is commuting to uni good or bad?
advantages and disadvantages of commuting or uni life!
lets get some personal stories too
lets get some personal stories too
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Original post by Vashappeninkira
advantages and disadvantages of commuting or uni life!
lets get some personal stories too
lets get some personal stories too
How do you mean commuting? Commuting from home? Or getting student digs away from the university?
You tend to save money, but the jounrey is often dead time. Its not relaxing nor is it productive. You'll effectively waste the time you spend travelling, and it is actually surprisingly tiring. Another problem is nights out and such, often you are having to leave around 11 to catch the last train or something. I did it for one year, reduced my costs for the year dramatically but it was very stressful especially during exams.
I do it for four hours a day, 2 hrs in 2 hrs back. I vote good. Get lots of reading done.
I am a Uni commuter.
I walk to the train station, 20 minute walk. I then have a 25 minute train journey and then another 20 minute walk to Uni. I then have to do it all again on the way home, but most of the time I get picked up from the train station in an evening so I don't have to walk 20 minutes to get back home.
I don't mind it. It makes my day long but I enjoy living at home. Also, my Uni is only 15 miles away so it seems me pointless spending so much money to live there when I have a perfectly fine home to live here. I have made some lovely friends on my course too, some of whom also commute, some don't. Making friends shouldn't put you off. I have actually only missed one lecture in my whole semester (and that was one about how to make powerpoints!) and that's less than many people I know who actually live at Uni who missed 5 in their first fortnight!
I walk to the train station, 20 minute walk. I then have a 25 minute train journey and then another 20 minute walk to Uni. I then have to do it all again on the way home, but most of the time I get picked up from the train station in an evening so I don't have to walk 20 minutes to get back home.
I don't mind it. It makes my day long but I enjoy living at home. Also, my Uni is only 15 miles away so it seems me pointless spending so much money to live there when I have a perfectly fine home to live here. I have made some lovely friends on my course too, some of whom also commute, some don't. Making friends shouldn't put you off. I have actually only missed one lecture in my whole semester (and that was one about how to make powerpoints!) and that's less than many people I know who actually live at Uni who missed 5 in their first fortnight!
I commute into uni every day, it's a fifteen minute walk from my student house.
(edited 10 years ago)
Original post by JennaEmBee
I do it for four hours a day, 2 hrs in 2 hrs back. I vote good. Get lots of reading done.
I'm the exact same! 4 hours travel a day. I love reading on trains as it's the only time I actually get to. I'm usually swamped with work.
It really depends on how far. In halls I was 10-15 minutes walk away, in my student house I'm 20-25 minutes walk away. So 40-50 minutes of walking a day (80-100 minutes if I need to come back for something). That amount of walking can get a bit tiring. I did the same distance at college, but university just takes more out of you.
We did consider living further away, but it would've required a 10 minute train. That's £3-£6 in fares each day and several hundred quid over the year. I was adamant against it because trains can be unreliable (especially in the winter) and you could easily miss lectures or an exam if there was just no way to get to uni. The worst I have to worry about at the moment is accidentally breaking a leg and having to hop further to get in.
Regarding the social aspect (because a lot of people are worried about "not making friends"), I really don't see the issue. Most of the people I know are on my course or I met through societies. I only live with a few of them, the rest I just know from working and socialising with them. Living hours away may make it harder, but you could still sleep at theirs or whatever. It's not a case of the people within 6 feet of your bedroom are the only people you'll ever speak to.
Ultimately, look at the cost and potential convenience gained from one method over the other. I wouldn't want to have to commute as it would be tiring and really difficult to pop home for things. If you have a 9am lecture and then nothing until 3pm, would you want to stay around for hours? Most people go back to their house or halls. If you're disciplined about revision, it might not be so bad. I'd rather study in the comfort of my own accommodation than in the library though. I can also make my own food and do chores in those gaps.
We did consider living further away, but it would've required a 10 minute train. That's £3-£6 in fares each day and several hundred quid over the year. I was adamant against it because trains can be unreliable (especially in the winter) and you could easily miss lectures or an exam if there was just no way to get to uni. The worst I have to worry about at the moment is accidentally breaking a leg and having to hop further to get in.
Regarding the social aspect (because a lot of people are worried about "not making friends"), I really don't see the issue. Most of the people I know are on my course or I met through societies. I only live with a few of them, the rest I just know from working and socialising with them. Living hours away may make it harder, but you could still sleep at theirs or whatever. It's not a case of the people within 6 feet of your bedroom are the only people you'll ever speak to.
Ultimately, look at the cost and potential convenience gained from one method over the other. I wouldn't want to have to commute as it would be tiring and really difficult to pop home for things. If you have a 9am lecture and then nothing until 3pm, would you want to stay around for hours? Most people go back to their house or halls. If you're disciplined about revision, it might not be so bad. I'd rather study in the comfort of my own accommodation than in the library though. I can also make my own food and do chores in those gaps.
