As someone who was a resident for 1 1/2 years, I learned quickly enough dorming on campus wasn’t for me. I didn’t have the best roommates, I would go home every weekend, and I had more friends who were all commuters than ones who were residents.

After tension between me and my last roommate, I made the decision to become a commuter. I’m from Pittston Township, PA, which is about 25 minutes away from campus, and the drive back and forth every day can be exhausting. But overall, I have no regrets, since my mental health and productivity has overall gotten better.

To support my opinion, I have some reasons why the commute is better:

You are saving more in financial aid: According to Marywood’s website, the price of room and board ranges from $4,000 to $6,000 per semester on top of tuition. Along with this, meal plans for residents also range from $1,000 to $3,000 per semester. Even though I earned scholarships from the school, these prices took a huge toll on my tuition and loans I had to take out. As a commuter, the cost of my tuition is now cheaper, and I would rather spend thousands of dollars on gas than being held up in a dorm room.

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You still can have a social life: The most common comment I usually hear commuters say is, “I don’t have time to be involved in anything on campus.” Marywood has a ton of clubs, even the Commuter Student Association (CSA) for commuters. I even have two leadership roles in groups I am a part of, but everyone’s schedule is different with having a job and studying for classes on top of that.

Time management: I think the biggest part of commuting is learning how to use your time wisely. If I have a big break between classes, I usually will be in the library doing my homework or at Marywood’s gym getting my exercise in. This is also preparation as well when you go out into the real world and have to commute from your home to a job, and not just walking there from a dorm.

It’s actually better for your mental health: Believe it or not, commuting can also be a benefit to mental health. Once you get in your car and drive home every day, you are separated from “student” life to “home” life and none of that pressure weighs on you. According to Washington University in St. Louis, “Creating a ‘liminal space’ during one’s commute can prevent burnout, promoting better mental and physical health in the long-term.”

However, residents may not be able to switch to commuting if they are struggling in their dorm based on distance from campus. If you are struggling, either as a resident or commuter, you can reach out to Housing & Residence Life and the Counseling & Student Development Center.

Contact the writer: [email protected]