Thread: College residence - Campus or commute?

  1. #1
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    College residence - Campus or commute?

    I have been accepted to a local college that is close enough to commute to. The college has a bar, just wanted to add that in BOO YA. Ok anyways, my choices are:

    a) Live on campus. Coed buildings, male one floor and female the other floor. Alternating. Something around 4 - 5k per year for housing and meal plan.

    b) Live at home, and commute. My parents have agreed to buy me a car (which I will pay off later) if I do this.

    So, is living on campus in college worth it? You know, the whole independent college experience or whatever...

  2. #2
    Registered User Draco's Avatar
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    It all depends on you, and what you want to do and how much you want to do that your parents won't agree with.

  3. #3
    CIS and business major
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    coming from someone who went to college for two years as a commuter, and now I live on campus, I can assure you that it's worth it to live on campus.

    Even if you have to take out loans and be in debt after you graduate, it's still worth it.

    Great learning experience, it will help you out in life more than you'd think.

  4. #4
    Registered User axon's Avatar
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    you have to decide whats best in your particular situation.

    Experience, such as living at a campus dorm, sure is great...but sometimes, like for myself, financially not worth it. I commute as well; and believe me, its not that bad. I used to drive to school, but that was an hour and a half wasted in traffic...so now I take the train. Sure the time is about the same but subtract frustration and add study or sleep time I've taken a few courses over one summer downstate in UofI and got to live in a dorm - sure, its not the same as during a regular semester but it was still a good experience...I'm trying to get into a study abroad program before I graduate and maybe go to the Netherlands or NewZealand and do it again

    So, my suggestion is to get a taste of both...

    some entropy with that sink? entropysink.com

    there are two cardinal sins from which all others spring: Impatience and Laziness. - franz kafka

  5. #5
    unleashed alphaoide's Avatar
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    Well, in my case living in the dorm means that I don't have to waste an hour just to find a spot to park your car. Wakes up fifteen minutes before class, pull up your jeans and flip-flop and I'm ready to go. And I just happen to work on campus, so my car is rotten until weekend
    source: compsci textbooks, cboard.cprogramming.com, world wide web, common sense

  6. #6
    Registered User axon's Avatar
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    see, you can't hold your car at my school if you dorm....downtown chicago, so it would be too expensive. If you commute parking is $200 per semester.

    some entropy with that sink? entropysink.com

    there are two cardinal sins from which all others spring: Impatience and Laziness. - franz kafka

  7. #7
    5|-|1+|-|34|) ober's Avatar
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    I would not give up the dorm/apt experience for anything. I've met some of my best life-long friends in the dorms. I've been out for almost a year now and my old roommates and I are planning to get together in California at one of my roommates' houses. (The rest of us live on the east coast). I really wouldn't trade what I've been through living on campus for anything. It teaches you independence, social skills you may not have needed before, and tolerance (of those you live around).

    I would definately recommend living on campus.

  8. #8
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    Live with your parents for one year, get the car and then go to campus
    -Felix
    Rots Soft
    If the facts don't fit the theory, change the facts.
    Albert Einstein (1879 - 1955)

  9. #9
    Quietly Lurking
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    After going to community college for a year, and now being at an actual university and living in a dorm I can definetly say that living on campus is better.

  10. #10
    I'm less than sure.... abyssphobia's Avatar
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    Well I commute all the days, but the books are so heavy, and my back hurts, and because I am foreing ( I didn't know how to get one, now I know, too late.) and its my first semester in Usa , I didnt catch a locker so... I would prefer live in my campus or close by, poor of my back, and I have less time to make programs, and came to my house so tired, because I have to walk a lot!!! and my schedule is terrible, my first semester is a nigthmare, but I like it. I contradict myself but yes I like it, I knew that it isn't gonna be easy.
    Have I crossed the line?

  11. #11
    and the Hat of Clumsiness GanglyLamb's Avatar
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    Well IŽm not on a campus but i rented my own place just 100 metres away from campus and i do have to say i very much like this thing...

    Im living in a house with four other students and man it rocks ...
    Although i have to study parties are also frequent :d...
    I would say go for Campus its a time youŽll never forget and indeed as said you will make friends for life ( unfortunately that probably includes enemies for life - no goog without bad you know )

    Greets,

    Ganglylamb

  12. #12
    Mayor of Awesometown Govtcheez's Avatar
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    Campus. College is as much about the experience as anything else.

  13. #13
    Crazy Fool Perspective's Avatar
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    party party party party party party party party party party on campus... or drive home every night.



    i actually have been a comuter for my first 3 years. Took the bus though. meh, when i move back home to do my last year im going to get a place on/near campus.

  14. #14
    unleashed alphaoide's Avatar
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    I could've rented a room for two fifty outside, instead I went for four hundred something a month for a shared room in the dormitory. If you think that time is way, way more precious then you'd do what I did
    Last edited by alphaoide; 09-17-2004 at 10:24 AM.
    source: compsci textbooks, cboard.cprogramming.com, world wide web, common sense

  15. #15
    VA National Guard The Brain's Avatar
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    live with mom and dad.... save your cash.. $$$$ you'll save a fortune. you can still party and what not. just get a hotel room if you get some action.
    • "Problem Solving C++, The Object of Programming" -Walter Savitch
    • "Data Structures and Other Objects using C++" -Walter Savitch
    • "Assembly Language for Intel-Based Computers" -Kip Irvine
    • "Programming Windows, 5th edition" -Charles Petzold
    • "Visual C++ MFC Programming by Example" -John E. Swanke
    • "Network Programming Windows" -Jones/Ohlund
    • "Sams Teach Yourself Game Programming in 24 Hours" -Michael Morrison
    • "Mathmatics for 3D Game Programming & Computer Graphics" -Eric Lengyel

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