<p>Sugar - When you speak with your parents, you might ask them to imagine how different your family life would have been had you lived across town and just commuted to their house for scheduled appointments. That’s how college life would probably be if you commuted from home. As a parent, I’d love to hang onto my daughters and enjoy having them at our home, but I knew that it was time for them to get out into the world and expand their horizons. I also know them well enough to have faith in their maturity and decision-making, so I have no fears that they’ll be influenced or corrupted by outside influences. Staying at home and commuting to a local school is a way to compile academic credits, but compiling credits is not the same as a higher education (you know that; you have 50 credits, but I doubt you’ve had a true college experience). Starting out as a commuting student is the best predictor of poor college outcomes that I know.</p>