As the new students enter the Fall semester in college there are many difficulties that come along with it; like adapting to the new environment. For those who are living at school it is easier to get into the hang of things, but as for those who are commuting it can get a bit stressful.
The students that are living on campus are at an advantage. They get to meet people quicker since they are always at school, which helps a lot when you are in a completely different place then you have been for the past four years of your life. Living on campus also means you can get involved with many other things like clubs, sports, and you can always attend the infamous "college parties". We also can't forget that students that live at schools don't depend on transportation to and from class.
Commuting in the other hand can bring many challenges. A commuter depends on a car to get to school so if anything happens to the car you might not be able to get to class on a certain day and that may be a problem. A commuter might also have trouble making friends, when all the resident students are walking around the school with their roommates the commuting student might be alone since he or she has not made any friends yet. Driving to school can also get stressful; loosing time in traffic can mean less time studying or doing homework. The commuting student might also have to work back at home and with all those responsibilities it may be hard to manage time.
I agree with this, because I have friends that are commuters and when we talk about college they say that they are having an "ok" time and that the work load is stressful to them. I agree that it is alot of work, but being at school around friends that have the same amount of work as you makes it seem better, and because your friends are now living with you, the college experience is more than just homework. My older sister is a commuter as well and she is experiencing having difficulty managing her time because of her job. She was offered a job as a nanny, but because of the time of her classes she does not think she will be available for all the times the parents need her. Managing time while living is college is not as difficult because most of us do not hvae full time jobs, and our classes are spaced out.
ReplyDeleteAll new students entering their first year of college must become accustomed to their new school environment whether they are living on campus or commuting. I am a commuter who lives 20 minutes away and I must admit that being a commuter definitely has its perks. For example, after my classes are done for the day I can go home and work on my homework in peace in quiet as opposed to living on campus and hoping that it is 10:59 p.m. and “quiet time” in the dorm rooms goes into effect in one minute. With all my coursework, I feel that I would never be able to concentrate and complete my schoolwork on time. On campus there are always more excuses not to do your homework. As students, we must admit that we tend to get distracted easily. If I was living on campus and working on my homework and my friends asked me if I wanted to go to the hockey game, I would go. Being a commuter gives me that option of going home to complete my schoolwork and then commuting back to campus. I have the best of both worlds with living so close to campus, but no too far away so that I can go home whenever I want to.
ReplyDeleteA commuter meeting new friends is easier than one might think. I have met both commuters and residents that live on campus. Everyday, I find myself going out to lunch or meeting up with them to hang out. Lastly, a commuter can be involved just as much as someone who lives on campus can. I plan to run indoor track which is a great way to be involved and meet new people.
I think that it's better living on campus than commuting? who would want to waste time going back and forth between home and school? College is a time to make new friends, get involved and, and more importantly, be independent. College is a time where kids are on their own and have to deal with life, like doing their own laundry, cleaning their room, cooking for themselves, and paying their own bills. They can't rely on their parents all the time. Of course, every once in a while, kids might come home on a weekend and call their parents to see how they're doing or ask a question about life, may be ask them to bring up things. Parents can still be involved in a student's life, but the student can't always depend on a parent everyday. College is about experience and being with people. If one is comuting, one is not really getting the college experience, or that of being independent and living on one's own. I feel like if a student is commuting, the student is deending on their parents too much. A student may also have night classes, for example, I have 2 labs per week at 6 pm, and I wouldn't want to go back and forth between college and home.Living on campus really sets up a kid to live on their own.
ReplyDeleteFor the past few years I have been consistently told that living on campus is necessary to truly experience college. Now that I am here I have to agree. Although it is still possible to experience college while commuting there is a strain of getting back and forth to the school. For students that live on campus they will immediately meet new people, for example their roommates. This is an important thing for people that may have a harder time getting to know people. Over all there is nothing wrong with commuting but for me living on campus is probably the best thing right now.
