On those days when homesickness hits hard or when patience wears out with a roommate it's hard not to feel envious of those who commute to school from home. But while these individuals may not have to cook or clean for themselves, many commuters miss out on certain benefits of living on campus, especially freshman year.
Living in dorms allows for a higher level of interaction, and students are immediately thrown into the student community. Whether it be from a roommate to entire hallways, there is always someone around.
"It's such a large school and it's overwhelming by yourself," said Lisa Partell, a senior psychology major. "If you know a small group of people, it's easier."
Commuting from home her first year, the activity and sense of connectivity led Partell to try out campus life during her sophomore year.
"I didn't think anything of it at first," she said. "But by the end of the year, you think you're missing out, and I didn't feel like I was involved."
This involvement unfortunately, does not come cheap. With room and board rates quoted on the undergraduate admissions site at $7,526 for the 2005-2006 school year alone, the choice between commuting and dorming comes down to a matter of economics.
"I was going to live on campus, but I only live 40 minutes away," said Rick Block, a freshman psychology major. "Plus I would save money and I would have to commute back and forth anyway because of work."
One of the major drawbacks is the lack of time for these students to meet with other peers outside from the classroom setting.
"When you're in a class, you're paying attention to the lecture," Partell said. "It's not a social atmosphere because you just go to go class and then go home."
As difficult as this may be, sometimes giving the extra effort can be beneficial, according to Matthew Weigand, director of New Student Programs.
"Take initiative," he said. "Commuter students might extend conversations on a particular day in the class."
In addition, classes such as UB 101, provide a place for commuter students to connect with university and other students.
"It promotes a culture of caring," Weigand said. "It helps students feel like they matter."
Life and learning workshops, talking with mentors, and involvement in the university are other good ways of meeting people.
"It took me almost a month to establish any close friendship with other kids in my classes," said Greg Hirtzel, a sophomore communications major who also commutes from home. "I made friends faster through a couple of clubs I'm in."
While dorming seems fun, like anything else it has its own drawbacks.
"Some of the stories I hear and the way my friends that live in the dorms make it sound, I feel kind of left out, but not too much," Hirtzel said. "I do hear a lot of the bad stuff and it's enough to make me feel satisfied with staying at home."
Late nights with little sleep, close quarters, cramming for exams, worrying about walking in at the wrong moment on a roommate and their significant other are a few other unattractive parts of dorming.
Even so, what makes the freshman experience an adventure is the challenge to take it all in stride and come out still standing.
"You are on your own for the first time, learning things on your own," said Block. "It's learning how to deal with partying and studying and meeting people all at the same time, things you really don't have to worry about when you commute."
In the end, whether or not this first year experience is beneficial and worthwhile all comes down to the individual student.
"While I actually wanted to dorm all along, I'm not one of those kids who is desperate to get away from mom and dad," Hirtzel said. "I'm not frustrated with them at all, but I'd like to try it out on my own."
