commuting vs halls

For context, i’ve travelled to the city my university is in for secondary school for seven years, so i’d be used to the commute of bus, it’s way cheaper and it means i could pay back what i owe on my loan if i worked a weekend job or a summer job. although, the commute in total is near 3-4 hours in total which paired with bus times mean i’ll be extremely early for classes and need to leave early. i’m not really worried about getting the ‘university experience’ so that also adds to the pros of commuting.
on the other hand, in halls i know i would probably become more social and have more friends, but i would be at home for three nights of the week because at home im expected to care for my dogs, etc. the only pros i can think of is being close and not having a far travel.
i need objective opinions what do you think would be the better option?

For context, i’ve travelled to the city my university is in for secondary school for seven years, so i’d be used to the commute of bus, it’s way cheaper and it means i could pay back what i owe on my loan if i worked a weekend job or a summer job.

although, the commute in total is near 3-4 hours in total which paired with bus times mean i’ll be extremely early for classes and need to leave early.

i’m not really worried about getting the ‘university experience’ so that also adds to the pros of commuting.
on the other hand, in halls i know i would probably become more social and have more friends, but i would be at home for three nights of the week because at home im expected to care for my dogs, etc. the only pros i can think of is being close and not having a far travel.
i need objective opinions what do you think would be the better option?

For context, i’ve travelled to the city my university is in for secondary school for seven years, so i’d be used to the commute of bus, it’s way cheaper and it means i could pay back what i owe on my loan if i worked a weekend job or a summer job. although, the commute in total is near 3-4 hours in total which paired with bus times mean i’ll be extremely early for classes and need to leave early. i’m not really worried about getting the ‘university experience’ so that also adds to the pros of commuting.
on the other hand, in halls i know i would probably become more social and have more friends, but i would be at home for three nights of the week because at home im expected to care for my dogs, etc. the only pros i can think of is being close and not having a far travel.
i need objective opinions what do you think would be the better option?

Bear in mind that you will get a lower maintenance loan if you're living with your parents than if you move away.
Can you clarify what you mean when you say the commute is "near 3-4 hours in total"? Do you mean that if you add travel time "from home to uni" plus "from uni to home" you get 3-4 hours? Or do you mean it's 3-4 hours in each direction?
And what do you mean you'll "need to leave early"? Is that leaving home early in the morning, or does it mean that you need to leave uni early in the day to get home, and therefore might not be able to attend some of your lectures/seminars/lab sessions, etc?
3-4 hours of commuting is a lot. Would you be able to cope with that if it turns out that you need to be at uni five days a week? Will you bother going in if there's only a one-hour session that day?
What about the winter? Will you want to travel in when sunrise isn't till 8am and sunset is at 4pm? How about when the weather is cold and it's raining?
Have you calculated how much your travel will cost you?
How reliable is public transport in your area? Do buses get cancelled frequently? Do they run on time? Do you have an alternative if your bus gets cancelled -- or would you just give up and miss your lectures?

Several things to point out here.
First and foremost, "paying back the loan" should not be a consideration here whatsoever. The student loan is the cheapest loan you'll ever get with really the best structure, it's almost impossible to default on, and it doesn't affect your credit rating whatsoever. You also only make repayments when earning over the threshold and what you repay is always proportional to your income. Finally it gets written off 40 years after you take it out so there is NO benefit in making early repayments, and it is in all but name a graduate tax.
Regarding the commute, that is really an extreme commute and I don't think it's feasible for a full time student. I do that commute as a part-time student and it's extremely draining (and expensive). There's also a big difference in commuting for secondary school and for commuting to uni - as secondary school finishes much earlier normally. You could well have a lecture scheduled from 5-6pm in the evening. Moreover, you could get a lecture scheduled at 5-6pm in the evening, the same day you have one scheduled for 9am - with nothing inbetween. That's a lot harder to manage as a commuter student.
Next, you say "your dogs". Are these actually your pets i.e. you own them, you pay for their pet insurance, take them to the vet, etc? Or are they just family pets your family is used to you caring for? Because if the former you really need to consider if it's feasible to keep multiple dogs as a university student. If the latter your family needs to accept it's unrealistic to expect you to do that.
Also I would note, if you live at your parental home you will get a reduced maintenance loan. That's important to consider from a financial perspective.
Realistically I think you need to either find a university closer to where your parental home is if you want to live there, or fully move out to the one further away.

well commuting with be cheaper than staying in halls however like you said you will be early and leavening later but this time can be used for getting a coffee and you will likely do things /events after classes with friends as lots of events happen after class especially in uni there’s always something on so you will likely meet people there also this time can be used for clubs and society’s you can join at uni to badminton to Dudgeon’s and dragons lol 😂. However with halls it will be expensive and you will be with other girls and dorm mates but that also comes with complications as you can have drama with the girls them not doing the pots shareing a bathroom and you might not generally like them lol 😂 but it does give you the chance to meet people and you are closer to campus but you will have to pay for your food and such also
However if it was me I’d go for the commute much nicer and you have your own space aswell
Buy it is up to you but I would suggest getting a white board a listing the pros and cons of each abs then deciding good luck hope you enjoy university

For context, i’ve travelled to the city my university is in for secondary school for seven years, so i’d be used to the commute of bus, it’s way cheaper and it means i could pay back what i owe on my loan if i worked a weekend job or a summer job. although, the commute in total is near 3-4 hours in total which paired with bus times mean i’ll be extremely early for classes and need to leave early. i’m not really worried about getting the ‘university experience’ so that also adds to the pros of commuting.
on the other hand, in halls i know i would probably become more social and have more friends, but i would be at home for three nights of the week because at home im expected to care for my dogs, etc. the only pros i can think of is being close and not having a far travel.
i need objective opinions what do you think would be the better option?