ReplyDeleteThis issue of deciding to either live on campus or commuting to college was a tricky proposition for not only myself but my family as well. First, I view my family as the most influential aspect of my life. They have supported me in every which way possible. So from the very beginning I understood that living without them was not going to be easy. Also, you must weight the money factor into your decision. It costs around ten thousand dollars extra to live at school this financial obstacle should not be taken lightly. On the other hand, living at school gives you the tools needed to grow up and become independent. It teaches you the importance of responsibility and time management. It gives you the opportunity to find yourself as a person and as an adult. Living at college present benefits that are truly invaluable.
ReplyDeleteIn retrospect, I know I made the right decision in choosing to live at college. Even though the first week of classes seemed daunting, I understand that it is all part of the college experience. Even though I miss my family very much, with newer technology keeping in touch is almost comes second nature. Living only 35 to 40 minutes away from school allows me to never feel home sick. Also, living at college almost forces you to get evolved and meet new people. This part of college takes you out of your comfort zone and makes you see life in a different perspective. In just two short weeks I believe I have become much more out-spoken and assertive. Lastly, I am a firm believer that you must enjoy the experience of living at college because it allows you to see each situation with a positive outlook and perspective.
In final, these four years of college are viewed as the best four years of your life. But, in order for that notion to become a reality I believe living at school must be at the focal point. Living at college not only prepares you for the real world it gives a sense of how to approach each hurdle and situation with confidence that you will secede.
The decision on whether or not to live at college was very tough for me I went back and forth constantly from staying there to commuting. My final decision was to commute, and I feel that I did make the right decision for myself. I like commuting, I only live 25 minutes away so I can come and go as I please. I feel that it is wrong to say that commuters don't gain the college experience. I LOVE being at Merrimack, it was my dream school, and even though I don't live there I still enjoy it here very much. I have met some pretty great people who I see on a daily basis and I try to get involved when I can. Being a commuter is like having the best of both worlds. You can go to school, meet great people, have fun, get innvolved, go to sports events and then when you're tired and are stressed you can just go home and chill out and relax. I feel that it is also wrong to say that commuters don't gain a sense of independence or time management. I feel that commuters especially have to have perfect time management. You have to get up at the right time to make it to school while dealing with traffic or other incidents that might occur. Also, if you have a job when your a commuter, like myself. I have to make sure I can get all my homework done while going to work everyday. Commuters are also independent because even though we live at home we are still adults and have to pay for things by ourselves and get to school by ourselves. So commuting is not as bad as people make it out to be. I am definitely not saying that commuting is what everyone should do because its not. If you want to live on campus, live on campus or if you want to commute, commute. I know I made the right decision to commute and even though I don't live on campus I will have the time of my life at school and have that college experience because it is what I want.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with this because commuters have so many other responsibilities that a student living on campus does not have to worry about. Students living on campus don’t have as many worries or stresses that come with being a commuter; this would lead to less stress for the students living on campus. I have to say from my point of view being a first year freshman it is hard making new friends and talking to new people, on my second week of school I am still trying to find friends that have the same interests as I do. I am a very shy person so it takes a lot for me to talk to people I have never seen or heard of before. So if it is hard for me as a resident student to make friends, then the commuters have it worse because they don't stay here after classes are over, which is where I know I made my friends. They are missing out on a lot of essential activities and daily routines a normal resident college student encounters. They are missing out on events they should be experiencing like the little parties each floor has, floor meetings, ice cream socials, and games each floor plays. It is still up to the commuters point of view because if they think it's fine going back and forth from school to home that's their opinion and everyone is entitled to their own, so this really depends on what kind of a person you are whether you make friends really easily and don’t need to stay in a different environment or you need to be placed in a whole new environment to find yourself and to also make new friends that maybe will stay with you throughout the rest of your life.
