago and grew up less than 10 miles from Newark and the location was very convenient. You could get into Manhattan relatively easily as well as many locations within the state.
However, if you’re really not feeling it, Rutgers Business School is very well regarded and would prepare you well for the future. Good luck!
Do what’s right for you. You are the only one who knows. Don’t try to please anyone. College is very challenging no matter where you are. The important thing is that you go, learn, grow, challenge yourself and earn your degree.