My best friend and I were planning on living on campus the first year, but now I’m not sure if that’s the best idea. I would have to pay a third of my tuition which is around $6,000, and I’m not sure if I can pay that my first year so I would have to take out student loans. On the other hand, I’ve heard commuting to school (which is about 30 minutes) isn’t the best way to meet people since you just go to class and leave. If i commuted I could save a lot of money, but I am worried about making friends. I’ve also applied to a community college which wouldn’t really cost me anything at all, but also its a 20-25 minute drive and I don’t really like driving everyday. What should I do?
Honestly, it’s kind of silly to live on campus if you’re so close. A lot of people spend more time than that driving to high school. Dorms are not worth it. They’re loud, usually decrepit, and you get basically nothing for your money. You’re better off living off campus.
If you live that close, it’s probably a waste of money unless there are circumstances that make it difficult to live at home. Don’t just go to class and leave - you should make an effort to get involved in things on campus and campus life - that’s how you make friends. Join clubs and groups, and spend time on campus between classes. Study in the library. All of that will make you feel more connected. Driving is certainly not fun, but it’s a good chance to listen to music, podcasts, or books on tape. I drove ~30 minutes each way to high school, and it became pretty much my only me-time.