<p>I'm applying to Cal this year, but if I get accepted (pull your thumbs for me!) and decide to go, I don't think I could possibly do the whole dorming thing. I literally live three blocks from Campus-- all I need to do is walk 5 minutes and wham, there's the Campanile. Do you think this means that I can skip the dorm without too much detriment? My family could pretty much afford a stay for me in a dorm, but...I'd hate to get so much for free. I mean, it's 10k per year right? That's rather ridiculous. On the other hand, I was hoping I'd get to experience things like partying and boyfriends and stuff, all the things I missed out on during high school.</p>
<p>Honestly, because you’re so close I don’t think it would make a huge difference. I’m in a dorm right now and I’ll give you some of my observations.
- It is amazing living away from your parents for the first time…
- socializing with other freshmen is incredibly easy and fun when you’re all living together.
- I’ve actually found it somewhat difficult to make eating (or other) plans with people even though I’m on campus. It takes a bit of effort. </p>
<p>I think saving the $13,000 would outweigh what’s mentioned above if it would be a financial burden. Good luck getting into Cal!</p>
<p>Well, you’re considerably closer than I am, so you may not run into my problems. But I’m living about 35 minutes away from my school and I HATE it. It’s extremely difficult to get involved with extracurriculars (they’re all in the evenings), I’m always in the car (probably won’t apply to you), and I have a super hard time connecting with people because I’m not on campus all the time.</p>
<p>That being said, if you’re a super outgoing person who has no problem walking up to complete strangers and making friends with them then you will have no problem. I have friends like this who are having a great time and have no problem with commuting.</p>
<p>If you had to drive to campus, I would say that Freshman year is the most important year to live on campus so consider the dorms the first year and then commuting later. But since you can walk and you would save so much, I can’t really see it being worth it to live in the dorms ever. I would join several clubs and try to make a wide circle of friends. Hopefully you can find someone who will let you use their dorm room some for hanging out and maybe staying overnight. I would generously reciprocate with meals out or at your house. You are really very lucky, with a little effort you should have all the benefits of both college and home without having to worry about a car or a parking space.</p>
<p>Make really good friends with someone on campus so you can go there for parties/crash there after parties and such.</p>
<p>I live 2.5 miles away from my school and commute to and from it daily. At my school, the social life revolves around the dormitories and nothing else. So, I don’t have much of a social life, but UC Berkeley might be a different place (and perhaps a little more commuter friendly), so it’s really up to you. You seem to live close enough that it might not impact you at all (and save a huge bit of change in the process).</p>