The Commuter Life

Being a commuter student can be difficult.  One of the most important things a college student can do, aside from get good grades, is meet new people, join clubs or sports, or just put him or herself out of a comfort zone.  Not living on campus can certainly limit your on-campus opportunities, but it does not have to.  It is important to take advantage of these opportunities because they won’t always be there, and you don’t want to have regrets when it is all said and done.

One common—and obvious—reason commuters have for not staying on campus is being able to live at home.  Brent Leap, a junior at Saint Francis, echoes this reason, saying, “Commuting is great because I have the luxury of living at home, where I have a stove.  During my brief period of dorm life, living without a stove was probably the hardest part.”

He goes on to say, “I can sleep in my own bed.”  Sleeping in your own bed gives you a sense of comfort. During the stressful years of college, comfort is very important.

However, Leap does not have all positives when it comes to his commuting experience. “I have to get up earlier to make it to class on time.  Driving takes about fifteen minutes and walking takes five more.”  Those who have longer commutes must feel even worse.

If there is one unarguable pro about commuting, it is the price.  According to Saint Francis’ website, the cost of housing can be as low as $2,953 or as high as $5,109 per semester, not even considering the meal plan.

There are also some people who have jobs, families, or other responsibilities to take care of outside of school that does not allow them to live on campus.  If commuting was not an option, some of these people would not be able to attend college.

Saint Francis University offers support to commuter students on the SFU website at https://www.francis.edu/Commuter-Life/. If you are a commuting student and need more assistance, email banderson@francis.edu.