<p>Well...I only live about an hour away from UCLA (without traffic) and so I'm realizing that if I stay at home I will be saving about $60,000 (after 4 years). I'll be taking the metro to school which is only about a grand for 1 year. Is it worth it to stay at home and save that money or should I still live in the dorms? My friends keep telling me I'll be missing out on the college life, but quite frankly, I really don't care for it. Good idea, bad idea?</p>
<p>you realize 1 hr away without traffic is gonna be like a 3-4 hour ride on the bus in traffic right? i commuted from near downtown/dodger stadium area in the summer. what would have taken 15-20 mins without traffic on the freeway became over 1 hour with traffic.</p>
<p>and you'll miss out on meeting people. from what ive seen, people make many of their close friends within their floor their first year.</p>
<p>Like I said, I plan on taking the metro which is only about 1-1.5 hours one way.</p>
<p>But yes, I agree about the friends thing which is why I'm worried a bit.</p>
<p>Get out of your house and become independent! Maybe you'll stop being a snot nose sissy!</p>
<p>Live in the dorms. One hour is going to take a huge toll on you. You're not going to be dorming for all 4 years anyhow. If you don't like it after the first year, you can decide to go to the apartments or live at home, and I'm pretty sure you'll stick around Westwood.</p>
<p>you have know idea how bad LA traffic can get. i live about 30-40 mins away without traffic. with traffic it can take as long as 2 hours. it's gonna get old quick. just live in the dorms.</p>
<p>i live about 20-30 minutes without traffic..and i wouldn't even think about living at home! it will take 2 hours to go to school and come back home..such a waste of time! it's also not a guarantee that you'll get a parking permit..so everytime you go to school..you pay up $8..AND..it will be so much harder for you to make friends..just dorm your first year and live at home if you please for the years thereafter.</p>
<p>for the traffic it can be bad but what you really missing out is the dorm experience... its just so much more fun and you'll get involved and make a lot more friends in your hall</p>
<p>
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My friends keep telling me I'll be missing out on the college life, but quite frankly, I really don't care for it.
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Maybe you're just burned out from HS, maybe you're just not ready for the next step. However if this is really how you feel I'd suggest taking some time off until you are ready. College is more than just the classes you take. Otherwise why don't they have "college in the box"? You pick a major, they mail you some DVD's, you take some tests online, and when you've finished 180 unit they mail you a diploma? </p>
<p>Because college is more than just the material covered in class. It is the debates and discussions with fellow students, the opportunity to be challenged in and out of class, the joy and heartbreaks that go along with making the transition from HS to adulthood. And UCLA offers you chances galore to grow. There is a reason they've been on a huge building campaign, putting up dorm after dorm, promising housing for 3 (soon to be 4) years. </p>
<p>Now maybe you say you don't need this. You just want to buckle down and study, get that degree, avoid all the distractions. You "don't care for" the life of college. I guess its up to you, but how many people have you met or heard of that say "gee, I enjoyed myself in college and came out a different person. I wish I could go back and spend all my time locked in the library or commuting". Not many, I'd bet. I'm not talking about spending all your time hanging out and ignoring your classes, but most people think a middle ground is for the best.</p>
<p>i commuted in the summer (around 2 hrs one way) and it sucks big time. I would advise living on campus, because you will have no life other than commute to school, take classes, commute back home, study, sleep.</p>
<p>Ok you guys have convinced me, I'll be living in the dorms =)</p>
<p>DORMs FTW! My commuter friend, from long beach to LA, is living here next year because he realized that he made a mistake not dorming 1st year. Don't make the same mistake.</p>
<p>i live 10 minutes without traffic. do the dorms. (and yes i did and ... "love" it</p>
<p>^ says the future RA of summit ;)</p>
<p>and when you make calculations about money saving, you need to include ALL the factors.</p>
<p>you won't be saving $60k over 4 years, because dorms don't cost $15k, you won't be living in dorms all 4 years, and you WILL be spending money to live SOMEWHERE... so that figure isn't true. also, adding in the non-money factors, you're losing out on social capital by living at home lol. welcome to the dorms!</p>