ReplyDeleteWhile there are both positive and negative aspects towards both living on campus and commuting, I think that living on campus provides students with a better experience than commuting. Living on campus gives students a taste of independence. There are no parents or relatives telling us what to do every second of the day. As a resident you are pretty much responsible for all of your choices, which is not the case for commuters, who most likely still live their parents and have to answer to them. Receiving more independence helps to prepare students for life after college, when they won’t be living with their parents, but rather living out in the world by themselves. Residence life gives students the opportunity to grow on their own and become more responsible.
ReplyDeleteI agree with this post one hundred percent. I know many people back in North Adams who have gone to the local college and they always say that they wish they went away so they could have experienced the college dorm life. Commuters do not get to experience the true college life. They don't get to experience living in a dorm, getting paired up with a roommate and living with a stranger for a school year. They don't get to experience living in the real world by themselves without their parents supervision and going out to the college parties with new friends on the weekends. College is the start of a new life that is filled with many new challenges and obstacles that can be very helpful after graduating college. Students who live on campus definately have an advantage over those students who commute.
ReplyDeleteCommuter and on campus students should be part of the College environment. However there are some advantages having a residence life because it provides some new experiences for the young people who arrive from close cities or especially for those who arrive from other countries.
ReplyDeleteAs an International student, the adaptation to a new and completely different environment can be very stressful. But living on campus helps meeting new students in the same situation as you are. For instance, you can get involved in some clubs or sport teams. Even when you go to the cafeteria you meet some students that belong to the same class you are attending and it is a great opportunity to share your concerns, fears or goals. At the same time it is a great time to know new friends. What is more, College gives the chance to be independent because you deal with real situations that provide you with tools to grow up. As a student on campus you have to be responsible managing your time and try to see each situation with a positive perspective that helps you to reach your goals. Perhaps being a commuter you have the option to return to your home and don't get distracted with some other activity. Anyway, as a commuter you have other responsabilities such as your job or family that are as important as the other tasks.
In conclusion, I really think that living at college gives the students invaluable benefits to deal with real life.
I think also that living on campus truly enhances the whole experience of college and gives the student a chance to bond with many other students. Since it is such a close-knit community here at Merrimack College , you get to know very well who it is you are living with. I think it is also important for students to break free from their homes and learn to cope with the endless experiences and responsibilities of living on your own. I certainly believe,that by living on campus, you interact more with your peers and from such constant interaction follows the creation of healthy relationships with your fellow students.
ReplyDeleteI commute, and I agree with the idea that if a car is the main mode of transportation and something happens to it, this unfortunate event would make things more difficult to get to school. One may have to call up a family member, or a friend, or a cab, or take the bus if it is available. I also agree with the idea of travel time, because from firsthand experience, the only thing I do not like about commuting is that I have to wake up extra early for the 8am class I have twice a week. I mean, I may live closer, but I feel like these issues could be presented to all commuters.
ReplyDeleteBut I strongly disagree with the idea that it is easier for students who live on campus to have a better social life than those who are commuting. Your social life is based on what your decisions.
There are some students that are living on campus (who will remain un-named) that are very lonely and cannot wait until the Thanksgiving or Winter break when they get to go home. They could easily have the same amount or even more difficulty making friends depending on their comfort level. One person in particular that I know of is lonely because her roommate doesn’t exactly pay a whole lot of attention to her. My friend even told me as the roommate walked by (without saying "hi") that she rarely ever sees the roommate and is very happy when she has a visitor once in a while.
I, on the other hand, frequently joke that there are many people who believe that I live on the second floor of Deegan West. If I’m not mistaken, I saw the RA one day who also thought lived on her floor. So it is truly all about what you make of it.
When I started school, my goal was that the only difference between me and the dorm students will be that I sleep and shower in a different place. Hey, if I’m lucky, I may even get to have a "girls’ sleep-over night" or something where I can crash in one of the dorms for the night.
It surprises me sometimes when other commuters tell me that they go straight home right after classes or that they do not know anyone that resides in the dorms. I feel like we .have all the same opportunities. Especially for clubs, which is a great way to meet new people.
