One would think everyone has the same experience when they come to college. Unfortunately, that’s not the case. While some students are able to hang with friends at any time, others are a bus or car ride away.
What is it like living on campus opposed to commuting daily? Many students who live in dorms feel they’re closer to campus events and activities.
Dominique Thevenin, a second-year physical therapy student from Orlando, said she likes to live on campus because everything is closer to her, including most of her friends.
“It’s more beneficial because you don’t have to worry about transportation or putting gas in your car,” said Thevenin, “You can just walk to class instead of taking the bus.”
The distance between friends and events isn’t the only reason why students prefer to live on campus. Students enjoy the camaraderie and the “FAMUly” love they receive. Behind every door is a smile that’s happily waiting to greet the next person.
“Most people that live on campus are friendly,” said Gloria Adejobi, a second-year biology/pre-med student from Chicago. “Even your roommates are more tolerable.”
However, living on campus can have its unpleasant moments. Things like quiet hours and limited gender visitation areas are a couple things that make living on campus less enjoyable.
“I don’t like some of the rules,” said Thevenin. “Yeah, the rules are OK, but I just don’t like them.”
Many commuter students seem to enjoy life off campus in their apartments. They can have as many guests as they want and don’t have to worry about visitation hours. They’re able to make more independent decisions and have greater freedom.
“We don’t have to worry about any RAs or room inspections,” said Sean Scott, a second-year psychology student from Pensacola. “You can basically do what you want, whenever you want, because there’s no rules.” Scott also said he enjoys not having to share a bathroom.
Being a commuter student may seem ideal, but one large downside to living off campus is paying bills. Unlike campus residents who have their housing paid for the entire semester, commuter students deal with the stresses of paying more for utilities and overage fees.
Commuters are forced to be more mindful of their finances on a monthly basis. Some get jobs to help cover expenses. It may require more work as a commuter student, but the experience of living off campus is enjoyable for many students.