Why is there so much negativity about commuting to university?

I'll be commuting to university and reading the posts on here about commuting is making me worried.. Surely commuting can't be that bad? If you make an effort, I don't see why your social life would be different to anyone else's?

These types of post sadden me. The choices are not only about "doing the course" or drinking. The big choices are around establishing your independence, participating in a community by living among your fellows and contributing something to that academic institution. No one says you can not commute but it simply misses half the point of university. You may as well sit in your bedroom doing the Open Uni, save some money and work part time. But that is not the point is it ?

I'm commuting and I think it's the best idea for me I therefore just shrug everybody's negative comments off. A lot of people have been really shocked that I'm choosing to stay at home, but it's what I want. I'm just planning to get equally as involved as everybody else. However, my view is that I'm going to uni to learn; not drink.

As long as it's the right choice for you it shouldn't matter about others.

I commute and its the right decision for me.

My thoughts exactly!

For me, I'm going to a London uni and im already living in London so I don't see the need to move out and pay rediculous amounts of rent..

I'm going to uni in London too! I don't live that far from uni so there's no need for me to move.

I'm going to uni in London too! I don't live that far from uni so there's no need for me to move.

I'm commuting and I think it's the best idea for me I therefore just shrug everybody's negative comments off. A lot of people have been really shocked that I'm choosing to stay at home, but it's what I want. I'm just planning to get equally as involved as everybody else. However, my view is that I'm going to uni to learn; not drink.

As long as it's the right choice for you it shouldn't matter about others.

Not every student who moves away from home is doing it for the 'student experience' of partying and drinking. Sure, it is a big reason why many people want to go away from home, but there are still a lot of us who want to learn and do well too and aren't bothered about the drinking. Living in halls can also have many benefits when it comes to studying, such as living very close to the library and study spaces on campus, and not having far to travel to go to lectures, which can save a lot of valuable studying time. Long commutes can be tiring too.

OP, as long as you feel commuting is the right thing for you to do then don't worry what anyone else thinks. You can still get involved and many universities have groups & societies for students who commute so you can meet people like yourself. I think the only time commuting would be a big issue is if the commute was so long that it took up a lot of time that you could be spending studying. Any more than an hour each way and I think you should perhaps consider moving nearer to the uni.

What do you mean by "not far"?

Are we talking about 3 stops on the tube, or a 45 minute drive?