| I'd recommend commuting. Sorry but I don't have a lot of time to go into details at the moment, but you've laid out the Pros and Cons quite well. Here's my exact same post from a similar topic. I'd also recommend checking my post history out, I've posted on two different topics named "Satisfied Commuters" versions 1 and 2, I'd recommend checking them out if you're interested in seeing the views from other commuters such as myself.
It's definitely worth noting that you're going to save money by commuting. Furthermore, I don't know what your relationship with your parents and immediate family is like, but I get along with mine just fine, so I'm glad that I commuted so that I could stay with them, help out around the house (instead of just leeching off them from afar), and of course, save money. If you don't have any problems with your parents and immediate family, that's all the more reason to commute to college instead of dorm.
There was a pretty good article in the paper years ago about how college students have a blast in the dorms during the first month or so...then the reality of sharing their personal space and whatnot with a stranger sets in, and it becomes not as much fun as it used to be. At that point, you might as well be flushing the $2000 or however much it costs to live on college down the drain, for all the good it's doing you.
I was in a similar situation as you, every paper, magazine, online article and everything said "dorm dorm dorm, you have to dorm" when that's actually not the case, commuting IS an option, and it's a great one which I'm glad I chose. I'm having a lot of fun commuting, and yes, I talk to lots of people and have friends, I don't huddle in a little hole in the wall here while I'm not in class waiting for the next class to start. |