Is commuting to college really all that degrading to the "college experience?"

Applying to College
1

<p>Hey everyone! I'm new to this forum since i'm also a new college freshman!</p>

<p>Now, I go to a main commuter school where like 60-70% of the people here commute. The residential population here is growing but the majority are still commuters here. And I have been heard a lot about how commuting degrades the college experience. Well, ive been commuting for 3 weeks now and honestly, Im not sure if I missing much of the full college experience but people seem to insist that I am! Read if you agree..</p>

<p>Ive made a group of really close buddies (sophomores, juniors, and seniors), about 7 of them, and we always hang out after class and we have created a flag football team! I have also joined the American Medical Student association since I am a pre-med student and I'll get a taste of what being a doctor really is.</p>

<p>And Ive gone to several parties and activities on campus in the past 3 weeks and they are pretty fun! I stay about 9-12 hours on campus depending on the days I have flag football practice so its not like I leave campus right after class. Thats longer than some people who dorm stay at college buildings before they go back to their dorm.</p>

<p>So honestly, what am I missing besides paying 7 grand for living on campus where I am limited by eating a meal plan and possibly having bad roommates? And for those of you that think im paying for a car, im not. There is free bus transportation from my house thats 5 minutes away from my house and drops me off in the middle of the university. It takes me 45 min to get to school and 45 min back but I also read on the bus so im not losing study time. So I pay $0 for transportation on regular days. Some days I park my car next to a park and ride area and take the bus but I still don't pay a cent for on campus parking and very little fuel costs. </p>

<p>I personally don't think the 7 grand is worth living on campus for. Sure I miss having easy access to the university library and I don't get to have dorm sleepovers but seriously, is it worth the debt? Like I said, ive made really good friends with my new buddies and we see each other on weekends often. And since my parents have two houses, we plan on having house parties in my parents spare house eventually so thats also a good thing?</p>

<p>And my parents said they would give me a brand new car worth up to 30K if I got all A's first year on campus, which would make up for me not living on campus. So what am I losing by not dorming? Tell me....</p>

2

<p>Doesn’t sound to me like you’re missing anything, and you’re saving $7K and eating mom’s home-cooked meals instead of Sodexo mystery meat.</p>

3

<p>Agree, sounds like you are “working it,” in the right sense. The kids who don’t thrive are the ones who don’t join or participate.</p>

4

<p>You get mom and dad’s food, drink, warm beds, nice tv, expensive furniture…as opposed to bunkbeds and a communal bathroom. Your choice.</p>

5

<p>Nationwide, the single largest group of traditional aged college students is comprised of those who live at home and commute to their local community colleges. Add in the number of students who commute to a 4-year institution are added to that figure, and you will find that more students commute from home than live on campus. In other words, YOU are having the real college experience. Granted it is a bit different from the experience popularized by the media, but it truly is the experience of the majority of college students in the US.</p>