Commuter Tips

 by Michelle Boring

     When you think about the typical college experience, commuters are somehow always left out. Universities try to make the experience the same for commuters, by creating special areas to hang out or appreciation days, but it’s still not the same. Commuters don’t have to be thrown into a room with a complete stranger and live with them for a year. Commuters don’t have to eat in the cafeteria or spend all their time walking around the same small campus. Commuters don’t have to worry about rules for candles, alcohol, toasters. Instead, commuters have their own problems. Try these tips to survive college as a commuter.

1. Leave Early

Don’t be that asshole that comes late to class and lets the door slam. After a few drives to campus, it will be easy to know when you have to leave to make it on time, but don’t get overconfident. You never know when there is going to be construction or some jag off driving at half the posted speed limit.

2. Schedule Smart

 If you’re running a car to campus on limited funds, don’t schedule classes every day of the week. See if you can schedule all your classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Sure it will be a longer day for you, but at least you’ll only have to make a trip to campus twice a week. It will help you save money on gas and allow you to get a job or do homework the other days.

3. Get Involved

It’s hard to make friends if you’re a commuter in college. It’s important to get involved in a club or activity and connect with other students who like the same things as you. There are so many different activities to get involved in on this campus, so watch out for something that might interest you. Plus, you are paying an activity fee every semester. Don’t let that money go to waste.

4. Take Advantage of Downtime

If you schedule all your classes on the same day, you might have time between classes. Don’t use that time to run home or sleep in your car. Go to the library or computer lab. Get something done. Go talk to a professor about class or just go to talk. They are humans too, and most of them enjoy talking. You’ll get to know a professor, which is important if you need a recommendation.

5. Don’t Waste Paper

Never print things at home. Go to the computer lab to print off worksheets, hand outs, readings, or papers. Your tuition paid for a printing quota, so don’t waste your ink or paper at home when there is plenty at campus. Also, carry a stapler. You can get a cheap one at the dollar store that will probably work better than the one in the computer lab (if there is one in the computer lab).