Hi there!
I understand your dilemma. From my own experience, commuting to university doesn't mean you'll miss out on much.
The long commute can be used productively, such as reading or catching up on assignments. You also mentioned that you're not too concerned about the "university experience," which is often a big reason why students choose to live in halls.
Maintaining a balance between university life and home responsibilities is entirely possible. Plus, saving money and being able to repay your loan faster are significant advantages.
You're not losing much by not living in halls. Just stay proactive in engaging with university activities and you'll have a fulfilling experience.
Best of luck!
Ilya

For context, i’ve travelled to the city my university is in for secondary school for seven years, so i’d be used to the commute of bus, it’s way cheaper and it means i could pay back what i owe on my loan if i worked a weekend job or a summer job. although, the commute in total is near 3-4 hours in total which paired with bus times mean i’ll be extremely early for classes and need to leave early. i’m not really worried about getting the ‘university experience’ so that also adds to the pros of commuting.
on the other hand, in halls i know i would probably become more social and have more friends, but i would be at home for three nights of the week because at home im expected to care for my dogs, etc. the only pros i can think of is being close and not having a far travel.
i need objective opinions what do you think would be the better option?

I’ve been commuting for the last year and honestly you can still have the ‘uni experience’ especially if you live nearby. Just make sure your making the effort to speak to people and do activities socials provided and you’ll be good. I’ve loved living at home

Hi there,
I've always lived in halls at uni and have enjoyed being close to my uni campus and city centre. I can easily meet friends in town, or head over to uni for socials and society events. If you're commuting, you can still access your uni and meet up with friends, but it might take a bit more planning and effort to arrange.
I think it also depends on how many contact hours you'll have at university. If you have lectures and seminars all day, it'll be worth your while being in university for most of the day - and commuting wouldn't be too bad. But if you have a few scheduled sessions throughout the week, for only an hour or so each time, you might find it better to live close by in halls, then you can easily head home once your classes are finished.
Most of my friends who commute have noticed the financial benefits, which like you say could help you out. Some of my friends have also tried living in halls for their first year when they're getting to know their uni and new friends, and have since moved back home in second year to save some money.
I think the biggest thing you should think about is whether having a long commute will interfere with your studies, and if you'll be motivated to make the commute when you need to.
Hope this helps. 🙂
Emily
Student Rep at BCU

For context, i’ve travelled to the city my university is in for secondary school for seven years, so i’d be used to the commute of bus, it’s way cheaper and it means i could pay back what i owe on my loan if i worked a weekend job or a summer job. although, the commute in total is near 3-4 hours in total which paired with bus times mean i’ll be extremely early for classes and need to leave early. i’m not really worried about getting the ‘university experience’ so that also adds to the pros of commuting.
on the other hand, in halls i know i would probably become more social and have more friends, but i would be at home for three nights of the week because at home im expected to care for my dogs, etc. the only pros i can think of is being close and not having a far travel.
i need objective opinions what do you think would be the better option?

For context, i’ve travelled to the city my university is in for secondary school for seven years, so i’d be used to the commute of bus, it’s way cheaper and it means i could pay back what i owe on my loan if i worked a weekend job or a summer job. although, the commute in total is near 3-4 hours in total which paired with bus times mean i’ll be extremely early for classes and need to leave early. i’m not really worried about getting the ‘university experience’ so that also adds to the pros of commuting.
on the other hand, in halls i know i would probably become more social and have more friends, but i would be at home for three nights of the week because at home im expected to care for my dogs, etc. the only pros i can think of is being close and not having a far travel.
i need objective opinions what do you think would be the better option?

Hi there,
I’m Lily a second year psychology student at ARU Cambridge.
I am a commuting student so feel I can share the pros and cons of commuting.
One main pro for me is the financial side like you said beforehand. This saves a lot of money each month which would include things such as rent, food shops etc. this was a main reason for me staying home as I knew I just couldn’t afford moving. As well as this, I get to come home to my safe space after my lectures and seminars. It’s a place where I can chill and know I can come back and unwind.
Some cons for me is obviously the social side. I have found it hard to socialise with others in my course, although I have made a really good friend on the Facebook groupchat before starting my course and still friends to this day. I think if you do commute you have to make a conscious effort to put yourself out there in order to make friends, but that’s not to say that friendships can’t be made. As well as you I wasn’t too keen on the ‘uni life’ which was also a reason I didn’t go away to uni as well. Also I do find if I’m in just for a few hours it is a bit of a pain having to travel back and forth just for that, but I usually stay for a bit in the library or go to a coffee shop to finish up my work so when I get home it’s a no work zone.
I think the main thing is that you go with what your gut is telling you. If you feel you want to push yourself out your comfort zone and you can do it financially then I say go for it! You’ll never have an opportunity like this again and could be great fun. But then there is also the financial side and reality of the argument.
I hope this helps and if you want to ask anymore questions please ask !
Lily
ARU Digital Ambassador