<p>I’m an enrolled freshman at the City College of New York, in the electrical engineering major. I live in Brooklyn, which is a seventy minute train ride from college. I chose this school because it had the major I wanted, and because I couldn’t afford to take any loans. Thankfully, I earned a scholarship that pays 10K for each year, for five years. The cost of tuition is 5600 per year, and I get to pocket the rest. </p>
<p>Originally, I wanted to rent an apartment, with a single roommate, but I can’t since I don’t turn eighteen until mid September. I don’t want to move in mid semester, so the earliest I would be able to move out would be before the Spring term. </p>
<p>A lot of my friends, best friends, and classmates are going to schools away from home and dorming, and it’s a tough situation when I’m still home with my parents. I’m used to living a life full of school activity, academics and such. But my parents do bother me with house chores often (I won’t mind on the weekends), and I share a small room with a sibling. I usually have to ask my parents for permission to go somewhere. I guess I’m not really forming a solid question here but…</p>
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<li><p>How do I set ground rules with my parents? People dorming do have some rules, but can do a lot more without their parents knowing. I’m not doing drugs or alcohol (I’m pretty religious and completely against the idea). I just want to do things without being questioned too often.</p></li>
<li><p>What should I do in college besides study? I really want to live a healthy lifestyle again, and I used to do Karate for about 11 years. But college has so much to offer and time is so limited as a commuter student especially. I want to get back into shape. </p></li>
<li><p>How can I live a balanced lifestyle? For me, I want to be independent in terms of expenses. I couldn’t go to a school away from home because my parents have debt. If I get an apartment or a car, it has to be on me. I paid for my textbooks already, from money I earned in a summer program at the same school (also, I know the campus really well because of the program).</p></li>
<li><p>Could you give any tips for a commuter student? Advice? Guidelines? Guidance Anything would help.</p></li>
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<p>edit: I’m taking five courses for fall semester, but it’s only 13 credits. One of the courses is Engineering 101 which is only one credit at CCNY, but it’s still four hours a week.</p>
<p>Mid-Semester might be a disruption in terms of study, and generally not a great idea. I looked into apartments and it was pretty rigorous itself. I don’t know if I can deal with activities, and school, and moving at the same time.</p>
<p>I guess I don’t quite know how to help you much as my parents never really had rules about me coming and going, but can’t you just go where you want without asking them? Like, what consequence is there? They’re not going to kick you out of the house are they? </p>
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<p>Do whatever you want. If you want to do karate then do karate. </p>
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<p>Your parents probably don’t incur extra cost by having you live at home directly, but do you eat their food? If so, then you’re using their money to support yourself. Don’t worry, you’re only 17, I’m almost 5 years older than you and I still depend on my parents for financial support (I suppose I could not if it was necessary though - I’ll be graduating in December and I have enough on me to support myself until then). You don’t need to be financially independent from them. Give it at least a couple of years before you worry about it too much.</p>
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<p>I recommend you stay at school for a while. Go it before your first class and stick around until you’ve been there for 14 hours. Make friends and hang out if you don’t have work.</p>
<p>I went to CCNY as a commuter in the early 80’s. commuter schools are tough, but I managed to make friends. I know they have a dorm now, why didnt you apply for on campus housing? I am sure they will have some availability in January, once everything settles down.</p>
<p>The problem is that if I wanted to dorm, it would cost roughly 11-13K, meaning my parents and I would need to take out a loan. The cost of sharing an apartment would be cheaper. Also, dorms are only for two semesters. For 3.5 months, I’d have to go back home.</p>
<p>Go down to Columbia and check the housing boards. Columbia is close to CCNY, and if you room with a Columbia student you will get access to the Columbia college scene. Since you will be sharing an apartment someone else has rented, it is not likely you will need to sign anything, so being 17 should not be an issue.</p>