Problems with Commuting

There are many problems that come with commuting to college, and I know personally because as a commuter, I go through many of these problems.

• A main problem is the feeling of being alone or isolated. It is hard to really connect with people because most commuters go to class and then go home. therefore we may interact with students during class, but outside of that we do not get to talk and mingle with and meet new people as easily as residents.

• I have made a few friends, but not as many as I would if I lived on campus, and I do not get to see them as much because it is a pain to have to go to school, come home, then drive back to school to hangout with friends.
• Another problem is time managment. When commuting to school you have to make sure you leave your house early enough to get to school on time, park and make it to class without being late
• I had a 10:50 class on Tuesdays and would have to leave at around 10-10:15 to get to school, find parking and be to class on time. One day I was running late because my brother was parked behind me and I could not get out. I did not leave the house until 10:35, arrived to school at 10:45 and searched for parking until 11:25. After I realized I was over a half hour late to class, I gave up trying. It was so frustrating and stressful, I never wanted to have to go through that again.
• Having to worrying about perfect timing sucked, and it was something I had to wake up and worry about every morning. Would there be traffic? Would there be parking? Would I make it to class on time? It was all so stressful, and it is something residence never have to let cross their mind. 

Personal

The first step for a college student to develop a sense of his or her own identity is moving out of their parents' house and into a residence of their own. Living on their own helps them to establish their independence and is associated with other adult developments.
Now that these young adults are out on their own, they can grow as a person and become more mature and take responsibility for their decisions. They know that they do not have their parents watching over them all the time anymore, so it is their job to keep themselves on track. These young adults have to make sure they get up in the morning, are on time for class, get their homework done, clean up after themselves, and define the line between work time and play time.

Social

When living on campus students become more outgoing and social. Residence can live with one or more people per room or per floor. Having all of these other students around you, helps you to interact with peers and make new friends.

Students living on campus interact with peers more outside of class, whether it is grabbing lunch together, studying for a test, helping each other understand homework or just hanging out having fun. No matter what the situation these students living on campus have no choice but to communicate with other students, becoming more open and active. There is "positive correlations between peer group variables and individual outcomes" (McEwan 347).

Academics

There is no doubt that living on campus impacts students academic success;

• There is a better working environment

• Students living on campus have a working environment that helps them. Although they are around their friends, it is helpful when they can all sit down and do the work at the same time, this way no one is distracting anyone. When everyone around you is working, it makes you more willing to stay working and finish homework, assignments, tests, or projects.
• Where as commuters are most likely in their homes when they are doing these assignments which leads to more distractions such as, family members around the house talking to you, the television in the living room that you would rather be watching, eating dinner with your family, stopping to use your phone because you just do not want to do school work.
• Students have more resources
• School library, professors, tutors, peers and more.
• Having all of these sources easily and conveniently available to students make them more likely to visit the sources to ask for help with something or advice. Therefore they will get more use out of the sources and this will help them with growing academically, socially and personally.
• Students living home do not have these resources at their finger tips. They have to drive to the library, email a professor, make appointments when they are already at school or have time for tutors, and talk to peers during class or through text.
• Easier for students to get involved
• Clubs, sports events, groups, activities.
• All of these happen on campus, and without living on campus it is harder to find out about activities and sports events that are going on. Also being apart of clubs or groups is more difficult because you would have to drive back to school during the hours of the meetings or activities which can be a hassle.