As a commuter I can relate to many of the difficulties that were pointed out. I have heard from other commuters that you either hate it or you love it. So far, commuting has its ups and downs, but I think it’s too early decided. It’s only the second week of school and students, commuter or not, are still recuperating from summer fun.
ReplyDeleteFriends and relatives outside of my intermediate family are urging me to live at school. They continue to reiterate that I’m missing out on the “college experience”. Sharing a 2x4 room, eating cafeteria food, doing my own laundry, and being away from home is not my idea of a good time. But then again, that’s just how I feel; not everybody else feels that way. Granted, my friends and family may just be trying to prepare me for life after college, but I plan to do it on my own terms. Then, they argue that commuting makes it difficult to get involved and make friends. It’s on my conscience whether or not I get involved or make lasting friendships. Things aren’t always fair or easy , that’s life.
Right now I know kids that are away at school and all they want in the world is to come home. When I look at how they feel and how unhappy they are with how much money and time they spent on living away; I feel pretty good with my decision to commute. I know in the back of my mind that after some adjusting they will feel much better about living away but just the hassle and confusion that they’re going through right now is enough to deter me from living on campus.
I agree with the commuters that have already posted comments on this discussion. As a commuter myself, I find it somewhat challenging and at a disadvantage sometimes that I don't have the "dorm" experience. Sure I can't make friends faster, be the first ones to join a club/sport, or simply have the ability to stay close to my classes for that matter. Its a much slower process, and is more complicated if one takes into account the time it takes to travel and the fact that if I don't have a car or if it breaks down I'm in the deep end of the pool. It can ruin a commuter's day if one forgets their textbooks or necessary accessory for class at home and you arrive on campus with just a couple of minutes before class starts. I must admit, living on campus is MUCH easier and more convenient in regards towards getting the stereotypical "FULL college experience". Even though this is true, it does not mean that this is the route that everybody will take. It doesn't mean that if you do not dorm, you will not make friends or join clubs/sports or have no time to get to class. Commuting does not make college life impossible, but rather it aids one to realize greater responsibilities than those who chooses to live on campus. As for me, I enjoy commuting to college and getting to have the benefits of a college experience while still being close to home. I know I will miss out on a plethora of opportunities with my decision to not dorm, but since I have started as a freshmen a week ago, I have made friends, came to class prepared and early, joined a couple of clubs, as well as fulfilling my most significant student obligation to study and work hard to the best of my ability. Commuting does not take away the hard work and fun out of college, but rather is an alternative to making one's experience rich in comparison to an individual who decides to live on campus.
ReplyDeleteAlthough living on campus would have its benefits, I am kind of glad that I'm commuting. I live about 15 minutes from school, which isn't too bad. My work comes out the best when I am under time restraints and if I have too much time, then I tend to procrastinate. Therefore any time I lose because of traffic may actually help me. I plan to get involved on campus, so I feel that I'm not missing too much. Also by commuting I get to keep my car with me which is a big plus because now on weekends I can visit friends that went to different schools. I can also work a couple days a week to make some extra money. There are a lot of pluses to living on campus, but commuting isn't as bad as everyone makes it out to be.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with this post. Commuting to school is extremely difficult, especially at a private school like Merrimack where most students choose to live on campus. It is harder to participate in extracurricular activities because you might need to come back and forth from school twice in one day. Although commuting is more affordable, I would suggest that everyone live on campus while at college. It makes the whole college experience easier and more enjoyable. If you wanted to commute, I would suggest that you attend a state college where a greater percentage of students choose to commute, so that you are not one of the only people commuting.
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ReplyDeleteDefinitely, i have to agree with the post 100%. I leave about 25-30 mins from the school and i was thinking about commuting, but after i thought about it, i knew it wasn't going to work out, since i play soccer and we contantly have practices and meetings. Also in terms of the weather, when it gets really choatic, communting might be a problem. Additionally, if you think about the way people drive here, you might be putting your life in danger everyday. So to avoid all the above, choosing to stay on campus and enjoy life on campus might be your best bet.
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