Original post by Vashappeninkira
advantages and disadvantages of commuting or uni life!
lets get some personal stories too
lets get some personal stories too
advantages
-usually cheaper than living in halls
-clean, comfortable and quiet home environment
-no drama with people your living with
disadvantages
-might not know anyone to go to freshers week events if thats your thing
-having to get up earlier & get home later
-may be difficult to get home after a night out
-may be difficult to participate in society/sport meetings
-can be harder to make friends depending on your coursemates & course hours
-
I've commuted in my second and third years, which I think in some ways is the best of both worlds, as I got to know people whilst living close by, and then was able to move home and save money whilst also keeping the friends I'd made and staying at theirs after nights out.
There are few issues, especially with group work, but as my commute is quite short (25 mins on a bus), it's not too much of a problem. If you have a really long commute, then these things can become more of a problem. I would say I couldn't manage a commute of more than an hour each way, but each person will have their own limit as to what they can cope with/find annoying. You also do need reliable public transport (or easy parking if you're driving).
The financial side of things is a big deal, though. I am one of the few people I know to be coming out of university with savings as I haven't been paying comercial rent to my parents. A lot of people I know are in debt beyond their student loan due to the higher cost of living away from home or reliant on parents to bail them out if they run out of money. Obviously commuting in itself can be a cost but I save roughly £250-300 a month living at home compared to renting near the university.
There are few issues, especially with group work, but as my commute is quite short (25 mins on a bus), it's not too much of a problem. If you have a really long commute, then these things can become more of a problem. I would say I couldn't manage a commute of more than an hour each way, but each person will have their own limit as to what they can cope with/find annoying. You also do need reliable public transport (or easy parking if you're driving).
The financial side of things is a big deal, though. I am one of the few people I know to be coming out of university with savings as I haven't been paying comercial rent to my parents. A lot of people I know are in debt beyond their student loan due to the higher cost of living away from home or reliant on parents to bail them out if they run out of money. Obviously commuting in itself can be a cost but I save roughly £250-300 a month living at home compared to renting near the university.
Have a read of this http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=2405506
To be honest, I wouldn't recommend commuting.
Definitely have to agree with you about group work. It's incredibly difficult for those who have to work with commuters when you try and arrange a meeting and all you hear back is "I'm only in on Mondays and Thursdays, and I've got an hour long commute and so I don't want to come in on other days". Naturally, those are invariably the days that no one else is free.
To be fair, I've lived away from home for all three years, and I've saved up a couple of grand in the last 18 months - I've got a PT job, but I don't live like an ascetic. It is doable - though rare, I must admit.
To be honest, I wouldn't recommend commuting.
Original post by SlowlorisIncognito
There are few issues, especially with group work, but as my commute is quite short (25 mins on a bus), it's not too much of a problem. If you have a really long commute, then these things can become more of a problem. I would say I couldn't manage a commute of more than an hour each way, but each person will have their own limit as to what they can cope with/find annoying. You also do need reliable public transport (or easy parking if you're driving).
Definitely have to agree with you about group work. It's incredibly difficult for those who have to work with commuters when you try and arrange a meeting and all you hear back is "I'm only in on Mondays and Thursdays, and I've got an hour long commute and so I don't want to come in on other days". Naturally, those are invariably the days that no one else is free.
The financial side of things is a big deal, though. I am one of the few people I know to be coming out of university with savings as I haven't been paying comercial rent to my parents. A lot of people I know are in debt beyond their student loan due to the higher cost of living away from home or reliant on parents to bail them out if they run out of money. Obviously commuting in itself can be a cost but I save roughly £250-300 a month living at home compared to renting near the university.
To be fair, I've lived away from home for all three years, and I've saved up a couple of grand in the last 18 months - I've got a PT job, but I don't live like an ascetic. It is doable - though rare, I must admit.
Original post by Origami Bullets
To be fair, I've lived away from home for all three years, and I've saved up a couple of grand in the last 18 months - I've got a PT job, but I don't live like an ascetic. It is doable - though rare, I must admit.
To be fair, I've lived away from home for all three years, and I've saved up a couple of grand in the last 18 months - I've got a PT job, but I don't live like an ascetic. It is doable - though rare, I must admit.
Sorry, I didn't mean to imply that it isn't doable. I do know people who manage to save a bit, although it often gets eaten up by things like deposits (around here landlords often ask for a month and a half's rent up front) as well as the cost of travelling home if they live a long distance away. We also had a feild trip in Europe last year, which was a big expense for a lot of people, even though there were bursaries available to help with the cost. Having a job obviously helps, but a lot of people chose to give jobs up in third year to concentrate on their studies.
Making this decision at the moment my uni is roughly 90 mins when I combine the walk, train and tube. I am in a stable long term relationship where I am so am reluctant to move as I enjoy the lifestyle and could keep my job, I think it is possible and a lot cheaper, was worried about the social aspect but reading this has made up my mind I think. Thanks :P
Original post by Snagprophet
I commute into uni every day, it's a fifteen minute walk from my student house.
