<p>Seems like the common advice most people give is go on campus for first year, then leave afterward. Well my situation is a little different. </p>
<p>In my situation, I roughly have a 2 hr commute to school, in a combination of cycling, bus, and train. Rainy days always promote the temptation to skip classes, I have to leave campus early so that I’m not riding out too late and I also work on my bicycle, so exhaustion and lack of social life definitely kicks in. Plus, I live in the suburbs with my parents who enjoy a non social lifestyle, grew up in a isolated childhood (outside from school), and I had to return home to this and take a year off break for financial reasons. When I went on campus my first year, social life in school vs home literally was like night and day. When I took the break, it became a unbearable nightmare and burned out for the first time in my life when I returned this semester. Not looking forward to those Bs and Cs on the G.P.A</p>
<p>Now that I am sophomore going into junior year in fall, I am wondering if it is still worth going back on campus. I am soon to be half way done, and my parents struggle paycheck to paycheck, so not sure if I should take the debt. Then again since I had to return home back in late 2012 to now, my mental health has deteriorated drastically, so all signs are telling me to GET ON CAMPUS!!! </p>
<p>What to do…?</p>
<p>When most people say to go off campus after the first year or two, it’s generally assumed that “off campus” is still relatively nearby. Students typically move to an off campus apartment that is still near the school, or they might rent a house in a nearby neighborhood. I don’t know anyone who would recommend a 2hr commute (is that each way?) unless that’s really the most sensible option.</p>
<p>A two hour commute is really rough, as I’m sure you already know, so you have to weigh the pros and cons. How much in debt would you have to go? Can you do things to decrease the cost of living near campus (get an off campus apartment with multiple roommates, cook at home instead of eating out, get a job to help pay for rent, etc)?</p>
<p>Is there low cost housing near campus that you can live in or share with other students? Perhaps cooperative housing?</p>
<p>Ya it’s a 2 hr commute both ways so it is very exhausting. I acutally never considered off campus apartments because I really wanted to be in a very active social area, and some off campus reviews I have read claimed that the people are very much to themselves. On campus is roughly 9k a yr, not sure if that is high or not. I currently have a job, so buying food to make at home would be no problem. I’m not to keen on the multiple roommates as I have no one I could recommend rooming with, but I’m willing to try it if it means to get out from home and actually have a social life </p>
<p>Even without direct social benefits of living on-campus or near campus, gaining four hours per day should be a significant benefit to you, both academically and socially. That is probably about 600 hours total spent commuting during 30 weeks of classes (not including commuting on other days you need to be on campus, like final exams).</p>
<p>$9,000 per year is relatively low in comparison to most colleges’ room and board costs. Consider that versus the costs of commuting (bus and train tickets, bicycle maintenance) and whatever costs you assume living with your parents in relation to the large amount of time you spend commuting.</p>