Scheduling is always an issue for college students, because there is just so little time. If you took a survey of college students to determine what their first wish we would be if they unbottled a genie, the most popular result after “more money” would probably be “more time in the day.” College students have to worry about huge course loads, exams, extracurricular activities, and social obligations. That’s not to mention finding a way to make money, or taking on internships in order to prepare for your future employment.
The lucky thing for the average college student though is that everything is close by. All of the things most students spend their time on are a short walk or bike ride away. That’s the beauty of living on a college campus — all of your friends, activities, classes, and maybe even your job, are all right there. For those who aren’t so lucky to live on or near the campus on which they’re studying, time management gets even more complicated.
Not everyone can afford to live on a college campus, but that shouldn’t limit their college choices too much. What about people who live in Eugene, but want to study for Portland State’s criminal justice degree? (For those who don’t live in Oregon, those places are far away.) You can absolutely be a fulltime college student while also having a commute. You will just have to put in some extra work. Start by following these 5 tips for commuter students.
- Get an Early Start
Hopefully if you have a long commute to deal with, you can avoid taking too many morning classes. Unfortunately, this won’t always be under your control. No matter when your classes are though, you will want to get an early start on your day. Traffic is unpredictable, as is parking, depending on your school, so you want to give yourself plenty of time to avoid chronic tardiness.
- Take the Bus or Train if Possible
Driving to school is great because you get to run on your own schedule. It also means that time you spent in the car is wasted. If you take a train or bus, you can spend your commute time doing homework, reading, or catching up on some much needed sleep.
- Find a Place Near Campus to Crash
Whether it be a friend’s house, deserted dorm, or broom closet, if you can find a place near campus to spend the night from time to time, it will be a huge help. Especially in situations where you have a night class the night before a morning class.
- Join Clubs
You may be tempted to have as few commitments on campus as possible to avoid your commute, but you will need to put yourself out there in order to make friends and enjoy your college experience.
- Take Online Classes
Take online classes through your college in addition to the ones you take on campus in order to reduce your commute days.