That's a commute? :/
I really would say it's not a good idea if I had commuted in every day I would have spent at least 2 hours on trains and then I would have to have got to and from the station at each end. I know that sounds ok but look at it this way your at the station at 6am for a train that if delayed or cancelled means you are stuck waiting in the snow,rain in temperatures that can be below -20 degrees C not to mention wind chill so it feels more like -30 of course these are based on the lowest temperatures on record but still sitting on a windy platform waiting for the next train in the dark because your train has been delayed or cancelled not really that nice. oh and travelling it tiring so you'll be permanently knackered for 3 years (nice).
Then there is social life you will miss out a lot, a lot of people say oh I'll stay with my mates in halls while that may be possible in second year when everyone moves in to houses it is often not possible because apart from a few exceptions first year halls are as small if not smaller than prison cells ( although much more comfortable and you doing mind coming back to it) no matter what unis say there is not enough floor space. if you do manage to get out you will have to leave early at something like 11 o'clock for the last train or bus socially its' much harder to meet people so that's not great either.People say but I have so many friends at home , those friend many will be moving on and out to unis away from home so yeah be prepared for a very lonely first couple of months or even 3 years.
Next is your time table not many people consider this but lets take the example of my second year Tuesday I had 9 until 7 but it wasn't just continual lectures it was 1 hour in the morning and 1 hour at 6pm until 7. now people who see this say well i'll just study in the library in that gap that is a 9 hour gap even if you take a break for lunch it's still 8 hours or 10 if you include the two lectures you'll tire your self out and your brain will turn to mush for your 6 O'clock which started with a test every week that counted 10% of your final grade. as I stayed in halls I could go get a subway or something or a pin of juice very popular go back to my halls spend an hour 45 minuets going over my lecture get some lunch play a computer game or nibble away at an assignment and I was finished by 3 or 4 O'clock so I could chill out until my 6 O'clock go back get ready for the night ahead go out usually get some free food at 7:30 then go to a club until' 2:30 am while commuters I some how never saw out.
I'll also give you what I calculated while deciding weather to commute my self
it's quite possible you'll have 5 days a week with only a few lectures a day this was accurate when I worked it out
if we take halls cost per week as H train fairs with a student card per week as T and saveing as S
S=T-H
so for me halls were £93 per week and train fares would be £20 per day so £100 per week
so my saving was
S=100-93
S= £7 per week
if a year is 30 weeks your saving is £210 a year over the 3 years you'll be there it's £630 saved (you could buy a car for that not a good one but still)
So taking all that into account not even considering how much you learn living on your own no commuting is not the best option.
Then there is social life you will miss out a lot, a lot of people say oh I'll stay with my mates in halls while that may be possible in second year when everyone moves in to houses it is often not possible because apart from a few exceptions first year halls are as small if not smaller than prison cells ( although much more comfortable and you doing mind coming back to it) no matter what unis say there is not enough floor space. if you do manage to get out you will have to leave early at something like 11 o'clock for the last train or bus socially its' much harder to meet people so that's not great either.People say but I have so many friends at home , those friend many will be moving on and out to unis away from home so yeah be prepared for a very lonely first couple of months or even 3 years.
Next is your time table not many people consider this but lets take the example of my second year Tuesday I had 9 until 7 but it wasn't just continual lectures it was 1 hour in the morning and 1 hour at 6pm until 7. now people who see this say well i'll just study in the library in that gap that is a 9 hour gap even if you take a break for lunch it's still 8 hours or 10 if you include the two lectures you'll tire your self out and your brain will turn to mush for your 6 O'clock which started with a test every week that counted 10% of your final grade. as I stayed in halls I could go get a subway or something or a pin of juice very popular go back to my halls spend an hour 45 minuets going over my lecture get some lunch play a computer game or nibble away at an assignment and I was finished by 3 or 4 O'clock so I could chill out until my 6 O'clock go back get ready for the night ahead go out usually get some free food at 7:30 then go to a club until' 2:30 am while commuters I some how never saw out.
I'll also give you what I calculated while deciding weather to commute my self
it's quite possible you'll have 5 days a week with only a few lectures a day this was accurate when I worked it out
if we take halls cost per week as H train fairs with a student card per week as T and saveing as S
S=T-H
so for me halls were £93 per week and train fares would be £20 per day so £100 per week
so my saving was
S=100-93
S= £7 per week
if a year is 30 weeks your saving is £210 a year over the 3 years you'll be there it's £630 saved (you could buy a car for that not a good one but still)
So taking all that into account not even considering how much you learn living on your own no commuting is not the best option.
This is as an aside it's in a new post so it's not confused with my long post Oxbridge actually insist you live in halls for your first year if you don't you don't go simple as that. I've also herd Loughborough is so fare from the station its not really doable
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