The Commuter Life: Ups and Downs

With spring semester in full swing, students have begun to consider housing options for the upcoming school year. There’s a plethora of options around the USC area, including student housing, apartments, townhomes and much more. It’s no secret that securing future housing can be stressful, and it’s important to be aware of all options before settling.

Last summer, I had an internship in West LA that required me to commute to the office a few times a week. After living the 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. life for a few months, I learned both of the advantages and disadvantages of commuting.

Pros:

• Money: This one’s quite obvious. Cost of living in downtown LA isn’t cheap, and the rent can add up pretty quickly. Living from home, when played smart, can be a great way to save some extra cash.
• Car: Sometimes the trade-off for living at home can mean getting your own ride. A car is incredibly useful around USC and provides you the liberty to explore the endless cultural hub that is Los Angeles. If you’re lucky and score an internship during the semester, having a car is extremely valuable for that particular experience.
• Family: There’s something about the familiarity of home that’s so enticing and wonderful to come back to after a long day. Being with your loved ones and cherishing time with them is an added benefit of commuting that many would appreciate. There’s no place like home!

Cons:

• You can get lonely: Choosing to commute from home can often mean sacrificing social time with your friends who live on or near campus. Having to drive home after class can also restrict how much time you have for extracurriculars and clubs that happen at night.
• Traffic: No one likes it, especially when they’re running late. It can be stressful, and requires planning in advance.  
• It’s time consuming: Are you going to have 8 a.m. classes? Will you be interning? What about club meetings and extracurriculars you want to participate in? These are all important things to consider when deciding between commuting and living at home. Having morning classes doesn’t mingle well with Los Angeles traffic patterns, and if you’re involved in several activities, it’s going to cost you more energy to stay on campus late and come back the next day.

All in all the experience of commuting has its ups and downs, but if you’re up for the challenge, it can help prepare you for upcoming challenges that you’re likely to face post graduation. Working commuting into your daily schedule will not only help with time management but also with overall responsibility. If you’re from around town, I would say it’s worth trying for a semester.