Lots of change
Coming to University can be worrying: choices around the course you’ll study, the societies you want to join, and where you’ll live for the next few years! Well, that was my impression – before I decided to commute instead.
Familiarity and routine
I’ll be the first to admit that commuting to university is not the typical choice. There is an expectation that living in halls or college will give you the best student experience, offer friends for life, and give you endless new skills. All of this might be true…if you’re the right person suited to that lifestyle. I was not.
The decision to come to university in itself was daunting to me, with so much change attached to it. Though when I chose to commute, it offered me a sense of familiarity and routine: I was close to my family, saving money, and most importantly, didn’t have to deal with the noise of other students!
It was the right choice for me
Now in my second year of commuting, I am certain this was the right choice. Contact hours on my course are limited, no more than three days a week typically, giving me a great balance between my time at university and time at home. Interestingly, I have a mixed friend group of commuters and livers-in, which is especially good for socialising outside of term time. Otherwise, it’s easy to grab a coffee post-lecture, or hang out at a friend’s accommodation – this way, you still get to enjoy the student experience conveniently.
Good transport links
There are a number of great transport links in and around Durham, making commuting easy and flexible from various areas. With both a train and bus station – and nearly everywhere in walking distance – it’s very easy to explore and broaden your horizons. Personally, I drive into Durham and use the ‘Howlands Park and Ride’ service, which has an amazing fixed price of £1.10 for Durham Students. It stops outside the library, past the student union and then into town, providing accessible routes for wherever you’re looking to go.
There are compromises
Although commuting offers its benefits, there are considerations and compromises you might want to make. In terms of joining societies and attending events, having the complication of finding parking and getting home can be troublesome. Occasionally, I find myself leaving events earlier than my friends, knowing I’ll have to factor in the time to travel home.
We’ve all had an experience of missing the bus or having a train delayed, when making a journey: if you’re relying on these services, the flexibility of your schedule might take a hit. On the other side of that, paying for petrol is expensive to consider – making the journey to and from campus can add up quickly.
That being said, the main downside to commuting in my experience is not being able to roll out of bed and make it to class on time. Beware, commuters, if you have a late night on a Wednesday, you can’t simply run down the street to a lecture after waking up…
Overall, commuting is a choice that depends on your preference. For me, it was easy to decide that the positives would outweigh the negatives, and that commuting would fit my lifestyle much more seamlessly. Try it; there’s always next year to move out!
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