Commuter student experience at UC

Nair, a third-year computer science student at the University of Cincinnati's College of Engineering and Applied Science, shares her experience as a commuter student, how she stays connected on campus, and her advice for other students interested in commuting. 

I only live thirty minutes away from UC's campus, so commuting was something that was always in the back of my mind. I lived in a residence hall my first year and didn't feel like it was the best fit for me. I started commuting my second year and have never looked back! The added stress of paying rent and finding a place to stay has been eliminated from my life and I save a lot of money in the long run. 

It's very important to be involved on campus if you feel a sense of disconnect.

My biggest advice would be to join clubs that genuinely spark your interest. I am a member of the CEAS Ambassadors which I have loved being a part of. Whatever your group may be, it is important to find a community that interests you. 

I personally don't find it difficult to stay connected. My main piece of advice is to have something you're involved in outside of classes.

I have developed a lot of my good friends from activities and organizations outside of the classroom. This helps match similar interests and develop meaningful friendships. 

If I have time between classes that is too short to go home, my first priority is to do homework or work on a project during those breaks. If I am caught up on my assignments, I typically go to the rec center and workout. 

Even though I commute, most of my classes are in-person. A lot of my core engineering classes are only offered in-person, so I am on campus often. However, there have been times where a breadth of knowledge class has been hard to squeeze into my schedule. In cases like that, it can be beneficial to take online classes to supplement in-person classes. 

For my commute, I spend roughly $738 per semester on gas. This is reasonable for me as I have friends who pay around that amount for one month of rent. 

For me, the pros outweigh the cons. Some of the pros include saving money. I save around $1,200 each semester that I commute. I have found that it also allows me to have a more flexible schedule. Lastly, when I am on co-op in Cleveland, I like to spend my time at home when I am in Cincinnati. The con I have noticed is traffic. There are times when it isn't bad; however, it definitely needs to be factored in when scheduling classes. 

Featured image at top: University of Cincinnati's main street.