A lot of future commuter students that I’ve talked to are nervous because they’re not going to be part of the ‘Res’ community. And while it’s true that when you live on campus, you are forced to build community pretty quickly, it’s not true that it’s super hard to build that same community as a commuter student.

One of the things that I think is incredible about Ambrose is our Collegium. That’s our commuter lounge. Students who live on campus aren’t allowed in, unless they’ve been invited. It’s a place just for commuter students to hang out in between classes. It’s equipped with couches and comfy chairs for hanging out, chatting, or even sleeping. There’s tables and chairs for eating at, or cramming for that last exam. There’s several microwaves and a fridge, so that you can heat up food there. We even have dishes, coffee, tea, peanut butter, and bread available if you forgot a meal, or just really need some caffeine. The other thing that’s great is that there are specific events that are special for the commuter students, again, all to create great relationships, and give a place to relax and have fun.

A couple of tips though:

1. Buy into the many opportunities that we offer to get connected and involved. If you don’t invest into building those relationships, it won’t be as meaningful.
2. When you’re planning your commute time… add a good 20 minutes to it. At least in the winter time. You never know what the weather’s going to be like when you wake up in the morning, and there can be some unexpected traffic or issues on the road. If you’re taking the train, there can be complications as well. So always give yourself a bit of time.
3. Get a locker! I can’t stress this enough! Especially if you’re taking transit to the school. I’ve personally had to experience what it’s like to have to lug around my backpack, a laptop, my food, my coat…etc. I think that I may have permanently bent my back into a weird and unnatural shape. Invest the 40 bucks for the year and get a locker. Then you can dump your stuff inside, keep some of the heavier textbooks in it…etc. It will make life so much easier.

Don’t get me wrong. I wouldn’t call myself an expert commuter student, but I’ve learned a few things over the past year as I transitioned from a Res student to a commuter student. I hope that this helps you guys, and I’m excited to meet you all as you start to join our crazy, but awesome community!

Anna