My Experience as a Commuting Student: Top Tips and Advice
With going to university comes the stereotype that every student moves away from home and into student accommodation, either on campus or in the surrounding areas – however, this is not always the case.
A common misconception around commuting to university is that you will ‘miss out on the student lifestyle’, with the idea that being a student is centred around going out, drinking and the electric social life that comes with university. And whilst the experience is obviously going to be slightly different, there is no reason why you cannot enjoy student life to the fullest whilst living at home. Whether it’s a twenty-minute train journey or an hour-long bus ride, being a commuting student also carries its perks.
Having finished college in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic and choosing a university only half an hour up the motorway, I decided that living at home would be best for me and began commuting to Lancaster University. However, during my time at Lancaster, I got to know many students who commuted from as far as Cheshire and Merseyside – simply because this fit their lifestyle better than living in Lancaster would.
Here are some of my top tips for thriving as a commuting student as someone who did so for four years:
1. Indulge in Other Ways of making Friends
Many students find that their flatmates become their closest friends at university due to sharing a living environment and spending much more time with them than classmates. So naturally, as a commuting student, you will miss out on these connections. However, there are so many other ways to make friends! I found that the majority of the friends I made at university were on my course or taking the same modules as me. Because we had our course subject in common, we had a built-in conversation starter and from there, some of my closest friendships were made. Another option is to join online group chats for your course or college where, again, you will find many likeminded people and can begin to make connections.
My BIGGEST piece of advice however is to join a society. The Students’ Union boasts over 160 affiliated societies and clubs ranging from academic to sports to popular interests. In your first few weeks at university, try out a few different societies and see if any fit your personality. And if you are struggling to find a society that you enjoy, why not start your own? Societies and sports clubs can be not only an amazing place to meet friends but also a great way to destress and switch off from the academic side of university and relax after a long (or not so long) day of lectures.
Find more about Societies here.
2. Figure Out a Commuting Routine that Works for You
Whether you’re using public transport or driving to university, make sure you take the time in your first few weeks to figure out the logistics of your commuting routine. How long does your commute take you? Do you need to account for traffic? Where will you park if you’re driving? How long will it take you to walk to your class from the underpass/car park? These may seem like simple questions however, taking some time to create a solid routine that allows you to get to and from university smoothly will alleviate a lot of stress and anxiety, especially in your first term when everything is new!
Another thing to consider is packing your uni bag with all the essentials. It may sound silly but make sure you have your laptop/tablet, a charger, snacks, a drink and anything else you might need for a day on campus. Unlike students living in halls, we don’t have the luxury of nipping back to grab something we forgot. I found that keeping some essentials in my car such as water, a phone charger, chewing gum and snacks really helped when I was stuck in traffic too!
If you are wanting to go out on campus or in Lancaster City Centre and take part in social events then getting to know the public transport system in Lancaster will allow you to make informed decisions about how you are getting to and from the event. Don’t feel like you have to miss out just because you commute. You might even make friends who are willing to let you stay over with them in Lancaster!
For all things public transport, check out this article!
For all things parking, check out this webpage on the Lancaster University website!
3. Make Sure Your Home Life And Uni Life Do Not Overlap *Too Much*
Something that I struggled with in the beginning of my commuting experience was separating home life and uni life. Whilst I am not advocating for a Hannah Montana lifestyle, it is important that you get the best of both worlds and do not allow your university work to take over your personal life.
Something I found really helpful was using my campus days as full university days and spending any extra time I had in the library – if you’re making the commute there anyway, you might as well! This then allowed me to switch off fully when I arrived home and enjoy my evenings/weekends. I found that by doing this, I concentrated more on my university work and got it done more efficiently than I would at home. Don’t make a habit of sitting in your bed with your laptop on your knee… you WILL regret it!
Written by Grace Gudgeon
MSC CRIMINOLOGY & SOCIAL RESEARCH METHODS STUDENT