Staying at home or staying on campus

2

I have the option to either stay at home and get the train every day to Nottingham uni or to stay on campus. I'm quite divided because on one hand I could save alot but on the other I feel like I might miss out on the university experience plus I don't have an incredibly large amount of money saved up for uni and with no experience finding a job won't be easy.
Can anyone help?

Reply 1

Chronoscope

Volunteer Section Leader, Clearing and Applications Advisor

21

Original post

by _bnwg

I have the option to either stay at home and get the train every day to Nottingham uni or to stay on campus. I'm quite divided because on one hand I could save alot but on the other I feel like I might miss out on the university experience plus I don't have an incredibly large amount of money saved up for uni and with no experience finding a job won't be easy.
Can anyone help?

Hey!
What I would suggest is perhaps for the first year stay in halls, and then maybe for second + third year you could commute? This means you can still get the university experience (you still get the 'university experience' even if you don't live in halls btw :smile:

). If you're commute isn't hours, it might be worth it as accommodation can be quite expensive now.

(edited 6 months ago)

Reply 2

Beth - UOS

Official Rep

6

Original post

by _bnwg

I have the option to either stay at home and get the train every day to Nottingham uni or to stay on campus. I'm quite divided because on one hand I could save alot but on the other I feel like I might miss out on the university experience plus I don't have an incredibly large amount of money saved up for uni and with no experience finding a job won't be easy.
Can anyone help?

Hello!

I have done both options, living at home and living in student halls, and would say that I did not miss out on the university experience either way!
During freshers week, they hold events for all students so even if you do not live on campus, you can still attend these events to meet people.

It is completely personal preference and up to what you would enjoy more. If you decide to look for a job, potentially keep an eye out for Christmas temp roles - this might be an easier way in without experience! Also, your university may have a student ambassador program - again another great way to build up your working experience.

Good luck with whatever you choose!

Beth
University of Sunderland Student Ambassador

Reply 3

UoNstudents

Official Rep

12

Original post

by _bnwg

I have the option to either stay at home and get the train every day to Nottingham uni or to stay on campus. I'm quite divided because on one hand I could save alot but on the other I feel like I might miss out on the university experience plus I don't have an incredibly large amount of money saved up for uni and with no experience finding a job won't be easy.
Can anyone help?

Hello @_bnwg!

Several students in my cohort (including myself) did commute from different neighbouring places (Kegworth, Derby, etc), and it is true you may save a notable amount of money by doing so. In other words, it is doable but it depends on how far you currentlyare from the university because you will need to factor that commuting time to plan your day accordingly.

All the best,
Abian.

Reply 4

Lancaster Student Ambassador

Official Rep

18

Original post

by _bnwg

I have the option to either stay at home and get the train every day to Nottingham uni or to stay on campus. I'm quite divided because on one hand I could save alot but on the other I feel like I might miss out on the university experience plus I don't have an incredibly large amount of money saved up for uni and with no experience finding a job won't be easy.
Can anyone help?

Hey there!

I lived in halls for my first year, but I was close enough to home that I could commute at times when I wished. I would say that commuting didn't affect my experience much! I did have to plan accordingly and make sure to pencil in social events to be sure I was still involved, but as long as you devote some time for that (if you wish!), then the experience can be however you want it to be. I can only really speak from my experience at Lancaster University specifically, but I know that they have events specifically for commuting students to ensure they feel involved and welcome, which then allows you to meet a community of people also commuting.

One of the main benefits of living in halls/elsewhere however is that you do get the experience of living away from home and being independent - but you could always do this in your second or third year (or beyond, depending on your course)!

I think you'll still have a great experience either way. You could commute one year, live away the next - you have time to make these decisions and have these experiences.

I wish you the best of luck with everything!

Millie
Lancaster University Student Ambassador

Reply 5

UniLancashire

Official Rep

16

Original post

by _bnwg

I have the option to either stay at home and get the train every day to Nottingham uni or to stay on campus. I'm quite divided because on one hand I could save alot but on the other I feel like I might miss out on the university experience plus I don't have an incredibly large amount of money saved up for uni and with no experience finding a job won't be easy.
Can anyone help?

Hi @_bnwg,

There are many positives but also negatives to both options. It sounds really simple but creating a pros and cons list for both, may help. This helped me decide on a few different factors when deciding where to study or whether to live out. Depending how long the commute is, you can definitely still get involved in freshers, go to events and have that university experience. Despite knowing I could save, I wanted to live out for uni, grow in confidence and independence. As already mentioned, you could commute one year, try it and see or move out first then commute so it's not all set from what you decide to do in the first year.

As you mentioned you don't have any work experience, most unis have student ambassador roles which are a great way to earn a bit extra during your studies. These roles are great as they work around when you can work whilst studying. Check if your university recruits for roles like this as that would be a great option. There will be jobs where no or little experience is needed as you'll get trained in the role.

I commuted about an hour and half to my internship during placement year and it did become draining towards the end. I would recommend finding out the amount of commuting and how many times a week you'll need to do it as commuting 3 hours a day on top of working wasn't for me. Everyone is different so it may or may not work for everyone.

Hope this helps,
^Zac

Reply 6

Manchester Met - Student Rep

Official Rep

16

Original post

by _bnwg

I have the option to either stay at home and get the train every day to Nottingham uni or to stay on campus. I'm quite divided because on one hand I could save alot but on the other I feel like I might miss out on the university experience plus I don't have an incredibly large amount of money saved up for uni and with no experience finding a job won't be easy.
Can anyone help?

Hey!
That's a tough choice, and it's completely understandable to feel torn about it. You're right to think about the cost and the experience.
Based on my experience, I chose to commute for my reasons, and I can tell you there's no right or wrong answer here. You can definitely have a fun uni experience either way!

•

Commuting is a great way to save a lot of money and avoid getting a big loan. This sounds like it would help a lot with your money concerns.

•

Living on campus gives you a lot of convenience, making it much easier to attend late events and socialise without the long journey home.

Both options have their pros and cons. It's all about what you feel is best for you and your situation.

Hope this helps. 😊

Rachel
(Third year)
Undergraduate Multimedia Journalism

Staying at home or staying on campus

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