4 Tips for Commuters Struggling to Adapt to College Life

By George Nolting on April 1, 2017

Parking. Another frustrating element of commuting. (Image courtesy of UMass Amherst)

Until recently, a good chunk of my college experience consisted of driving between school and my house every morning and every evening. When I attended a community college that was only 20 minutes away, this wasn’t too much of an issue.

Once I transferred to Rutgers, however, this commute became much more of a hassle. The amount of time I spent on the road more than doubled. I had to dedicate at least two hours of my day to driving around, which cut into the amount of time I had to study. Because of this, as well as the clubs I was involved with, I usually did not get home until one in the morning.

It sounds very silly to say this, but “on-campus privilege” is a real thing. Commuter students can’t go relax in their dorms between classes, they have a hard time making friends because they have few opportunities to interact with other students outside of the classroom, and they must wait around until late at night for most of the extracurricular activities to begin, meaning they likely have to sacrifice some sleep if they want to get involved.

Despite some initial struggles, I was able to adapt to a new school pretty well, and my first year at Rutgers has become one of the most memorable years of college.

If you feel like your commuter status leaves you struggling to “fit in” at your university, here are some tips that have helped me both pass time and make friends.

Hang out at the student center

Pretty much every college has at least one student center. It’s basically the center of the school’s student life. There are many utilities that you can take advantage of that should be able to occupy you between classes. At Rutgers, our student centers have several food vendors, private rooms to do work in, and some kind of event always going on. One of my favorite things to do at the student center, however, is to relax and take a nap on one of the cushioned chairs. Sure, it might not be as comfortable as an actual bed, but when you are short on sleep and have four hours until your next class, having a soft cushion to melt into feels heavenly.

In addition to all of this, student centers have many different resources available if you’re looking to get involved. Ask the help desk any question on your mind, and they’ll be more than happy to help. Plus, with the number of students constantly coming and going, you’re bound to meet someone you’ll connect with.

Bring something from home

If you have something portable that you like to entertain yourself with while at home, it’s a good idea to bring it with you to school. Chances are, you’re probably already doing this. In the age of technology, everyone has either a laptop or smartphone to distract them. I also like to bring my Nintendo 3DS with me. This way, I have a video game to immerse myself in, and long periods of time go by very quickly.

If you’re not that into technology, there’s still all sorts of activities you can bring with you. One of my friends likes to knit so she would bring a ball of yarn and knitting needles with her to school to pass the time. And of course, one of the most classic examples is a good book to curl up with. Pretty much anything small enough to not be a hassle to carry around will do the trick.

Enroll in some smaller classes

If you don’t have time to wait around in the evening for all the clubs to start, the best alternative to making friends is to talk to your fellow classmates. That’s why I suggest taking smaller classes rather than classes in giant lecture halls. Large classes do have some advantages, but there aren’t nearly as many opportunities to interact with either your students or your professor. Usually, all there is to do is show up, listen, and leave.

Smaller classes, on the other hand, are much more intimate. Your professor will actually know your name, and group assignments will give you a chance to get to know your classmates. During my first semester, I took a creative writing class that had about 12 people. This ended up being one of my favorite classes because the professor was very involved with his students and encouraged us to share our work with each other. I got to know my classmates very well, and we all felt able to talk freely amongst ourselves and our professor. Even if everyone goes their separate ways once the class is over, a welcoming classroom environment is comforting when being a commuter can make you feel out of place.

Take a walk and explore your campus

When fall semester begins and the temperature is still fairly warm, I like to go out and walk around campus. Not only is this a great way to pass the time, but it also will make you more familiar with the buildings that are around campus. Rutgers is a particularly large school, so there are all sorts of locations to check out. I still haven’t seen everything my university has to offer!

On the Livingston Campus, there is the Rutgers Ecological Preserve, a trail that surrounds you in nature. It’s a great way to spend time in the spring. The College Avenue campus, on the other hand, is located right near the center of the city, meaning there are many shops, pubs, and restaurants to experiment with. Every school has some sort of nook to discover if you wander around enough. See what you can find on yours.

Being a commuter student can definitely be a struggle sometimes. However, if you take advantage of the resources that are available, you can have just as much of a fulfilling college experience as the on-campus students.

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